Naaman's Healing — Pride Before the River

Naaman was commander of the army of Syria — a great and honorable man, mighty in valor. But he was a leper. A young Israelite girl, captured in a raid and serving Naaman's wife, said: 'If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.'

Naaman traveled to Israel with silver, gold, and clothing — expecting to buy his healing. The king of Israel panicked, thinking it was a trap. But Elisha sent word: 'Let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.'

Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with his horses and chariot. Elisha didn't even come out. He sent a messenger: 'Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.'

Naaman was furious. 'I thought he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Yahuah his Elohim, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy. Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?' He turned away in a rage.

But his servants reasoned with him: 'If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, "Wash, and be clean"?'

Naaman humbled himself. He went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan. His flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Naaman's story is about pride versus obedience. Yahuah's methods are often simpler than we expect — and that simplicity offends our pride. Healing required not a great deed, but humble obedience.