Naaman the Leper

2 Kings 5:2-15

     Naaman was a famous man in Syria, the country north of Israel. He was captain of all the armies of the king of Syria. He was strong and brave, but he had a terrible skin disease called leprosy.

     Now during a raid against Israel, Syria had captured some of the people as servants. One of them was a young girl who went to work for Naaman's wife. One day she said to the woman, "If only my master could go to the prophet of Israel. He would cure him of leprosy."

     Naaman's wife told him what the young girl said. Then Naaman went to tell his king, who said, "You must go to Israel."

     So Naaman brought a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel. It said, "I am sending Naaman to you to be cured of his leprosy."

     The king of Israel cried, "What? Am I God? How can I cure a man of leprosy? The king of Syria is trying to pick a fight with me!" He got very angry and ripped his shirt down the front.

     When Elisha the prophet heard about this, he sent a message that said, "Don't sit there tearing your clothes. Send the man to me. I will show him that God has a prophet in Israel."

     So the king sent Naaman to Elisha's house. When the captain rode up with his chariot and horses, Elisha didn't go out. He sent a servant to say, "Elisha says for you to wash in the Jordan River seven times. Then you will be well. All the leprosy will disappear from your skin."

     When Naaman heard this, he was very angry. "We have rivers in my own country!" he shouted. "If washing would take away leprosy, I could have gone to our own rivers." He started to leave, still angry.

     But one of his own servants came up to him and said, "Sir, if the prophet told you to do something very difficult, you would do it. Then do this easy thing. Go down and wash in the river."

     So Naaman went down to the Jordan River. He dipped himself in the river seven times. He did exactly what the prophet of God told him to do. Suddenly his skin was as soft and smooth as a baby's skin. He was well! Then Naaman took all his servants and soldiers and went back to Elisha and said, "I know now that there is no God anywhere on earth except the God of Israel!"