Jump Start # 4062
2 Kings 5:1 “Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper.”
The opening of the story of Naaman, introduces us to a man whose chest and heart were full of medals. A victorious commander. A great man. Highly respected. Brave. Valiant warrior. And, although a pagan, the Lord worked through him to generate victories. Historically, some of those victories may have come at the defeat of Israel.
“But he was a leper,” as the verse ends, changes everything. A great man, but he was a leper. Highly respected, but he was a leper. Valiant warrior, but he was a leper. Victorious in battle, but he was a leper. And, what leprosy did, was make this commander a prisoner. The clock was ticking and the leprosy would only get worse. There would be a time when he could no longer command the troops. There would be a time when he would have to move out of his house and tell his family “goodbye.” There would be a time when his only companions would be fellow lepers. And, it is at that point, his position in the military, his victories, the praise from the king wouldn’t matter. He’d be a leper among lepers. Isolated. Alone. Defeated.
The story of Naaman involves two captives, two slaves. One is the servant girl from Israel. She was taken by Naaman’s troops and helps in Naaman’s household. She is not free to go. The other captive is Naaman. And, because of his leprosy, he is not free to go.
The condition of Naaman is a mirror to our world today. Not captive to leprosy, but captive to sin. Many a great man and woman, with achievements, accolades, praise and accomplishments are held captive by the destructive nature of sin. Many do not realize it. Many define their purpose through what they have done. Successful in business, carrying degrees from major universities, leaders in their fields, praised by colleagues, yet hopelessly held captive by sin.
On his own, Naaman could do nothing about his slavery. His military insights and experience could not rid his body of this disease. His close friendship with the king wouldn’t help. It took the words of a servant girl, the message from a prophet, the power of God and the humbleness of Naaman to set him free.
Here are some lessons we ought to see from this amazing Biblical story:
First, all have sinned, we are told in Romans. There is none righteous, no not one. The achievements in sports, business, finance does not protect us from being enslaved to sin. Sin doesn’t just impact one class of people. It gets all of us. We all become slaves. Standing with walls full of awards, does not mean we have achieved anything with the Lord. Naaman was great. But Naaman was a leper.
Second, the simplistic saving message of the Gospel is what we all need. That’s the freedom out of spiritual slavery. That’s the only hope we have to escape an eternity of slavery. The message to Naaman didn’t come from the king. It didn’t come from the battlefield. It came from a girl and even more humbling, a girl that Naaman had captured.
It is out of the mouth of babes, that some of the sweetest and purest words are heard. “Why don’t you go to church with us, Daddy?” We fumble with excuses about being tired, things to do, but truth is, what the child asked is right, why don’t you. It often isn’t the polished words from the pulpit, but the kind words from our spouse that reveals there is a better way. You don’t have to remain a slave. Freedom is there, if you will follow it.
It is easy to discount what is said because of who said it. What does a sweet little girl from Israel know about life? She’s not battled warriors in combat. She’s too young to understand the complex nature of leprosy and the implications of being plagued by it. What does she know? She knew more than the commander did. She knew that leprosy did not have to be a life sentence. She knew that he did not have to die from leprosy. She knew that there was a cure, a path to freedom. She knew what he didn’t know. She knew the God of Heaven and earth.
Third, successful Naaman, listened. He went to his king. Word was taken to Israel’s king. Elisha, the prophet got involved. An immersion, seven times, in the Jordan River, demonstrated an obedient faith and a humbled heart. And, freedom from the clutches of leprosy was granted. God prevailed. God is greater than leprosy. God is great even to pagan commanders.
And, when you and I listen to the pure message of the gospel, humble ourselves and have an obedient faith, the Lord will grant us freedom from the destructive nature of sin.
What we have in the Naaman story is one prisoner telling another prisoner how to find freedom. The hero is the Lord. But, without the tender faith of the servant girl, the commander would have died a leper.
What a beautiful picture this makes for us. We must not be too bold or too proud to listen to someone who knows how to free us from sin. A girl spoke. A commander listened. God prevailed.
The story of Naaman is our story. We have been Naaman. Now, we can be the servant girl and help others.
Roger