Title Naaman's Healing/2 Kings 5
Content Naaman’s healing (2 Kings 5)
1. Curse of Naaman (5:1-19)
Through this miracle, we see a beautiful example of salvation through faith in the Word of God. Every lost sinner will be able to see himself as Naaman. You will also see the saving power of faith.
① He was condemned - The ground that he was condemned was that he had leprosy. His beautiful dress and triumph could not disguise the fact that he was a dead man and leper. Leviticus 13 describes leprosy, which exemplifies sin. It must penetrate deep into the skin (verse 3), spread (verse 7), defile and isolate a person (verses 45-46), and be treated with fire (verse 52). Of course, Syrian law does not quarantine lepers. However, when he comes to Israel, the law of God commands Naaman to stay apart.
② He was an enemy - he even had a Jew as a maid in the house. This girl was captured when she invaded. Because Naaman was a Gentile, he was excluded from the blessings of Israel (see Ephesians 2:11-22). God gave His Son for us when we were enemies (Romans 5:6-10).
③ He heard his testimony - The young Jewish girl had a love for her master. Although her leisure was far from her hometown, she did not forget her God and was quick to testify of God's great power. Had she not been a faithful servant in the household, she would not have been able to bear a valid testimony. But because she worked faithfully, her testimony was rewarded. Christ needs these testimonies today.
④ He tried to save himself - Naaman tried everything possible to be cured of leprosy, but he could not. First of all, he went to the king of Syria, of course, to no avail. Next, he went to the king of Israel, but he also could not do anything. Sinners are not saved through Christ the King, but through Christ the Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10). How many lost sinners go from one person to another for salvation! But Christ is waiting to meet their needs. Naaman also knew nothing about grace. for they carried much riches; all (v. 5). Lost sinners try to buy or earn salvation. But it cannot be (1 Peter 1:18-20).
⑤ He was called by Hanami - Elisha heard about Naaman's plight and sent someone to come. No sinner deserves salvation. It is only through the gracious calling of the Holy Spirit that man comes to Christ (see John 6:37). In Luke 4:27, Jesus said that Naaman was one of many lepers and that the Lord and God had healed him. This is grace!
⑥ He resisted God's simple way of salvation - Elisha did not come out to meet Naaman. The general was a leper and was in danger of defiling the Prophet. Elisha tried to let Naaman know for himself that Naaman was a rejected and condemned man. He treated the proud general like a sinner. But Naaman was angry that he was being treated as an ordinary sinner. He asked the question, “Do you not know who I am?” Like today's sinners, Naaman thought that the prophet would perform some ordinance, such as baptism, communion, and confirmation (v. 11). So he humbly refused to enter the Jordan River, the river of death. He thought the friendly rivers near his house would be much better.
⑦ He was healed by his obedient faith - The humble servant in verse 13 was more sensitive than the great general. How unreasonable it is for men to resist God's simple way of salvation! Even the learned Nicodemus could not understand this (John 3). But when Naaman obeyed by faith, he was “born again” and came out of the water, clean as the skin of a child! The seven immersion in the Jordan River is not a symbol of baptism. Because baptism (baptism) is to believe once, but here you are immersed seven times and you are not saved by it. His faith was proved by works. He trusted the Word and acted on it. Faith makes us act seven times.
⑧ He was confident - before he said, “Look, I think...” but now he says, “Behold, I know …” (v. 15). He officially testified of the reality of God's power and that Jehovah alone is the true God. Naaman was so grateful that he tried to give money to Elisha, but his offer was rejected. Had the gift been accepted, it would have spoiled the doctrine of “salvation by grace” and would have stole all the glory of God.
⑨ He went home in peace (v. 19) - He knew that returning to Syria would run into trouble. for his king was an idolater. But Naaman wanted to obey the Lord and to exalt him completely. “All true believers are at peace with God” (Romans 5:1).
2. Gehazi's greed (5:20-27)
I did not agree with Gehazi's words of God. This was the beginning of his trouble and sin. Had he obeyed the word of God, and had judged the greed of the heart, he would never have become leper. It is important that God's people honestly know the sins of their hearts. His attitude was not "your will" but "I will...."
Notice how quickly and arbitrarily a person becomes once disobedient to God's Word. He did not run when he went to pick up the dead boy (4:29-31). But here he runs to Naaman for material wealth. Wouldn't it be great if Christians were as interested in spiritual things as they were in material things? Now we see two lies.
① He lied to Naaman (verses 21-32) - “My master sent me, and Elisha needs money, not for herself, but for some of the students,” he told the general. Like Judah, Gehazi seemed to care for the poor. On the contrary, he was only interested in himself (John 12:1-7). Of course, by taking money, Gehish stole God's glory, violated the prophet's precepts, and gave the impression that salvation involves money and good works. His one selfish act ruined the whole symbolic lesson. Gehazi got enough sacrifices to carry Naaman's two servants for him!
② He lied to Elisha (verses 25-27) - He went in and acted as if nothing had happened, but the prophet knew the truth. When Elisha asked, “Where have you been?” he replied, “Your servant has gone nowhere.” He's lying to something else! Verse 26 suggests that Gehazi, unlike Judah, was willing to use the money to set up his own small farm. It seems that greed was already in his heart long before this incident. Because in chapter 4 we see how incapable he was to raise a dead boy. He did not intend to judge himself, so God himself judged him. Naaman's leprosy passed to him and to his descendants
We see Gehazi appearing again in 8:1-6, this time before the king. Some assume that he repented and was healed, but there is no evidence in the Bible for this. Moreover, the disease was to be passed on to his descendants. The answer is simple. The events recorded in 2 Kings are not necessarily recorded in the order in which they occurred. The conversation between Gehazi and the king probably took place at the gate when the king was about to listen to the complaints of the people.
How sad it is for a servant dedicated to Jehovah to face shame and rejection because of covetousness. On the surface, it appears to be blasphemy (in Peter's case) or adultery (David), but in reality it is the hidden sin of greed. It is true that covetousness is at the root of all sins. When a person covets something or someone, there is no sin that cannot be committed in order to satisfy that desire. Elisha, the servant of Jehovah, did not live for material gain. He lived entirely for the glory of the Lord. Gehazi could not serve two masters at the same time, Jehovah and Don. Colossians 3:5 equates covetousness and idolatry. Jesus records covetousness in the “list of the sins of the Gentiles” in Mark 7:22. In Luke 12:13 and below, the Lord warns of the danger of covetousness, and in 16:13 and below, he shows us leading people to hell (see Ephesians 5:3).
The contrast between the maid and Gehazi in verses 2-3 is interesting. While she was a slave, she rejoiced to testify for the Lord, while Gehazi was a free man, living in his homeland, concerned only with herself. Also, while she led Naaman to the place of salvation, he brought everything to ruin through his own sin. Although she had no material income, she was blessed by the Lord, and Gehazi brought wealth but lost everything.