2 Kings

2 Kings 5: Naaman meets the true God

Begin in prayer

Before we read about Naaman and the Jordan River, let us come to the Lord together. Ask Him to make us humble, to show us that He alone is God, and to help us see Jesus as the One who cleanses.

Yahweh reigns! Let the peoples tremble. He sits enthroned among the cherubim. Let the earth be moved.

Psalm 99:1

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You alone are God in all the earth, and that You cleanse sinners. Help us to humble ourselves and to trust Jesus. Make us more like Him. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Naaman, the captain of the army of Syria, is a great man, but he has leprosy, a skin disease that made a person unclean. A girl from Israel, taken captive, tells Naaman's wife that the prophet in Samaria could heal him. The king of Syria sends Naaman to Israel with a letter and gifts, and the king of Israel tears his clothes in fear. Elisha sends word that Naaman should come to him, and tells him to wash seven times in the Jordan. Naaman is angry and expected a greater show, but his servants persuade him. He dips himself seven times, is made clean, and confesses that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel. Gehazi, Elisha's servant, lies to Naaman to get silver and clothing, and Naaman's leprosy clings to Gehazi.

As you read 2 Kings 5, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD alone is God in all the earth, and He cleansed Naaman from his leprosy.

Naaman, commander of Syria's army, had leprosy, a skin sickness that made a person unclean (verse 1 and Leviticus 13 verse 45). A young girl taken captive from Israel told Naaman's wife that the prophet in Samaria could heal him (verses 2 and 3). The king of Israel tore his clothes, asking, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive” (verses 6 and 7). Elisha had Naaman come, and sent word to wash in the Jordan seven times (verses 8 to 10). Naaman went away in a rage, for he expected a show and thought Damascus had better rivers (verses 11 and 12). His servants urged him, and when he dipped himself seven times as Elisha said, his flesh was restored (verses 13 and 14). Naaman said there is no God in all the earth but in Israel, and Elisha took no gift (verses 15 and 16). Jesus said that only Naaman the Syrian was cleansed, though many in Israel had leprosy in Elisha's time (Luke 4 verse 27). This shows that the LORD is God of all the earth, and His mercy reaches a stranger.

How does 2 Kings 5 show us that the LORD alone is God in all the earth, and that He cleansed Naaman from his leprosy?

A servant girl points Naaman to God's prophet.

Raiders from Syria had taken a little girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife (verse 2). She said the prophet in Samaria could heal her master of his leprosy (verse 3). The king of Syria then sent Naaman with gifts and a letter to the king of Israel (verses 5 and 6).

The LORD cleanses Naaman through His word.

Elisha sent a messenger, saying to go and wash in the Jordan seven times (verse 10). Naaman went away angry, expecting a great show (verse 11). His servants reminded him that he would have done a great thing (verse 13). He dipped himself seven times as the man of God said, and he was clean (verse 14). Jesus made a leper clean by His word and His touch (Luke 5 verse 13).

The LORD alone is God in all the earth.

Naaman returned to Elisha and confessed that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel (verse 15). He refused the gifts (verse 16). He promised to offer to the LORD and to no other gods (verse 17). Elisha said, “Go in peace,” and Naaman went on his way (verse 19).

Gehazi's greed brings leprosy on him.

Gehazi ran after Naaman and lied, saying that two young men had come to Elisha (verses 20 to 22). He took the silver and the clothes and hid them (verses 23 and 24). Elisha asked where he had been, and Gehazi lied again, but Elisha's heart had gone with him (verses 25 and 26). The leprosy of Naaman clung to Gehazi (verse 27). Naaman, a stranger, went home clean, and Gehazi, Elisha's own servant, left with leprosy.

Memorise

See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.

2 Kings 5:15

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, who can make me clean, and will I come to Jesus?

Naaman came with horses and chariots, but Elisha sent a plain word, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times.” He washed, and he was clean. Jesus also made a leper clean by His word and His touch (Luke 5 verse 13).

Sin is like leprosy. It makes every person unclean before a holy God, and no river or gift can wash it away. Jesus carried the sin of His people to the cross. There He did all that was needed to cleanse them, and God raised Him from the dead.

So turn from your pride and your sin, and come to Jesus. Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name (Acts 10 verse 43).

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD alone is God, and that He cleansed Naaman through His simple word. Parents, please explain verses 20 to 27 in your own words. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He alone is God, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Yahweh has made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:10

Father, thank You that You alone are God in all the earth. Thank You for cleansing Naaman, and for Jesus, who cleanses sinners who come to Him. Give each child a humble heart that turns from sin and trusts Him. Help us to trust Your word this week and to walk in Your cleansing. Amen.