Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. – 2 Kings 5:1
The story of Naaman is another story from the life of Elisha. Naaman was known for his strength and courage in battle. With that reputation, he would have risen through the ranks until he became the “commander of the army.” Not many people reach these heights.
Naaman was “in high favor” with the king. Notice why: “because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria” (5:1). God gave victories to the enemies of His people!
This truth is clear in Scripture: When God’s people sinned against Him, He gave them into the hands of their enemies. Success comes from the hand of God whether a person knows Him or not.
Naaman was blessed with success, but he also had a great affliction: “He was a leper” (5:1). This terrible reality outweighed everything else. He was facing a grim future.
Leprosy in the Bible is a picture of what sin does in our lives. Sin makes us guilty, so we need to be forgiven. But sin also defiles us, so we need to be cleansed.
Like leprosy, sin starts small, but it spreads. It is hidden at the beginning, but eventually it shows. It alienates us from God and from His people. And in Bible times, there was no known cure.
As we follow Naaman’s story, we are going to see not only how he was healed, but also how a sinner can be cleansed and reconciled to God.
How have you seen the effects of sin grow and spread in your life? Have you experienced God’s cleansing and forgiveness?
