Story of the Month

Naaman

A story based on 2 Kings 5:1-16

To be added to our Story of the Month e-mail list, sign up here

Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army. He had many military victories to his credit. He was highly respected. He was well liked. He was married. He was wealthy. But he had a problem. Naaman had a terrible skin disease. It wasn't contagious. You couldn't catch it from him. But it was disgusting.

Naaman learned about a "prophet" in Israel who might be able to help. The land of Syria and the land of Israel were not on the best of terms. In fact, they were often at war with one another. But Naaman didn't care. He was going anyway. He packed up and, with some of his men, he set off for Israel.

He went to the home of a man named Elisha. But Elisha just sent someone out to Naaman with a message. "I don't care about your skin disease. What I want is for you to understand that in Israel there is a prophet of the one true God. So, in order for you to be healed, you need to go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River."

Naaman was incensed. “I expected this man to wave his hands over me and pray loudly to his god that I might be miraculously healed. Yet, I've come all the way here from Syria, he won't even come out of his house to greet me. And he wants me to wash in the Jordan River? Why, compared to the rivers we have back home, the Jordan is a slimy cesspool. Our rivers flow with pure, clear water. If all I needed to do was wash, I could just as well have done it there. I'm certainly not going to wash in the dirty, muddy waters of the Jordan. Let's go. I'm going home.”

They started out, but some of Naaman’s men went to him and said, “Sir, if this ‘prophet’ had given you a really difficult task to perform, you would have done it. We’ve traveled all the way here from Syria. It would be a shame to travel all the way back home again without even attempting this very simple thing that you’ve been instructed to do.”

Naaman had been quick to anger. He was just as quick to recognize the logic of what his men were telling him.

Naaman went and dipped himself in the Jordan River seven times. And despite his lack of faith in what he was doing, he was healed. His skin became as soft and as smooth as that of a child.

Naaman returned to the home of the prophet. This time Elisha came out to meet him. Naaman thanked Elisha and offered him a large sum of money as a gift. But Elisha said, “I don’t want your money. All I want is for you to understand that there is but one true God.”

Naaman replied, “I believe! I believe! I just hope and pray that your God will go with me when I return home to Syria.”

Elisha, the prophet of God, reassured Naaman, “All will be well. Go in peace.”

Don’t forget to check out our ‘Tips for Telling’ this month as well

Check out the past five months of stories and tips