Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, has contracted leprosy. He is fully aware of what's in store for him with this incurable disease and he would do anything to rid himself of it. His wife's maid, who was taken captive from Israel, made the statement in yesterday's text that if only Naaman would "see the prophet that is in Samaria" (Elisha) he would be healed.
Naaman's wife reported these words to him and in desperation this polytheistic idolater decides he will go see the prophet of the God of Israel. As we discussed yesterday, he has probably already tried every medical potion and every magical spell available to him, with no results. He leaves God for last but at least he does not reject altogether the notion of going to Him for help. But before he seeks help from the God of Israel he must secure permission from the king of Aram to leave the nation.
It does not appear that Israel and Aram are currently at war or else going to Israel for help would be impossible at this time. Hostilities between the two nations have settled down somewhat since the death of King Ahab during the last battle between Aram and Israel. I don't know whether King Joram of Israel and the king of Aram (who is still Ben-Hadad) have made an official truce with each other or whether they are in a state of unofficial cease fire at this time.
"Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 'By all means, go,' the king of Aram replied. 'I will send a letter to the king of Israel.'" (2 Kings 5:4-5a) Naaman is a very valuable person to the king. He is the chief commander of the entire army and many successful battles have been won under his leadership. The king respects him as a warrior, as a battle strategist, and maybe also as a friend. He gives Naaman permission to go and he does what he can to ensure him an audience with the king of Israel and with Israel's chief prophet, Elisha.
"So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter he took to the king of Israel read: 'With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.'" (2 Kings 5:5b-6) It is generally assumed by scholars that the money and clothing Naaman takes with him are not from his own bank account and wardrobe but are given to him by the king of Aram to be used as payment for the services of the prophet of Israel. I am sure that the physicians and magicians of Aram charged payment every time they mixed a potion or cast a spell, and the richer their patient was the more they charged. The king of Aram assumes that a prophet of Israel will demand payment just like a heathen prophet would. Not knowing exactly how much payment the prophet will demand, the king sends Naaman with what is close to $1,500,000 in today's money and the equivalent of ten designer business suits.
King Joram of Israel is thrown into distress when he reads the letter Naaman brings with him. He does not believe the Lord will heal this leper and he expects Naaman's visit to Israel to be a failure, leading to renewed conflicts between Israel and Aram. "As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, 'Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!'" (2 Kings 5:7)
We must keep in mind that Joram's father King Ahab received a mortal wound while in battle with the Arameans. Joram is deeply fearful of this nation. Whatever cease fire is currently going on between Israel and Aram is tenuous at best and Joram knows that war could break out with the slightest provocation. When he reads the letter he feels like he's being set up. He exclaims that the king of Aram is putting him in a position where he cannot win. He either does not believe the Lord can cure leprosy or he believes the Lord won't cure a man from Aram of it. If he sends Naaman back to Aram still suffering from leprosy, he expects Ben-Hadad to declare war.
Joram does not call for Elisha to see if he can do something about the situation, though Elisha's presence is what Naaman seeks. The Arameans wouldn't be aware of this but it's highly doubtful that Joram has a good relationship with the prophet since he adheres to the religious practices of Jeroboam who set up the golden calves and their altars at Dan and Bethel. Ben-Hadad probably assumes that the chief prophet of Israel is one of the king's closest advisors but that is not the case. Joram doesn't seem to bear as much animosity toward the prophets of God as did his father Ahab but Joram and Elisha have very little in common from a spiritual standpoint. Elisha finds out about the letter delivered to Joram. He knows what the letter says and he knows that the king is distraught over this predicament. He sends a messenger to the king instructing him to direct Naaman to his house where he will find the cure he seeks.
"When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: 'Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.'" (2 Kings 5:8) The tearing of the robes is an age-old display of great emotion. Sometimes that emotion is one of offense on behalf of God or "the gods"; upon hearing words of blasphemy against one's deity, a person might tear his robes. Other times it's due to the emotion of grief, such as when a loved one dies. Other times it's to express despair and hopelessness, such as in the case of King Joram who thinks nothing can be done for Naaman and that war is unavoidable. But Elisha admonishes the king for falling into despair. If there were not a prophet of the Lord in Israel who (through the power of the Lord) can heal this leper, then the king would have a reason to despair. The king would have a reason to begin planning how to defend his nation from invasion. The king would have a reason to be shaking in his boots at the prospect of facing the army that killed his father. But there is a God who can do all things!
All is not lost because Elisha serves the God for whom nothing is impossible. The Lord will heal Naaman and thereby prevent imminent attack from Aram. With the Lord on anyone's side, that person can say what the Apostle Paul was able to confidently say in an era when the church was undergoing great persecution. We will close with Paul's encouraging words from 2 Corinthians 4:8: "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
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