Naaman the Leper

Naaman the Leper

“Go and bathe in the Jordan, and your flesh will become clean once more. But Naaman was indignant and went off, saying, ‘Here was I, thinking he would be sure to come out to me, and stand there, and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the spot and cure the part that was diseased.” (2 Kings 5: 10)

Naaman had his own ideas about how he would be healed. His preconception and programming nearly deprived him of his cure. Naaman did not know that:

· For God everything is possible. “All things serve you.” (Psalm 119: 91)

· God’s ways are not our ways.

· God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.

· God is master of means.

· God is the Lord of times and seasons.

When I compare Naaman’s behavior with that of the Centurion in Matthew 8: 5 – 13, I understand that faith is a simple and childlike trust in God’s word. The centurion knew that the power of God can work through words and through space. Naaman wanted something more tangible as in pagan practices, for example: incantations, rituals, etc.

God’s word is always sufficient.