(Read v. 1a, b)

Naaman was a military man in Syria (Aram). His rank was Captain, although the word as it is used here would be more like "General" in our modern army.

Naaman had friends in high places due to his military prowess. "He was a great man with is master," it says. That would be King Binadad of Syria. It also says he was "highly respected" in the land. He was to the Syrian wars what General Schwartzkoff was to the Gulf war - a great hero - a highly decorated, living legend. Syria's borders were more secure because of Naaman. His name was a household word.

Of special note here is that Naaman was not one of God's Old Testament people. He was not an Israelite. He was a Gentile, a foreigner. In fact, Syria was, at this time, one of Israel's enemies. Naaman had probably led raids into Israel.

It isn't always easy to see God working in the lives of those who do not know Him, but this passage and others like it are evidence that He does. God doesn't just rule over His kingdom. He is sovereign over all the earth, using even those who don't know him to accomplish His purposes. His purpose at this time involved using marauding bands of Syrians to punish Israel because they had drifted away from Him and into idolatry.

Picture then Naaman, coming back from his military encounters at the head of his men, leading a long train of captives - the glint of a sword hanging from his side, medals pinned to his uniform, boots polished. He was a man's man.

Four great assets of a man highly respected in his chosen field:

	Special rank in the army,
	Special place at the King's table
	Special respect from his countrymen
	Special accomplishments in his occupation.

He had everything going for him except one small detail - which threatened to take away all the rest. Those five little words at the end of verse 1 tell it all: "but he was a leper."

Modern historians are not exactly sure what ancient leprosy was. It is possible that the word "leprosy" may have described several diseases. We do know it was a severe skin disease - perhaps some acute, incurable form of psoriasis or even skin cancer. In Israelite society, lepers were untouchables. They were put out of the cities. They couldn't mingle with others. Of course the Syrians did not respect the Law of Moses so Naaman was still in Syrian society.

It must have been tough for Naaman who was so successful, to come home each night and be reminded as he undressed that he had a disease that was eating away his life.

Naturally he would be driven to seek a cure. As of verse one, though, there had been none. Then an interesting series of events began to happen.

(Read v. 2)

The name of the little girl isn't given. She was Jewish - a prisoner from one of the raids on Israel. Somehow she had come to know of Naaman's condition.

(Read v. 3)

Looks can be deceiving.

A person can look very successful and secure on the outside, as Naaman was, yet behind closed doors, be something different entirely. At times, I think, we are intimidated by successful people and, as a result, afraid to speak to them. We need to be reminded that unsaved people, no matter how successful, have a disease even worse than ancient leprosy - a disease for which we have cure.

Note that in His providence, God chose to offer a cure to Naaman through someone most sophisticated people would have considered beneath them - a slave girl. Have you seen God work this way? Sometimes He puts His answers in very humble places. In fact, watch as this story unfolds. Every time he moves another step toward the solution to his problem, it is because he listened to someone far below his rank and position.

The little girl's suggestion got to Naaman through his wife. Naaman must have been desperate for a cure because he went from there straight to the King.

(Read v. 4-5)

Take note of Naaman's thinking. He's thinking entirely according to the ways of the world. In the world, money talks, so he prepared to purchase his cure. He took what amounted to $20,000 of silver and $60,000 of gold and ten suits of clothes.

A big problem in dealing with many lost people is dispelling the notion that they can buy their salvation. I'm not just talking about rich people here. Many think that they can buy favor with "the Man upstairs," if not with their money, then with their good works. They don't understand that salvation is a gift. It cannot be earned because it is far too expensive for anyone to buy.

Naaman has some things to learn about God - and learn he will - if his pride doesn't get in the way. So he orders his servants to load his best chariot with money and clothes, gathers a company of elite soldiers, and heads off for Israel - all the way down until they stopped outside the hut of the prophet Elisha. God's prophets in that day didn't exactly live at the Ritz.

(Read v. 9)

Put yourself on the front porch of Elisha's house in your imagination. You hear thundering hoof beats in the distance. You see a plume of dust rising from the desert floor and through the shimmering heat you see horses and men approaching. Then they all come up outside the house. Naaman is out front. Having received directions to Elisha's house, he stops, gets off his horse, and knocks on the door. He expects what he is used to seeing - protocol - people coming out and bowing the knee due to his high position. Look what happened instead.

(Read v. 10)

Here is Naaman in his expensive clothes, money in his wallet, ready to bargain with the prophet and the guy doesn't even come to he door! He sends a servant out with a message. Definitely not what Naaman expected!

I already mentioned that one of the hard things for many unsaved people to grasp is that when it comes to God, their money and status don't talk.

God has a way of humbling arrogance. The value system of the Kingdom of God is quite different than that of this world. In the Kingdom of God, he who is first shall be last and he who is last shall be first.

(Read v. 11a)

Yeah, Naaman. That's how many people think of it. Some of us thought that way, too. But God's ways are different than man's ways. Listen to Isaiah 55:8:

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts; Neither are your ways my ways,' declares the Lord. 'For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.'"

Far too many people in that day and this have created God in their minds according to their own image and their own likeness. By that I mean according to what they like. If you want to know what God is like, don't follow your hunches. Read the Bible. That's the only way you'll know.

But Naaman was like many today. Instead of humbly listening to God when the message didn't match his expectations, he got mad. No hick prophet was going to treat him this way!

(Read v. 11b)

Naaman was expecting a show that was worthy of his status and position and instead he got a message from a servant telling him to go dip in one of Israel's muddy rivers.

(Read v. 12)

The whole entourage of men, horses, and chariots, turned around and thundered off in a cloud of dust with Naaman raging out in front of them all.

These verses illustrate for us another of man's tendencies - the tendency to want to alter the commands of God. "Wash? Why should I wash? Just have the guy come out and wave his hands and cure me! Water doesn't have healing powers. Especially that Jordan River! I'll go wash, but let it be in the river of my choice."

This tendency is precisely why you'll find a church in existence today to fit nearly every human preference. You'll find churches that cater to militant homosexuals and left wing agendas. You'll find churches that consider a woman who kills her unborn child as some kind of hero. You'll find churches that cater to the rich without ever mentioning the more uncomfortable concept of sacrifice that Jesus put on his followers. You'll find churches that preach human success and leave out the message of the cross.

The prophet's instructions were simple, weren't they? "Wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh will be restored." Naaman, you'd better do it because your way isn't going to work. You can't do God's will on your own terms.

For Naaman, the story changed at that point because he, like so very few today, was willing to reconsider his position.

(Read v. 13)

Did you notice that again it was a servant who spoke to Naaman. - the little girl, then Elisha's servant, and now his own servant? Is there a message here for us? If you want God's blessings, you have to stoop!

Finally, Naaman stooped. He humbled himself and went down to that muddy Jordan River and washed. Do you suppose he felt a little dumb? Maybe a little embarrassed?

(Read v. 14)

Naaman was cured of his leprosy because he listened to God's servants and submitted to God on God's terms. If you want anything worthwhile from God, you must do the same.

Naaman the leper ended up as a servant of God. Now let's turn our attention to the guy going in the opposite direction: