Thrilling Stories

We don’t need to go to the library or a bookshop to read thrilling stories. The most stunning stories and ones true to life are found in the Bible. I turned to 2 Kings 5 again and read of Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great and highly regarded soldier but his situation was summed up in three words ‘he had leprosy.’ The story then switches to a young girl captured from Israel who was a servant of Naaman’s wife. She had the boldness to speak ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.’

When Naaman heard this he went to the king of Aram and requested a letter from his king to the king of Israel. At this stage I’m reminded of the three wise men going to Herod when they were seeking for Jesus. They and Naaman had got it wrong. We’re told that the king of Israel tore his robes, he couldn’t cure leprosy! Was the king of Aram trying to pick a fight? When Elisha heard the story he requested the leper to come to him.

Naaman arrived full of pomp and circumstance, after all he was an important man. ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the jordan and you will be healed’ This wouldn’t do, he had better rivers in his own city of Damascus. The servant of Naaman enters the story saying if you had been asked to do a great thing you would have done it. He did listen, went to the Jordan, dipped himself in it seven times and was cleansed. End of story? Not a bit of it.

Naaman wanted to give Elisha gifts but the man of God would have none of it, the praise went to God alone. So the man and his gifts commenced the journey home. After the cleansed man had travelled some distance, he was followed by Gehazi, Elisha’s servant saying Elisha had changed his mind and would accept some of the gifts. On getting back home, Elisha challenged Gehazi about his greed and as punishment, the leprosy was passed on to Gehazi

I must declare that I believe the Bible is the sacred word of God and it is all true, but whatever one believes, it must be confessed that there are many lessons to be learned in this tale – pride, obedience to God’s commands, greed and punishment.

Naaman

‘Bands from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel and she served Naaman’s wife.’ 2 Kings 5:2. This unnamed girl is recorded as such an insignificant person. She was only a young girl and was a slave in a foreign country. It could be thought if we didn’t know our God and had then been able to read the story in the Bible that she was of no significance at all.

But a different country, the life of a slave,and probably apart from her family did not stop her being used by God. When she heard that her mistress’s husband had leprosy she was pleased to say that her God could heal him. By speaking out, the wheels were set in motion. Naaman was allowed to go to Israel to seek healing, which after a few false moves he obtained. Naaman was cured and all because of a small servant girl who had a faith and the courage to speak out..

Do we sometimes feel insignificant? Do we believe that we can’t say anything of worth and be used by God? I’m so pleased that often we don’t know the impact we’ve had on another person by speaking out. By knowing we might become proud. Maybe in heaven, it will be revealed to us, when we can’t be spoiled by pride.

Who is our Leper?

Leprosy wasn’t just a first century scourge, there are still sufferers in the world today and millions are permanently disabled by the disease. The cases today are mostly in Africa and Asia where there are cures if treatment is started early enough and continued. In biblical times there was almost no cure and because of the contagious nature, lepers were shunned and isolated

In Matthew 8 Jesus comes into the picture. We read the amazing words, ‘Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.’ This was unthinkable, surely He would now catch leprosy! Jesus didn’t just heal by a word as did with many of His miracles. He actually placed His hand in the hand of the sick man.

Do we have lepers in our own lives; people we don’t want anything to do with. The list will be different for every one. – the physically dirty and smelly, the down and outs, or as we call them today, the homeless. Do we avoid people with different political beliefs, people with different religious beliefs or no beliefs at all. Do we keep away from people who will cause us problems? Part of our calling is to touch the untouchables.