2 Kings 5:1-7

< Back to 2 Kings Index


TALKS FOR GROWING CHRISTIANS

General Naaman Seeks Healing from Leprosy 

BACKGROUND NOTES



DOCTRINAL POINT(S)

  1. God’s plans are accomplished in mundane ways.

  2. God’s plans are accomplished through ordinary people

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

  1. Be faithful, even though tragedy may happen to you.

  2. Be faithful, even though you may be misunderstood.

QUESTIONS

  1. Who was Naaman? What was his problem?

  2. When the Syrians went out on raids, who did they bring back captive?

  3. How did God accomplish His purposes in the story of the healing of Naaman? How does God accomplish His purposes today?

  4. How widespread were the consequences of the testimony of the young girl?

  5. Can tragedy be used to accomplish God’s purposes? List some of the tragedies, from a human perspective, in this portion of Scripture.

  6. Did misunderstandings along the way keep the young slave girl from being a viable testimony? Did misunderstandings along the way thwart God’s purposes?

ANSWERS

  1. Naaman was the commander of the army of the King of Syria in the 9th Century, B.C. As field marshal or general over the whole army, he held a prestigious position. He was not only a great military man, but he was a man of honor and well liked by his commander-in-chief, the King of Syria. His problem? He had leprosy. In its early stages, it could be covered up, but it would be only a matter of time before he would have to step down from his military position, and he would die if left untreated.

  2. Among others, a young Israelite girl.

  3. God used the testimony of a young Israelite girl who was faithful to Him, and God used Naaman, an honorable man, who yielded to His commands to accomplish His purposes. God often accomplishes His purposes in mundane, commonplace ways through ordinary people.

  4. This event had international consequences. The testimony of the of the God of Israel made its way into the ranks of the Syrian army, right from the top down, and God used an unnamed young girl as a major link in the chain of events. The testimony of one faithful teenager affected a nation.

  5. Yes, tragedy can be used to bring about God’s purposes. In this story, there were many tragedies, humanly speaking. Naaman, a high ranking military man, had leprosy. The young girl was taken from her home and her homeland, and thrust into a different culture; she was made a slave, a servant in a strange place.

  6. No, she remained faithful in her testimony that God could heal Naaman. No, misunderstandings do not thwart the purposes of God.

DISCUSS/CONSIDER

  1. What was the point of Jesus’ sermon in Luke 4:27?

  2. Look around you. Do you find faithful witnesses in spite of tragedies in their lives? Are you aware of biographies that support this? Make it a point to read some missionary books this year, and also some biographies of contemporary Christians like Joni Eareckson Tada.

CHALLENGE

  1. When tragedy, or even minor set-backs come into your life, what is your response? Are you ready to throw in the towel and despair, or do you continue faithful in your witness? Think of the long-range results of a clear testimony, especially from God’s eyes.

KEY VERSES

  • “Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel.” 2 Kings 5:4

2 Kings, Old Testament, TalksRon Reid2 KINGS 5:1-7