Bible Studies for Life: May 18

God’s Hand in Restoring Lives • 2 Kings 5:1-3; 10-19a 

By Clay Anthony

“It is the little things that count.” How often have you heard this phrase? It has been proven so many times that it should be seen as a law. Be it driving safely, study habits, or eating a good diet, all of life can be summed up in this one phrase. If we get into the habit of cutting corners, then before long we will have nothing accomplished in our lives. Those who stay within the prescribed perimeters given to them by those more knowledgeable of how life works are usually found to be successful in life. 

The same is true when it comes to our faith. We have not been given permission to look for loopholes when it comes to our walk with God. We are to give our full and immediate attention to all the details with which God expects us to obey Him. This is played out in this week’s text from 2 Kings. A godless leader is given the opportunity to have God move in his life and what follows is full of doubt and questioning. This is what is to be expected from one that has no relationship with God. 

We see in verses 1-3 that God uses unlikely people for His purposes. A young lady is taken by the Syrian army during a raid on Israel. This bold and knowledgeable young lady makes good use of her captivity by acting in the manner of a missionary. She notes that her captor, a great army leader, suffers from a skin disorder. She makes a passing notion that she knows a man of God that can intercede on his behalf and have his disease healed by the power of Israel’s God. Imagine that: a young slave girl in a foreign land, far from family and home, representing the God that she loves to a nation that is godless. To further the point, she must have been quite the missionary full of spirit and vigor in her presentation, for the mighty warrior heeded her advice and sought out the help from God’s prophet. 

Naaman, the general, heeds the words of the slave girl but his relief does not come without its obstacles to overcome. First, he needs to convince his king for permission to take the trip. He was headed into a land that was conquered but still deemed as enemy territory. This is a big step for just a skin disorder, but the warrior leader is humble enough to try anything at this point. Next is the notion of pride to overcome. Upon visiting the home of Elisha, Naaman expects a full audience that is respectful toward his position. In his mind, these Israelites were beneath him, yet Elisha merely sends instructions to follow. There is no expected bowing and scraping coming to this conquering, godless warrior. Furthermore, Elisha’s instructions are offensive. Go wash in the waters of a conquered land? Naaman knew that he had crossed rivers in his homeland to get to Israel. Why not just bath in one of those? Water is water is it not? Such a simple expectation and yet his pride nearly cost him a miracle. Under protest Naaman follows the man of God’s instructions and sure enough, a miracle occurs. Naaman is healed and learns a valuable lesson that indeed there is a true God that is active in Israel. 

We can clearly see that Naaman is a changed man beyond the skin disorder. Yes, the washing had given him “baby like skin” (14) but there was a deeper change. Verses 15-18 read like the testimony of a man with a changed heart. Remember this is a general in a foreign army that has decimated Israel and taken slaves from their homes. He has no relationship with God or any knowledge of how God works. Now he is making offerings and praises to Elisha and acknowledging that there are no other gods outside the One that Israel worships. A pagan changed by God’s grace because a young unnamed slave girl was faithful in the little things to her God. May the same be said of our lives.  

We can only imagine what his life entailed once Naaman returned home. What do you suppose his message was to his people? Everyone would note that his skin was new. Something had obviously occurred to his body but what would they make of his changed heart? Indeed, his little steps of humility and obedience would go a long way in changing his world. 

Anthony is Missions Pastor at Harrisburg Church, Tupelo.