Naaman Healed of Leprosy & Gehazi's Greed

The account of Naaman the Syrian commander is one of the most powerful OT illustrations of sovereign grace, humility, and salvation. Though Naaman possessed military glory, royal favor, and immense wealth, he suffered from an incurable disease: leprosy. God used a humble captive maid, a simple command, and a muddy river to shatter human pride and reveal His free gift of healing.

1. The Witness of the Captive Maid

Elisha confronted Gehazi: 'Was this the time to take money or accept clothes? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and your descendants forever.'

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel."

So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."

As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"

2. Pride Offended by a Simple Command

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

3. Seven Washings and Complete Restoration

Naaman's servants went to him and spoke to him gently: "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!"

So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him. And his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy!

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant."

The prophet answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. Salvation and divine healing are free gifts of grace that cannot be purchased.

4. The Greed and Punishment of Gehazi

After Naaman had traveled some distance, Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him."

So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked.

"Everything is all right," Gehazi answered lyingly. "My master sent me to say, 'Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.'"

"By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, tied up two talents of silver in two bags with two sets of clothing, and gave them to two of his servants to carry ahead of Gehazi. When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left.

5. "Naaman's Leprosy Will Cling to You"

When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, "Where have you been, Gehazi?"

"Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered.

But Elisha said to him: "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and herds, or male and female slaves? Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever."

Then Gehazi went out from Elisha's presence, and he was leprous, as white as snow. (Jesus later highlighted Naaman in Luke 4:27 as an example of God extending salvation to Gentiles).

Reflections on the Story:

• Small Witnesses Big Impact: God used an unnamed captive Israeli slave girl to bring a mighty Syrian general to faith and healing. No witness is too small.
• Humility Precedes Healing: Naaman had to abandon his pride and status, descending into the muddy Jordan 7 times to receive God's grace.
• Grace Cannot Be Bought: Elisha refused money to show salvation is free, while Gehazi's greed brought lifelong judgment.