Day 182 – Elisha & Naaman

• Today’s passages are clear, engaging and full of talking points. I hope you enjoyed reading them today! I wonder what you thought of today’s passage from 2 Kings.
• We met a man called Naaman in that first reading. Naaman was the commander of the Syrian army (Aram is in Syria). Don’t forget that the Syrians were enemies of Israel. What was Naaman’s problem (we’re told about it in the first verse)?
• Naaman had an Israelite servant for his wife that he had captured in a previous battle. Do you think she was brave to mention about Elisha to her mistress? Do you think Naaman would have known about or followed God up to this moment?
• Joram, the king of Israel, read the letter from Naaman asking about being healed. How did he react to the letter from the Syrian king? Why do you think he didn’t bother consulting Elisha?
• Eventually, Naaman did get his meeting with Elisha. What did Elisha tell himto do in 2 Kings 5:9, and why didn’t he do it initially? Why do you think Elisha wanted Naaman to wash in ordinary dirty water as part of the healing process, rather than by some “nicer” way? Who was it that persuaded Naaman to change his mind about going into the river? Naaman was surrounded by good advice, wasn’t he!
• Elisha refused to accept payment for what he had done. Why? What bad thing did his servant Gehazi do instead? This was bad not just because he was greedy. Elisha was at pains to point out that God healed Naaman through grace alone, and now Gehazi was trying to benefit from this grace by getting the silver and clothing.
• In Luke 4, Jesus points out an interesting thing about Naaman and the woman from Zarephath that we read about yesterday. What point is Jesus trying to make here?
• Our readings in the Old and New Testaments today have clear links. Who should we be thinking about whenever we are reading scripture, regardless of where it is in the bible?

Naaman was a foreigner – and not just any foreigner. The captain of the enemy army! You might have expected Elisha to heal an Israelite leper, but to help someone who normally wages war on you – well, that’s outrageous, isn’t it?! But that’s exactly what God is – outrageously gracious.

Look at Joram and Gehazi. They had both seen God work in their lives through what they saw, but they continued to not trust in Him. Gehazi even exploited God’s grace to steal. It’s interesting to see how people who were so close to the work of God in the world, but still abused or didn’t understand it.

Finally look at the servant to Naaman’s wife, and Naaman’s servants. These “lower” people were the true heroes today as they gently and bravely guided Naaman’s actions. God has “chosen the weak and foolish things of this world to make himself known” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Let’s use today’s stories to be thankful for the grace we have had made known to us, and to pray to see that grace poured out on all those around us – our enemies included.