Reflection
A Good Story During Lent
Such wonderful stories in the Book of Kings! A precious, unquestionably confident child who offers a healing remedy to a mighty general through his wife. This child, taken from Israel, has listened to her elders tell of the wonders of the God of Israel, and has also heard of the prophet who lives in Samaria. I would love to meet her when she grows up. I wonder how Naaman and his wife will reward her?
The king of Aram is interesting. We hear that the Lord has given this king victory. The Lord has worked through him and has been in his life, although he is not of the chosen people. Yes, here in the Book of Kings, where it is almost impossible to find a king who listens to and does the will of the God of Israel, the one we read about today is not one of the chosen people. Later, we learn that the king is old and he leans on the arm of his general Naaman when he goes to offer sacrifices to the god of the Arameans. This king of the Arameans is ok! Wouldn’t this grandfatherly old fellow enjoy listening to the stories that the little girl who serves Naaman’s wife could share? And, wouldn’t it be good if the king of Israel had the faith of such a child, the kindness and courtesy of the foreign king, and the trust that God desires him to have and so care for Israel?
The prophet Elisha offers Naaman a cure for his leprosy. Naaman foresees the dilemma – how to follow two gods? The prophet Elisha tells him ‘go in peace’, don’t fear, all will be well.
No one likes to be ignored or treated rudely – especially generals. And so when Naaman reacts with ‘rage’ it is understandable. His servants don’t run for cover, they approach him with sympathy and understanding. “Indeed how strange and what a simple solution; yes, that prophet didn’t come to meet you; very disrespectful, hummm. We did come to the right prophet, maybe he is just strange? Oh, also, we all heard him say, ‘you shall be clean, go and wash. What a simple thing to tell you to do, and we made such a long journey. Want to give it a try? It is a beastly hot day here in Samaria”.
Naaman’s loyal servants knew how to do their best to help and handle him when he didn’t have to be a general and swing a sword.
Naaman comes right back to the prophet’s house with sparkling new skin like that of a young boy. With a big smile he wanted to show off his healed skin to the prophet. After all, leprosy was a death sentence. Elisha said something like, ‘Now that wasn’t so bad was it?’ They were both happy and relaxed. Two best friends forever having put aside expectations. The general and his retinue were confirmed in the earlier suggestion that the prophet was strange, especially when he would not accept gifts from the General. Not a problem, strange can be good!
After he had finally arrived home, and given his wife an account of his healing, Naaman concluded by adding: “And the prophet thought my creative suggestion to take home a few chariots full of earth from Israel a very good idea.”
Do you think they brought the little girl in to listen to Naaman’s story too? Perhaps it was not a big surprise for her; but she liked the happy ending. I suspect the prophet laughed a little thinking of his king foolishly ruining his beautiful garments. He wondered if his king would offer God praise or what the King of Aram would think, and how dear Naaman with the skin of a child would deal with his dilemma of two gods and his pile of dirt. Another day being a prophet…a king…a servant…a traveler on the road of Lent.
