Being Powerful

Commander Naaman, from Syria, contracted leprosy. His wife had a servant who had been kidnapped from Israel and enslaved in Syria. She suggested to her mistress that if Naaman were to go to the Israeli prophet Elisha, he could be healed.

Naaman asked permission to take leave from his duties as a warrior and go to Israel to see Elisha. Because Yahweh had given him favor, the Syrian king gave him a letter to take to the king of Israel. He took with him as the payment he expected to have to make: 660 lbs. of silver, 6000 pieces of gold, and ten changes of expensive clothing.

The king of Israel thought that the Syrian king was trying to start a fight with him. Elisha heard what was going on, and sent a message to the king instructing him to send Naaman to see him.

When Naaman arrived at his home, he sent his servant out to tell him to wash himself in the Jordan River and he would be healed. Naaman was insulted by the fact that he had an audience with the king, but that the prophet had sent out a slave to interact with him. It almost caused him to miss the healing encounter.

While in Capernaum, Jesus was approached by a Roman centurion who asked Him to heal his paralyzed servant. Without hesitation, Jesus said, “I will come and heal him.”

Let the mind that Jesus had about how to serve Yahweh be yours. He is a King, but was willing to serve the enemy of His nation and bring blessing.

2 Kings 5 / Matthew 8 / Philippians 2