Print this Lesson Naaman
2 Kings 5:1-18
My name is Naaman and as captain of the the Army of the King of Syria. I hold a very important position. I have always tried to do right, but people in my country do not worship the God of Israel, but bow down to idols made of stone or wood. One day when my soldiers made war against God's people they captured some of the people of Israel that were not killed and brought them to our land to be sold as slaves.

Among the people who were sold was a little girl who came to live in my household. This little girl was so sad since she missed her family and friends, but she continued to worship God as her parents had taught her. She worked very hard and soon learned to do the work as maidservant to my wife.

For some time I have suffered from the dreaded disease of leprosy-a disease everyone fears-where painful sores covered my body. Watching me suffer also made the little girl feel bad. One day she said to my wife, "I wish my Master, Naaman, could go to the land of Israel where I used to live. There is a prophet of God who could cure him."

This news sounded too good to be true to me! When the King of Syria heard about this he gave me gifts of beautiful robes, gold and silver to take to the King of Israel. He sent a letter to the King asking him to make me well.

My servants quickly prepared my chariot for the trip and I told my wife and the little girl goodbye. When we arrived at the palace of the King of Israel, he read the letter and became very angry. He said, "Does the King of Syria think I can cure leprosy? Only God can do that! He must be trying to start a fight with me."

When the prophet, Elisha, heard about this he sent a message to the King, "Send Naaman to me. He will learn there is a prophet in Israel."

Since I am such an important man in my country, I expected when we came to Elisha's house that he would come out, bow down, and perform some kind of cure. I was disappointed that he only sent a servant out to tell me to go to the Jordan River and wash my body seven times. He said that if I would do this my sores would be gone and I would be cured. I was so upset that I decided to turn my chariot around and go home. I did not understand why he told me to go to the muddy Jordan River since we have much more beautiful rivers in my country.

My servants pleaded with me to do as Elisha asked since it was not all that hard, so I decided to go to the Jordan River. As I dipped myself one time and came up I looked at my arms and legs and the sores were still there. Two, three, four, five, and six times there was no change. When I came up the seventh time, my leprosy was all gone! I was well!!!

I knew the little girl and Elisha were right. This must be the true God! No idol could ever cure leprosy. I decided I would always worship the true God of Israel.

I was very happy as I returned home. The little servant girl was happy too. Not only had she helped her Master to be cured of this terrible disease, but she helped me to know the true God in heaven.

My story comes from the book of 2 Kings in the Old Testament. I would like to ask you some questions about me.