Naaman's Challenge: Insights on Faith and Healing

1. Welcome To Week 12 Issue 225 March 20, 2019. First-Quarter SlainLamb Logos Study Genre: Biblical Insight/Formative

2. S L A I N L A M B Study topic Naaman’s Challenge

3. S L A I N L A M B STUDY Text 2 Kings 5:1-19. KJB

4. S L A I N L A M B STUDY Text 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 5 And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand [pieces] of gold, and ten changes of raiment. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, Now when this letter is come unto thee, behold, I have [therewith] sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy. 17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. 13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some] great thing, wouldest thou not have done [it]? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 11 But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12 [Are] not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. 3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord [were] with the prophet that [is] in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. 7 And it came to pass, when the king of Israel had read the letter, that he rent his clothes, and said, [Am] I God, to kill and to make alive, … 7 …, that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy? wherefore consider, I pray you, and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me. 15 …Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, …. 16 But he said, [As] the LORD liveth, before whom I stand, I will receive none. And he urged him to take [it]; but he refused. 8 And it was [so], when Elisha the man of God had heard that the king of Israel had rent his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, … 1 Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, … 18 …and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing. 8 …Wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. 1 …because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 18 In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, [that] when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, … 4 And [one] went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that [is] of the land of Israel. 9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 2 Kings 5:1-19. KJB 19 And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.

5. S L A I N L A M B This advice finally turned out to Naaman’s healing that he said ‘now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel’. (present day northern Iraq, southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran and, more recently, northwestern Syria). He further made a promise that ‘thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. Naaman the leper, given to his military victories, was very close to the King of Syria. He had captured some Israelites from where he had a maid for his wife who suggested to her that Naaman visits a man of G-D in her home country Israel and get rid of his malady. In Israel lepers were avoided but in Syria. The challenge to keeping this promise forms the bedrock for this study, viz-a-viz every Believer’s promises in Christ Jesus. Naaman was a leper, but a great soldier of Syria,

6. S L A I N L A M B Begins Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

7. S L A I N L A M B ~ The Divine Providence ~ 2 Kings 5:1Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, [but he was] a leper. Exodus 33:19And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. However, at the time Naaman took a maid for his wife he had no idea it was a divine providence. This does not prove that Naaman worshipped G-D as he had declared; thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. It pleased G-D to engineer his healing through the instrumentality of this Israelite slave maid of his wife. G-D had given him war victory and that he was close to his idolatrous king. But this is what we know of him, that as captain of the Syrian army, His case was same as every other heathen nations that defeated Israel in war as a judgment from G-D against Israel. Naaman had had a leper’s stigma for how long the Scriptures never stated. A clear confession he never worshipped G-D before to be blessed of G-D with war victories. This divine providence simply reaffirmed G-D’s prerogative of mercy in Exodus 33:19.

8. S L A I N L A M B ~ The Divine Healing ~ Naaman’s miracle was so profound and outstanding that he could not help but confessed the superiority of the Israelite G-D over every other god. 17 And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. 14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that [there is] no God in all the earth, but in Israel: … After all, the Syrian god, Rimmon, could not heal him all this while. 9 So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 2 King 5:9-10, 14 2 Kings 5:15, 17

9. S L A I N L A M B ~ Rimmon~ There is nothing much said of this god in the Bible than what we know here and in Zechariah 12:11. Rimmon, a probable leading Syrian god worshipped in Damascus. However, ancient history attributes control of wind, rain and storm to this heathen god. Exodus 20:3Thou shalt have no other gods before me. But this is what the Scripture said about gods,

10. S L A I N L A M B ~ Naaman’s Challenge ~ 2 Kings 5:18In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, [that] when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing. “20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended” (Matthew 13:20-21). However, Naaman was troubled over the fact that he will still have to bow down in the house of the Syrian god, Rimmon, when his master goes into the house to worship, leaning on his hand. Naaman was just at the very beginning stage of understanding G-D’s truth. Although he sounded sincere, he might have been one The other annoying fact is that many do not listen anymore to the Words of G-D to obeying them but to their religious leaders whose words are now the magister dixit (the master/teacher has spoken). 2 Kings 5:17for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. excusing it on allegiance to their bosses, ethnic customs, spouses, peer pressures, businesses and, others, believing G-D would understand their plight. Naaman may take all the blames or criticisms there is but it nonetheless has plagued many who profess Christianity to compromise their Faith, He expects G-D to understand his plight and pardon him when he does this. Naaman’s challenge was not peculiar to him or new to Believers in G-D back in the days, even today. Here (Naaman’s Challenge)is the essence of this study! Daniel’s three Hebrew friends refused to bow down before the image erected by King Nebuchadnezzar, and were willing to die for their refusal to do so (compare Daniel 3).

11. S L A I N L A M B ~ Elisha’s Response ~ Actually, should the words of any man, religious leader, be ‘the master/teacher has spoken’ (magister dixit) over that which G-D has presided upon? Elisha could do nothing more, but answered, ‘Go in peace,’ wishing Naaman the peace of G-D upon the road, without either approving or disapproving his religious conviction which he had expressed.” this was the same man who requested for two mules of Israeli soil from Elisha (an ancient belief soil is associated to gods of each land) to erect altar in Syria unto the G-D of Israel Whom he now avows to worship besides other gods. That Naaman specifically requested for PARDON to his conduct of accompanying the king into the temple of Rimmon and to bow down there with him means he understood that bowing down in front of an idol was wrong, Today, some have used 2 Kings 5:19 to mean that Elisha’s response was direct approval of Naaman’s expressed attitude towards idolatrous ceremonies, to justify their own supports to things the Scriptures were clearly against. 2 Kings 5:17And Naaman said, Shall there not then, I pray thee, be given to thy servant two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into [your] house, neither bid him God speed: accompanying our employer/employees or friends to wrong places of gathering we must not enter with believe that G-D would forgive so far as official duty or affinity required. 1 Corinthians 10:21Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. “For as Naaman had not asked permission to go with his king into the temple of Rimmon, but had simply said, ‘the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing’, This is, however, not the meaning of the passage in 2 Kings 5:17-19. Regardless of divergent views, the Bible clearly condemns such practices. Deuteronomy 12:30 …and that thou enquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. Elisha’s response to Naaman’s statement is very disturbing and has created strong divergent views amongst Christians. The difficulty with this passage gave room for views and questions like, 2 Kings 5:19And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way. No one serves two masters! Believers are specifically prohibits from even inquiring how gods are worshipped, (compare Deuteronomy 12:29-32). Especially when the Scripture was clear we should not bid such enterprises Godspeed as did Elisha. He knew his new faith would not allow for what he seeks, therefore, makes excuses to indulge and be pardoned. but simply gives the parting benediction, ‘Go in peace’, leaving the proposed conduct up to Naaman’s own judgment.” To apply this prohibition to our day and age, a true Christian must not If he did, why did he do it? Why did Elisha not clearly prohibit Naaman from doing so 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. even though he would do it in compliance with his duties toward the king. After all, therefore, non-committal, either approving or disapproving, on the declared course of action, Paul clearly explained that, we CANNOT partake of the Lord’s Table and of the table of devils. “Elisha’s prophetic commission not extending to any but the conversion of Israel from idolatry, The magister dixit here remains that spoken by G-D. “Did Elisha permit Naaman to worship idols in the temple of Rimmon Some say “Elisha apparently grants both request”, “Elisha’s ‘Go in peace’ was ambiguous”. child dedications, True Christians must not participate in activities derived from paganism. enter into religious gathering that are not of true Christian Faith in the name of weddings, bake cakes for homosexuals purported marriages, This describes many professors of the Christian Faith today. participate in pagan worship services, survival thanksgivings or, 2 John 1:10-11

12. S L A I N L A M B The little maid of Naaman’s wife is clear example that children should be early told of the wondrous works of G-D, that they may talk of them wherever they go. 2 Timothy 2:19Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Consequently, where G-D’s Word is clear about anything no one should seek for excuses either personal or from others, especially men of G-D to do on that which was proscribed already. but that the Believer already has a clear standard which is absolute to all irrespective of anyone’s approval, and must live by this standard. The crux of this study is not to ascertain whether Elisha permitted Naaman or not into the house of Rimmon, (Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.)

13. S L A I N L A M B End of Study Naaman’s Challenge

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17. S L A I N L A M B Pray for Nigeria Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. The SlainLamb Ministries • Psalms 122:6 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

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19. BENEDICTION SONG There is a Redeemer,Jesus, G-D's own Son,SlainLambof G-D, Messiah,Holy One, Thank You oh my Father,For giving us Your SlainLamb,And leaving Your Spirit,'til the work on earth is done.

20. BENEDICTION The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. In Jesus name! Numbers 6:24-26.