Sometimes, the most crippling condition isn’t of the body, but of the heart. And sometimes, healing comes simply from tending to the heart. Such was the case of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian king’s army during the time of the prophet Elisha. Naaman was highly respected, honored by his king and people for securing great victories in battles. He had prestige, power, and wealth – everything that signified success. Yet beneath it all, he was deeply afflicted, suffering from leprosy. 2 Kings 5 recounts his story as follows:

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.’ And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, ‘Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel’ (2 Kings 5:1-4, NKJV).

Life is unpredictable, and we must never forget how vulnerable we truly are. Often, the ones we least expect become the very people who extend a hand in our darkest moments. Naaman’s condition was severe enough for his servant to notice, and it was this very servant who took the initiative to help him. What makes this young servant’s actions so remarkable is that she had been kidnapped – ripped from her family by the Syrian army. One would expect her to harbor resentment or seek revenge. Yet, in an extraordinary act of kindness and mercy, she chose to help her own enemy. She must have deeply understood the love and power of God to suggest such a daring course of action, knowing that Naaman’s failure to be healed could have cost her own life. Still, in the midst of adversity, she saw not just hardship but an opportunity to serve God. She realized that He had placed her there for a purpose – to demonstrate the power of forgiveness and love, not only to bring healing to another, but to heal the wounds within her own heart.

Later, Naaman shared everything the young servant told him with his king. In response, the king grants him permission to travel to Samaria, saying,

‘Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, ‘Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.’ And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, ‘Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me’ (2 Kings 5:6-7, NKJV).

The king of Syria sends Naaman directly to the king of Samaria, perhaps assuming that earthly rulers have greater access to God due to their power. Naaman also ignored the servant girl’s specific instructions; he went straight to the king, bringing silver, gold, and letters of recommendations from his king. How often do we, like Naaman, disregard the words of God’ servants simply because they lack prestige or formal theological credentials? How often do we seek powerful figures to sway outcomes in our favor before the favor of God Himself? Naaman relied on political connections, believing that those in authority could influence divine discissions. But he failed to realize that God cannot be manipulated. He is unimpressed by titles, wealth, or influence – for He owns all, having crated all. Nor can he be confined to an image, because He is infinitely great. And yet, in His greatness, He loves us and desires a relationship with us.

When the king of Israel received the letter from the king of Syria, he assumed it was an attempt to provoke conflict. But when Elisha heard of this, he instructed the king to send Naaman to him (2 King 5:7-8). By this point, Naaman was desperate – willing to do anything to be healed. Perhaps his leprosy had worsened to the point where his skin was falling off in pieces, each painful reminder of the little time he had left. In moments of extreme adversity, we often find ourselves willing to do whatever it takes to seek a cure or solution. It is in the depths of our greatest struggles that we are forced to confront our pride, surrender our sense of self-importance, and humble ourselves before God. And that is precisely what Naaman did – he set aside his status and went to see the prophet, just as his servant had advised.

Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’ Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage (2 Reyes 5:9-12).

On his way to see the prophet, Naaman envisioned how the miracle would unfold. He expected an elaborate ceremony, perhaps a sacrifice to be required of him. He had traveled far, brining valuable gifts – at the very least, he anticipated a formal welcome from Elisha. But to his shock, the prophet didn’t even greet him in person. Instead, Elsha sent his servant with a simple instruction: go and wash in the Jordan. Naaman was furious. This was not how miracles were supposed to happen, and now he felt as though he had wasted his time chasing after a man who seemed oblivious to power structures and had given him instructions that made no sense.

‘Go and wash in the Jordan? That’s it? Not even a ritual or a sacrifice?’ Naaman may have thought. He had lived his life earning victories through battle, fighting with his own hands to achieve success. So, receiving something that required no effort on his part felt unnatural. His own servants recognized this about him, as seen in their words: “My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (2 Kings 5:13, NKJV). Servants often know their masters well – their proximity allows them to observe even the smallest details of their lives. They understood that if Elisha had commanded Naaman to do something grand, something that demanded strength or skill, he would have done it without hesitations. But because he was asked to do something so simple, so effortless, he felt humiliated.

But let’s not be too quick to judge Naaman – how often do we, too, struggle with the same sense of greatness? When the Lord calls us to simple tasks, we grumble, evade, and even resist, wishing He would instead assign us something grand. We claim to be committed to His Kingdom, eager to do great things for His glory, but deep down, we long to display our own greatness.

Naaman’s greatest affliction was not his physical leprosy, but the pride that plagued his soul. He failed to see that his status and power couldn’t save him – in fact, they became the very barriers to his healing. Yet, thanks to the pleading of his servants, he finally humbled himself and obeyed the prophet’s command. “So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean (2 Kings 5:14).  Thank God for the people in our lives who dare to confront us, who help us recognize what pride keeps us from seeing.

At last, Naaman submerged himself in the Jordan – along with his pride. Not only was he healed of leprosy, but his soul was restored as well. 2 Kings 5: 15-16 recounts how Naaman returned to Elisha and declared, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel.” He had encountered the Creator of the Universe and recognized that all other gods were false. If you continue reading his story, you will find a man transformed – not just physically, but spiritually – by the love and power of the living God.

Just as leprosy once afflicted Naaman, many deadly diseases threaten to take our lives. But the truth is, our days are numbered regardless. The most devastating condition, however, is not of the body, but of the soul – when we choose to live apart from the Lord. Christ came to forgive our sins, heal our afflictions, and save our souls. Yet forgiveness cannot reach those who refuse to acknowledge their flaws; healing cannot come to those who deny their sickness; and salvation cannot touch those who don’t believe they need it. That kind of spiritual leprosy is impossible to cure.

The salvation Jesus Christ offers is simple. Yet some reject simplicity, dismissing His sacrifice as ancient and inadequate. Instead, they seek something complex – traditional rituals, personal sacrifices, and even acts of kindness – believing they can manipulate God and secure their own safety. But in doing so, they offend the heart of God, undermining the power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Ezekiel 33:12 reminds us that the wickedness of the wicked shall not cause him to fall if he turns to God, but the righteousness of the righteous shall not save him if he turns away. In other word, there is no sin too great for the blood of Christ to cleanse, but there is no one so righteous that they do not need His forgiveness. Salvation is a gift – receive it today and seek God while He may be found. And if you have already accepted His grace, nurture your relationship with Him. Meditate on His word, confess your pride – and other shortcomings – and surrender your heart before Him every day of your life.