2 Kings 5:1

New International Version

Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

For Encouragement

Yesterday, we talked about the explosion of knowledge, inventions, and wealth that has drawn humanity away from God. Today, we want to look at a condition that plagues all of us in different ways and at different levels through the story of an ancient Syrian Army General named Naaman. His story perfectly expresses how sin ruins every life despite our accomplishments.

Naaman had it all together in life—professional excellence, position, power, recognition, and fame. He was a valiant soldier and a great man in the sight of the Syrian king, and with all these came riches and fame. What else did such an accomplished man need?

Doesn’t this present a picture of how we evaluate people for recognition and according to respect—lives worth emulating? Yet we know nothing until a condition that eats at them and wets their pillows becomes apparent. In the reckoning of man, Naaman was successful, and therefore should be a cheerful man. But was he?

His story reveals a condition that overshadowed every accomplishment of his life. A four-letter clause at the end of his resume sounded louder than everything else on it: … but he had leprosy (2 Kings 5:1). Stop and think about it. That condition destroyed everything for him. Nothing in his long list of accomplishments could take care of his leprosy, and neither could anyone else.

His skin condition became his tormentor, symbolizing humanity’s spiritual state inherited from Eden (Genesis 3). It’s a sinful nature none of us can overcome or redeem ourselves from.

However impressive our personal profiles, the same phrase that dogged Naaman concludes our story—accomplished but sinful. One slip of tongue, an outburst of anger, a hint of one infidelity, and havoc and shame descend upon many reputable families, destroying professional accomplishments and social recognition.

Just as leprosy had no respect for Naaman’s spiffy personal profile, so sin is to each one of us. It does not discriminate socially, politically, economically, or even spiritually. God’s verdict is all-encompassing: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Isaiah adds: All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away (Isaiah 64:6).

Sin has shackled our souls in an incurable state and dragged us to death (Romans 6:23). But thank God for Christ Jesus! He is the perfect Lamb of God who has redeemed us from our sin condition. By His perfect sacrifice on Calvary, God gives us grace through faith in Jesus for our salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ took our sins on the cross and gave us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Just as Naaman received his cure by believing God’s ridiculous command to wash himself seven times in the River Jordan, we, too, receive our healing from sin by the Holy Spirit washing us in the blood of Jesus when we repent and ask for forgiveness. This call to salvation sounds ridiculous to us, too. Yet those who believe by faith receive the right to become God’s children (John 1:12-13), to receive His righteousness through Christ Jesus (Romans 3:22), and to have eternal dwelling with Him (John 14:3). The challenge is ours today.

Pray with Me

Thank you for the blood of Jesus that cures the leprosy of my soul, washes away my sins, and imputes His righteousness to me. I am forever grateful for your grace and the faith you gave me to believe through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. In Christ I pray, amen.  

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