The Bible is hard to read and understand without guidance. That may be especially true of the Hebrew Scriptures which are often confusing, sometimes offensive. But today's pericope is quite clear and may consist of a mix of historical and mythic elements, as is often the case. Our protagonist today is said to be an Aramean like Abraham. Naaman is also a professional military leader, an army commander who serves the King of Aram. Our scripture [II Kings 5: 1-14] also tells us that God has given victory to Naaman; that is unusual, as God is normally depicted as only supporting Israel, not any other nation. Most significantly, Naaman has leprosy. That means that, if were in Israel, he would have been judged accursed by God and excluded from religious and civil life. He certainly wouldn't be at the top of the military. But he is from Aram. The Jewish restrictions on leper seem to derive from the very strange Jewish obsession with not mixing unlike elements. A few examples: One cannot plough, using two unlike beasts. One cannot grow two different grains in the same field. One cannot make fabric from two different fibres. One cannot cross-breed two different kinds of cattle. And in the instant matter, two different shades of skin on the same person is unclean.
Now what we call leprosy today is Hansen's disease, which is incurable. That is not what our friend Naaman has. In the days of old, the term "leprosy" meant any one of several virulent skin diseases, which were curable. (Jewish priests served to certify when people had been healed of their disorder.) Naaman needs a cure, A slave girl, whom he owns owing to a prior military conquest, serves as his wife's servant. The girl, presumably being from Israel and caring for her master, recommends a holy man in Samaria (then Jewish territory), Elisha. Naaman is pumped and asks his king for a letter of reference to give to the King of Israel. Armed with the letter and a lot of money and assets for gifts, Naaman heads to Israel. When the King of Israel reads the letter, he thinks he is personally charged with responsiblity for a cure and he has a panic attack, tearing his clothes. Prophet Elisha soon hears about his king's meltdown and summons Naaman.
When our hero arrives, he apparently expects to be greeted warmly by the prophet and to be cured utilizing some fancy rituals. Instead, before he gets to Elisha's house, a messenger comes from the prophet, directing Naaman to go and dip into the Jordan River seven times. Naaman is not amused. Complaining of the lack of personal greeting and the unattractive, unpleasant condition of the Jordan, his servants react by saying: "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it?..." So Naaman goes, follows the instructions, and gets his miracle cure.
I submit that you and I are likely to see ourselves in one of these characters and learn a real spiritual lesson. Perhaps, like Naaman, you want to be healed, to be made whole, but only on your terms. Maybe you are like the King of Israel who thinks everything is his responsibility and can't delegate. Could it be that, like Elisha, you have a gift to heal those who are hurting? Or, like other characters, you may have a gift of discernment, or "connections" to bring people together. Read this tale again later. See if there may be a word there for you, to help you be more effective in your own ministry.
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