The parents of that Hebrew maid, as they taught her of God, did not know the destiny that would be hers. But they were faithful to their trust; and in the home of the captain of the Syrian host, their child bore witness to the God whom she had learned to honor.
(PK 246.1)
MC
VC
Naaman heard of the words that the maid had spoken to her mistress; and, obtaining permission from the king, he went forth to seek healing, taking with him “ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment.”2 Kings 5:5. He also carried a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel, in which was written the message, “Behold, I have ... sent Naaman my servant to thee, that thou mayest recover him of his leprosy.”2 Kings 5:6. When the king of Israel read the letter, “he rent his clothes, and said, Am I God, to kill and to make alive, 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.”2 Kings 5:7.
(PK 246.2)
MC
VC
Tidings of the matter reached Elisha, and he sent word to the king, saying, “Wherefore has thou rent thy clothes? let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”2 Kings 5:8.
(PK 246.3)
MC
VC
“So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha.”2 Kings 5:9. Through a messenger the prophet bade him, “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”2 Kings 5:10.
(PK 246.4)
MC
VC
Naaman had expected to see some wonderful manifestation of power from heaven. “I thought,” he said, “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.”2 Kings 5:11. When told to wash in the Jordan, his pride was touched, and in mortification and disappointment he exclaimed, “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 Kings 5:12.
(PK 246.5)
MC
VC
The proud spirit of Naaman rebelled against following the course outlined by Elisha. The rivers mentioned by the Syrian captain were beautified by surrounding groves, and many flocked to the banks of these pleasant streams to worship their idol gods. It would have cost Naaman no great humiliation of soul to descend into one of those streams. But it was only through following the specific directions of the prophet that he could find healing. Willing obedience alone would bring the desired result.
(PK 249.1)
MC
VC
Naaman’s servants entreated him to carry out Elisha’s directions: “If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing,” they urged, “wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?”2 Kings 5:13. The faith of Naaman was being tested, while pride struggled for the mastery. But faith conquered, and the haughty Syrian yielded his pride of heart and bowed in submission to the revealed will of Jehovah. Seven times he dipped himself in Jordan, “according to the saying of the man of God.” And his faith was honored; “his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”2 Kings 5:14.
(PK 249.2)
MC
VC
Gratefully “he returned to the man of God, he and all his company,” with the acknowledgment, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.”2 Kings 5:15.
(PK 249.3)
MC
VC
In accordance with the custom of the times, Naaman now asked Elisha to accept a costly present. But the prophet refused. It was not for him to take payment for a blessing that God had in mercy bestowed. “As the Lord liveth,” he said, “I will receive none.” The Syrian “urged him to take it; but he refused.”2 Kings 5:16.
(PK 250.1)
MC
VC
“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. 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, 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.”2 Kings 5:17, 18.
(PK 250.2)
MC
VC
“And he said unto him, Go in peace. So he departed from him a little way.”2 Kings 5:19.
(PK 250.3)
MC
VC
Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, had had opportunity during the years to develop the spirit of self-denial characterizing his master’s lifework. It had been his privilege to become a noble standard-bearer in the army of the Lord. The best gifts of Heaven had long been within his reach; yet, turning from these, he had coveted instead the base alloy of worldly wealth. And now the hidden longings of his avaricious spirit led him to yield to an overmastering temptation. “Behold,” he reasoned within himself, “my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought: but ... I will run after him, and take somewhat of him.”2 Kings 5:20. And thus it came about that in secrecy “Gehazi followed after Naaman.”2 Kings 5:21.
(PK 250.4)
MC
VC