The Mercy of God

God’s Mercy is available to all
2 Kings 5
“Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel.”

The story of Naaman is one of the familiar stories in 2 Kings. At first glance, it is a story of God healing a leper in an unlikely manner. But delve deeper, and the story is rich in meaning as various characters are highlighted. Each tells a story and provides a lesson.  

First, we have Naaman, a captain of the armies of Aram who had earned the respect of his master and obtained victory in battle. Yet he is plagued by the worst disease and one that would alienate him from others: the condition of leprosy. What is most remarkable about Naaman is that he was not just gentile; he was the leader of the Aramean army, which was the enemy of Israel. Thus, we are immediately faced with the question, will God heal an enemy of Israel?  

The second individual in the story is a little Israelite girl who had been taken captive during one of the forays of the Arameans into Israel. Even though an exile in a foreign land, this unnamed girl reveals remarkable character and faith. Although violently removed from her home, she did not become bitter or resentful. Instead, she becomes a witness for the God of Israel like other exiles like Daniel, Mordecai, Ezra, and Nehemiah. Through her testimony, she becomes the unsung hero of the story (vs. 2-3). Thus she serves as a lesson for us to be a witness for Christ where God has placed us.

The third character of the story is the King of Israel, Jehoram, whose lack of faith in God’s power resulted in fear (6-7). Instead of seeing this as an opportunity to display God’s power to the enemies of Israel, he saw it only as a trap to lead to further conflict.

The fourth individual is Elisha. Elisha is rising in influence and recognition as the prophet of God. He is a man of God who sees all people as objects of God's redemptive purpose. So instead of turning Naaman away, he saw it as an opportunity to display God's power to the gentiles (vs. 8).

The fifth character is Naaman’s servant, who intervenes when Naaman balks at the idea of washing in the Jordan river. In a subtle rebuke, this humble servant saves the Naaman from a disastrous mistake and shows greater wisdom than Naaman himself.

The sixth character in the story is Gehazi, the servant of Elisha. His greed and desire to use God’s power for his advantage resulted in his judgment. Because of his greed, he would end up as a leper and outcast of his people.

But the most essential character of the story is God himself. The real question is not about the power of Elisha but about the grace of God. Does God’s grace extend to even the enemies of Israel? Not only does God demonstrate his grace, but he gives Naaman something far more significant than he sought. Naaman came to Elisha seeking healing from leprosy, but God gave him spiritual healing. In verse 15, we find the confession of a man who surrendered his life to the God of Israel. In so doing, God again affirms the promise in Genesis 12:1-3; that he would bless all nations through Abraham. Yet in Naaman’s confession of faith, there is a rebuke of the people of Israel who had rejected God and embraced gods that could not heal (see Luke 4:17). As a result, Israel was not healed either physically or spiritually.

This story, rich in nuance and application, points us to the power of God’s grace. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, God’s grace extends to the most unlikely people. The story of the Old Testament was not just the story of Israel but God’s redemptive plan for all humanity. No matter who we are or what our past may be, God’s grace is available to us. All that is needed is a willingness to surrender to him.