Children Bible Overview 74 21/09/08

TO SAVE ISRAEL, MAN OF GOD, ELISHA HEALED NAAMAN,

THE GENERAL OF ARAM

Teachers to read bible scripture: <2 Ki 5:1-27>

Children to memorize bible scripture: <1 The 5:20-22>

Recap
Children, in the past few weeks, we saw how man of God, Elisha spoke God’s powerful word and
helped God’s people, as well as blessed people who revered God. Today, we see how man of God,
Elisha, healed a Gentile in order to save Israel.

Introduction
When Elisha became Israel’s prophet, God’s land of Israel was continually being taken advantage of
by the land of Aram. There was a very powerful general from Aram named Naaman. He led the army
of Aram to victories in every battle. But one day, he had leprosy and nobody could heal him. Naaman
had a young girl from Israel to serve his wife. The young girl told her mistress, “The leprosy that my
master has can only be healed by Israel’s prophet, Elisha.” Naaman then brought with him lots of
silver and gold to where Elisha stayed, hoping to see him. However, Elisha sent a servant to tell him
to wash himself in the Jordan river seven times. When General Naaman heard that, he felt insulted
and said, “Elisha should at least come out to me. Not only did he not see me, he even told me to
cleanse myself in the dirty Jordon river seven times!” However, Naaman’s servants continued to tell
him to do what Elisha said. So Naaman went to wash himself in the Jordan river seven times. Indeed,
his leprosy was completely healed! Naaman and his servants then went back to look for Elisha. They
stood in front of him saying, “Now I know that other than Israel’s Lord, God, there is no God in all the
world! From today onwards, other than the Lord, God, I will not worship other gods.” Thereafter, he
persuaded Elisha to keep the gold and silver that he brought but Elisha refused to accept. Naaman
begged him to keep them three times but he still refused. Naaman then left the place. However,
Elisha’s servant, Gehazi was greedy and stealthily hurried after Naaman and his servants saying, “My
master sent me to say that there are two young men who went to see him. Please give them some
silver and clothes.” Naaman said, “By all means.” He hence gave Gehazi some silver and clothes.
After Gehazi accepted the things, he went back to Elisha. When Elisha found out about what
happened, he rebuked Gehaz, “Is this the time to take money and to accept the clothes? What you
did harmed Israel and caused the king of Aram to look down on Israel!” Therefore, Gehazi had
leprosy.

1. Man of God, Elisha knew God’s great plan to save Israel

1) Man of God, Elisha knew that the king of Aram looked down on Israel, and therefore
always took advantage and attacked Israel. The king of Israel also did not have the
confidence or power to deal with army of Aram. However, the great plan of God was to save
Israel.
2) Therefore, when man of God, Elisha prayed for Israel, one day, the most powerful
and brave General who led the entire army of Aram, Naaman had leprosy. There
was no one in Aram who could heal him. Therefore, man of God Elisha knew that the
leprosy was God’s plan and that through him, Naaman could be healed, so that
Naaman could know and revere Israel’s Lord, God.
3) Man of God, Elisha knew that once General Naaman was healed and knew Israel’s
Lord, God, he and the king of Aram would not look down on Israel and not take
advantage of Israel as they liked. As such, the land of Israel could therefore receive
peace.
Must ponder: Why was it that Elisha had such wisdom and perspective to see God’s
entire great plan?
Must realize: It was because Elisha had a heart that loved God and God’s people.
This heart caused him to see God’s entire great plan.
2. In the process of Elisha healing Naaman the General, he wanted him to know
Israel’s God and therefore would not dare to take advantage of Israel in future
1) First, Elisha did not go out to meet Naaman the General but asked his servants to instruct
Naaman, according to his words. That was to allow Naaman to know that if he wanted to
receive God’s healing, he had to first humble himself before God and submit to His word.
2) Second, for Naaman to receive healing, he could not go to other rivers to be
cleansed but had to definitely go to Jordan river in Israel to get healed. That was to
allow Naaman to know that regardless of how Israel seemed to be small, Israel was
royal, the Israelites were people loved by God. Therefore, he should not belittle Israel
and invade them as and when he liked.
3) Third, for Naaman to be healed, he had to be cleanse seven times. It may seem
troublesome (cleanse, get up, go in again). However, that was a count determined by
God which was for Naaman to remember clearly that the reason why he could be
healed was because the Lord, God healed him and not because of Man’s power or
coincidence. Therefore, he worshipped the Lord, God in his lifetime and would no
longer invade Israel.

3. Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, was greedy and hence spoilt God’s great plan
1) Satan’s work is to often caused people to be selfish and greedy (do not love God or
people, but the starting point is for one’s own benefit). Gehazi was deceived by
Satan and only thought about himself but did not consider the whole of Israel nor the
impending crisis Israel faced.
2) Therefore, what he did caused Naaman and the king of Aram to subsequently look down on
Israel and wanted to invade Israel. This was because the king of Aram thought that the
reason why Israel’s prophet healed his General was for money and his own benefit…
3) Hence, the leprosy that General Naaman had in the past for attacking Israel was
passed to Gehazi’s body.
Ponder: Are we the same as Gehazi, where due to our occasional selfishness and
greediness, caused many inconvenience and hurt to the church, our parents,
brothers and sisters and the friends beside us? If so, must reflect and restore the
heart of Elisha, which loves God and people.