The healing of Naaman - hope for the Middle East?
Proper 9 ; 2 Kings 5:1-14
It feels like the most dangerous time for the people of the Middle East.
Israel is said to be considering a 60 day ceasefire in Gaza: but the atrocities of October 7th 2023, carried out by Hamas, are still brutally alive in many Israeli people’s memories.
Meanwhile Palestinians in Gaza may well feel that after so many hundreds of people being killed trying to get aid, as well as the recent attack on a beach-front café in Gaza, the most they can hope for is a gap in the hostilities, rather than true lasting peace.
Against this back-drop, President Trump has ended US sanctions against Syria; and supported Israeli attacks against nuclear facilities in Iran.
These are dangerous times – and so it feels like a difficult time to read the Old Testament, as it documents some of the ancient battles between these warring enemies.
These are the Hebrew Scriptures, the foundational stories of Judaism: some would argue they are the foundational stories of modern Israel.
The God who created the world chooses Abraham and his family to begin a new people – the people God will guide and protect.
Through Joseph they escape famine by settling in Egypt.
Led by Moses, they leave slavery in Egypt to head for God’s promised safety.
By the fire and cloudy pillar God leads them through the desert to the Promised Land.
They defeat the previous occupiers of that land and settle.
Life is never easy, the land of Israel suffers invasion and hostility, but God send prophets to teach and judges and kings to lead, and the people are constantly reassured that God cares for them and God is with them.
But what does this mean for the modern state of Israel?
Is God automatically on their side against others?
These questions are not easy – and so perhaps this is the most vital time to read the Old Testament & to try to understand one of the stories of God at work among his people.
Because when we look at this story of Naaman, we do not find a story in which God simply protects his people, the people of Israel, and condemns all others to destruction. The love and protection of God is far more far-reaching than that.
Today’s story begins with a huge surprise.
“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favour with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram.”
Aram – more or less modern Syria (so you may well have heard this called the story of Naaman the Syrian) has defeated Israel in battle. The king of Israel has remained on his throne, but is subject to overall control by Aram.
Yet the writer of the Hebrew scriptures tells us that Naaman has only been victorious over Israel because the Lord God gave Naaman victory.
God is not only seen to be acting when Israel is victorious in battle – God is not just one among many competing tribal gods – God is God of all and has a love and concern which goes way beyond the people who know themselves to be the people of God.
God has been at work in the life of Naaman, even as he has been victorious over God’s people.
And God’s work is seen in the unfolding of this story in other surprising ways:
The first person to offer Naaman hope of a cure from his skin condition is his wife’s servant-girl – in fact a captive Israeli slave.
She speaks about Elisha (though she doesn’t name him) – God’s prophet who has miraculous powers.
Since succeeding Elijah, Elisha has purified the water supply for a city; inspired the army in a battle against people of Moab; rescued a poor widow by providing a huge supply of oil; raised a boy from death, and fed 100 men with just 20 barley loaves. At least some of these stories are known to the slave-girl, and she has faith in Elisha’s power to heal Naaman.
Comparing this to what we know in the modern day.
251 hostages were taken into Gaza on October 7th 2023. 146 have been freed in the 21 months since then; 83 are known to have died; 22 may still be being held captive.
Try to imagine one of those captives speaking out about a healer that they know, who could help the commander of the fighters holding them captive. This is a moment of the surprise of pure grace.
In response to the news of Elisha’s powers, Naaman is sent by his king to the king of Israel with gifts and with a letter demanding that Naaman is offered a cure.
The king of Israel can’t imagine how he could cure leprosy, and suspects this could be a way of picking a fight. But then Elisha hears of the request to heal, and tells the king of Israel to send Naaman to him.
Yet when Naaman arrives he doesn’t even go out to see Naaman, but sends a message telling him to wash seven times in the Jordan river. The river which then, as now, is the border between Israel and Syria is low-lying and not hugely impressive – and Naaman refuses to do as Elisha instructs.
Angrily, he exclaims “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?". He is a powerful man, used to winning his battles, and he judges the rivers by what he sees of their impressive power.
But here is another surprise in the story - God’s healing acts not just through and for the powerful; but through and for the weak and the poor.
Naaman’s servants persuade him to do what Elisha has said – to set his pride aside and wash in the Jordan.
God’s healing happens – and his skin is restored to being like that of a young boy.
God is present to people in surprising ways, but throughout all these events – the victory of Naaman, the slave-girl who speaks out, the word of Elisha, the simplicity of the waters of the Jordan – throughout all this, God is at work to bring people to wholeness and healing.
And so as we look at these same lands today, with peoples in conflict and terrible acts of violence and hatred casting fear over the whole region, we see all the same human failings – but we must not doubt that the same God is still at work.
When we pray for peace we might feel like a small and insignificant voice… as insignificant as the slave-girl.
We might doubt the motives of some leaders – but need to be ready to hear the voice of a prophet telling us what God’s will is for each country.
We might feel that we cannot claim God’s love and care for any of these countries – or may be appalled at the loud voices claiming God is on their side – but this whole story of Naaman shows us the God who loves every one of the children of this earth.
God’s care is for all the people of the middle East – and we must join our voices to pray for the healing God surely wills. Even when we cannot see how there can be peace, we are called as followers of Jesus to pray and work until we hear God’s call to life in all its fulness – for our neighbours, for our enemies, for ourselves.
May the God of Naaman, of the nameless slave, of Elisha, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, be with us and touch us this day in the name of Jesus, the prince of Peace. Amen.
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