Naaman Is Cured

Naaman is Cured

Q: How many times did Naaman dip in the Jordan River to be cured of leprosy?

• a. 1
• b. 3
• c. 7

Naaman, who was a commander of the Syrian army, had leprosy. Today there is a cure for leprosy, but there wasn’t in Bible times.

Naaman’s wife had a servant girl who’d been taken captive on one of his raids on Israel. The girl told Naaman’s wife, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

Naaman loaded up many expensive gifts and went to see the king of Israel. The king didn’t know what to do, but the prophet Elisha heard about Naaman and sent a message to have Naaman come and see him.

Naaman went to Elisha’s house. Because Naaman was commander of the army, he was used to being treated as an important man. But Elisha didn’t even come out of his house to talk to Naaman personally. He sent a servant to tell him, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

Naaman wanted Elisha to come out and cure him instantly. He didn’t want to wash in a river. Naaman’s servants reasoned with him, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’”

Naaman decided it was worth a try, so he went and dipped himself in the river seven times. Naaman was healed.

For You

When you ask God for something, he may not just give it to you. He may require you to act in faith in order to get what you want. Naaman wasn’t willing to do what was asked at first, but after he did, he got the cure he wanted. The same may be true for you.

Answer: c

Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!   2 Kings 5:14

(The Whole Story: 2 Kings 5:1-14)