this
week I have been asking:
- where does this story fit in the overall Biblical story?
- why is this story even in the Bible?and I don’t know that I have the answer to either of those questions.this story could lead us into looking at a variety of topics, including: child trafficking, slavery, healing, war, washing and power.A bit of background, the books of 1 & 2 Samuel and 1 & 2 Kings, tell us about the kings of Israel, the way the prophets interacted with the Kings, and also the separation of Israel into the Southern and Northern Kingdoms, and the defeat and disintegration of the northern kingdom.Elijah and Elisha were both prophets in the Northern Kingdom, also known as Israel.When Elijah went to heaven, in a chariot, the mantle passed to Elisha – see 2 Kings 2. Then follows a series of stories where Elisha works miracles – purifying water; the provision of oil for the widow to sell; the birth of a son, and then his return from death; purifying a pot of stew; and a feeding miracle, which bring us to today’s story – the healing of Naaman.There are some twists and turns in this story. Naaman and Elisha didn’t just meet somewhere. Naaman was a warrior, an important person. In a raid against Israel, he took a young girl captive, and she became a slave for his wife.If you or I were ill, and someone suggested we see a particular person, a doctor or physio or whatever, you would ring up and make an appointment, but that isn’t how it worked in the time of Elisha.The slave girl, and this would have been a brave move for her, told Naaman’s wife of a prophet who could heal him. As the prophet was in another country, Naaman needed a letter to request passage – I guess that is a bit like a passport and visa.However, the King of Aram in writing to the King of Israel, got things a bit messed up. There is no reason why the King of Aram would have understood that it was a prophet rather than the King who could heal. This is a time when kings were the ultimate rulers, and we see that reinforced in the reaction of the King of Israel.Israel was continually under threat from various neighbours – larger more powerful nations, from border incursions like the one that took the slave girl to all-out war.Naaman and the King of Aram are working through diplomatic channels, all very appropriate, except, the king of Israel isn’t able to heal Naaman.While the slave girl knows of the prophet Elisha who can heal, the king of Israel seems to have no knowledge of him.is this going to be another round of battles?what will happen to Naaman?the skin condition must really be bugging him – he has travelled to another country, with a contingent of people and animals, carrying gifts to curry favour, and a letter of introduction to the King.Fortunately for Naaman, the prophet Elisha hears about the incident in the palace – and sends a messenger.Naaman is an important person, but he does want the skin condition cleared up, so he leaves the palace and heads off to less salubrious lodgings.Another problem –Elisha doesn’t come out to meet Naaman, so he gets the huffs – Naaman is an important person,
the rivers back home are better –
and he ends up outside the house of the prophet,
not inside the house,
Elisha doesn’t invite him in,
doesn’t meet him personally.
Naaman is standing out the front of the house, being told by a messenger to wash in the Jordan – not the ‘best’ river.after all this travel, Naaman is going off in a huff until his servants bring him back around, convincing him to at least give it a try.And he is healed – I don’t think it had anything to do with the water.Here we have a story where the powerful – the king of Aram, the King of Israel are not named.
Nor are the powerless – the slave girl, the messengers of Elisha, the servants of Naaman.
but without these people we would not have a story.One commentator talks of this section of 2 Kings being a series of ‘folk stories’. by that he means that these were stories people told over many years, stories that showed parts of life that had not come under Royal control. [i]remember a few weeks ago we looked at the story of Nathan confronting David – and we remembered how the people of Israel begged God for a King, just like the other nations. But Israel is not like the other nations, Israel is a nation under God, not King. the role of the prophets in calling the Kings to account, in reminding the people of their place as Gods people, makes Israel and Judah different.back to the questions I asked at the beginning: - where does this story fit in the overall Biblical story?
- why is this story even in the Bible?I still don’t have the answers, but I wonder if at least part of the reason for this story being included, along with some others is to remind Israel that it is God working through people – from slave girls to prophets – with the power to transform lives, to heal, to make whole.A reminder that the power of life and death is in the hands of God and not of Kings.For us today, that is also worth remembering. Forgiveness and grace are gifts of God, healing and wholeness are gifts of God, life in its fullness, hope, peace and joy – all are from God.Many churches today will be celebrating All Saints Day. Who are the people in your life who have had a significant influence in your life – my guess is that for most of you it won’t be the Queen or the Prime Minister, but a friend, a fellow worker, someone that most people will not know.When we think about powerful people, we often think about people with ‘positional’ power, that is people who have some level of power and authority because of their role. that is only one kind of power. The young girl used what little power she had, she could have stayed quiet, she could have not been compassionate and concerned about the person who carried her away from her family. But she did not. This young girl, who has no obvious power at all, is a vital part of the healing of Naaman.Who can you heal, whose life can you transform – not by telling them what to do, but by being compassionate?This morning we will meet around the table together,What is God offering you this morning?Where is God asking you to act as an agent of healing?
