A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                  AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART X

"I, Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, am full of gratitude.... I was full of pride.... But no longer.... I  am only full of gratitude.... Gratitude to the prophet of Israel.... And gratitude to his God.... I returned to the home of the prophet after my miraculous healing.... I wanted to express my gratitude to him by giving him a gift.... This time I did speak to the prophet... However, he refused to receive my gift.... I then asked for a gift from him.... I asked for a gift of soil.... I determined that from that day on I would only bring sacrifices to the Lord and no longer to any other god.... I must now go home and share the good news of my healing with my family.... And I must thank the servant girl for introducing me to the prophet of Samaria.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn of Naaman's gratitude towards the Lord....


                   ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                    AN INSTRUMENT OF HEALING PART X

Naaman rides back to Elisha's home. This time his heart is no longer full of pride but full of gratitude to the prophet and to the God of Israel who has healed him. And he determines that from now on he will serve the God of Israel as you can read in II Kings 5:15-19a.

Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. Please accept now a gift from your servant." The prophet answered, "As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. "If you will not," said Naaman, "please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offering and sacrifices to any other god but the Lord. But may the Lord forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the Temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also - when I bow down in the Temple of Rimmon, may the Lord forgive your servant for this." "Go in peace," Elisha said.

Naaman can't wait to get home. There is so much he has to share. He has become a transformed man and he knows it.

                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART IX

"I, Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, went to the river Jordan... I was not expecting a miracle... But I went to please my servants.... Once I got to the river Jordan, I got into the water... I wanted it to be over quickly.... If this prophet was a prophet of God as he claimed, then something should at least have begun to happen after I first dipped in the water.... But I was as leprous as before when I came up out of the water after the first time... At least it seemed to prove my point that this man was a false prophet... Anyway, I should have another dip.... So I did... Still no change in my leprous condition.... I really wanted to give up dipping into the water after the fourth time since there was still not change.... But my servants encouraged me to carry on.... Only three more times they said.... So I put myself under the water for the fifth time..... Then the sixth time.... Still no change.... Anyway, this humiliating experience was nearly over.... I had to do it only one more time... So I did... When I came up out of the water I did not recognise my skin... It was no longer leprous.... It was healthy looking... And I was not dreaming... It was true... I really had been healed of leprosy!".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn what has happened to Naaman after he has dipped into the water of the river Jordan seven times....


                 
               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART IX

When Naaman gets to the river he begins to dip himself into the water. It is true, he has been told he has to do it seven times. However, he hopes that he will be healed after the first dip already. But that does not happen for, when he comes up out of the water after the first time, he is still as leprous as ever. So he dips into the water for the second time. But still there is no change.    He dips into the water for the third time. Still nothing has happened to his skin condition. He is about to give up but his servants encourage him to go on for, after all, he is supposed to dip into the water seven times. For their sake, he dips into the water for the fourth time. Again, no change. The fifth time, still no change. Even the sixth time, as expected, there is no change to his skin condition. He really would like to give up but, it is true, he only needs to take one more dip and so he goes under the water one more time. And when he comes up out of the water this time, everything is different, for this time his skin is as smooth and beautiful as that of a young boy as you can read in II Kings 5:14

So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven time, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

The miracle has happened. He has been healed just as the man of God told him would happen.

 



                              A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                   AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART VIII

"I, Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, was about to tell my servants that we are going back home.... I was so upset about the rude treatment of the prophet Elisha.... I did not think I could stay another moment here in this nation Israel.... First of all, I had the king of Israel tear his robes in my presence.... Then I had the experience of a prophet refusing to see me to perform his healing over me.... Only to be told by his servant to wash myself in his river seven times.... Seven times!!... How ridiculous.... Why would I have to dip myself seven times?.... Can I not be healed after I have dipped into the water just one time?.... But then my servants spoke to me.... They called me their father.... All of them consider me their father... And I feel I am their father.... So I calmed down.... They asked me to go to the river Jordan and wash myself.... May be I should go there after all.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn that the servants of Naaman are able to persuade him to go to the river Jordan....


                  ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES
          
                                      AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART VIII

Naaman is about to leave when his servants begin to speak to him. Their care for him is very obvious from the way they address him as "my father." They are able to calm him down and go to the river Jordan after all as you can read in II Kings 5:13

Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he tells you, "Wash and be cleansed?"

Naaman is still not convinced that going to the river Jordan is of any use but he is willing to give it a try for the sake of his servants.

                  
                                 A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART VII

"I, Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, am furious.... I have just arrived at the home of the prophet Elisha.... I expect him to know who I am..... That I am a very important soldier in the army of my nation.... That I am greatly respected by the king of my nation.... He should have come out in person  and perform his magic over me....After all, he claims to be a prophet who can heal me of my leprosy.... But all he has done is to send his servant to me.... And the servant told me to wash myself seven times in his river, the river Jordan.... How ridiculous.... This prophet is obviously a false prophet.... I will go home and wash myself in one of my own rivers.... At least I will be clean then.".... Please read the typed out attachment when we will learn of Naaman's frustration with the prophet's Elisha's treatment of him....


              ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                  AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART VII

The words of the prophet Elisha hurt the pride of the Naaman so much that he flies into a rage and declares that he may as well go hime and wash in of the rivers in his own country for they are much better than the river Jordan as you can read in II Kings 5:11-12

But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the sport and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters in Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.

As far as Naaman is concerned, there is no reason to stay in Israel any longer.

                                A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                       AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART VI

"I, Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, have now gone to the home of the prophet Elisha.... I have already been to the palace.... My visit to the palace did go well.... At least, initially.... The king received my gifts.... I could see that these gifts put him in a good mood.... However, things changed very quickly after he opened the letter I had taken with me from my king, the king of Aram.... It became soon clear that the letter greatly distressed him becuaase he tore his robes as soon as he had read it.... I did not quite know what to do so I just waited.... I knew too that the king would not be able to cure me.... Did that mean I have wasted my time coming over here?.... The king eventually calmed down.... But that only happened after he had received a note.... The note had come from a prophet named Elisha.... Elisha invited me to go to his home so I did.... However, when I arrived, I expected the prophet to come out and receive me personally into his home as an honoured guest... That did not happen....The prophet just sent his servant to me.... I have now been told to wash myself in the river Jordan seven times.... Such rude behaviour... Does the prophet not know who I am?.... That I am the commander of the army of Aram who is greatly respected by the king of Aram himself?".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about Naaman's visit to the home of the prophet Elisha...


             ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                    AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING  PART VI

 However, no magic takes place. In fact when Naaman arrives at the door of Elisha's home the prophet Elisha does not even come out but sends his servant with a message as you can read in II Kings 5:9

So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

The message states that Naaman is to wash himself in the river Jordan and to do it not just once or twice but to do it seven times!

                            A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                 AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART V

"I, Elisha, the prophet of God, had heard that the king had torn his robes.... That could only mean one thing....He was greatly distressed about a situation.... I knew that I needed to find out the cause behind his distress.... Was the nation in danger of drawn into war?..... I had heard a visitor from Aram had arrived at the court....The commander of the army.... But this visitor had arrived with many gifts.... He could, therefore, not have spoken of starting a war between our two countries.... I then learned that the visitor had brought a letter with him from the king of Aram... And in this letter the king of Aram had asked the king of Israel to cure the commander of his leprosy.... I realised the aolution to the king's problem was not complicated... He simply needed to send the leprous commander to me, the prophet of God.... So I sent the king a message.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how Elisha, the prophet of God, responds to the king's act of tearing his robes....


        ATTCHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                  AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART V

Thankfully, someone does know what God intends to do for this important soldier of Aram and his name is Elisha, the prophet. As soon as he hears about the distress of the king, he sends a message to him telling the king to have Naaman come to him instead. Very relieved, the king sends Naaman on his way to the true man of God, Elisha. Let him deal with this very sick person. Perhaps he can do something for him as you can read in II Kings 5:8

When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him a message, "Why have you torn your robes?" Make the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."

As instructed by the king, Naaman travels down to Elisha's home expecting a special welcome from the prophet. No doubt, the prophet will meet him at the moment he arrives and will perform his special brand of magic to bring about his healing.

  


                          A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                               AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART IV

"I, the king of Israel, received an unexpected visitor today... His name is Naaman... He is the commander of the army of Aram... He had brought gifts with him when he came.... So it looked like he had come peacefully... Of course, I had to remain cautious as to his motives for coming... Up to that point everything seemed to be ok.... Naaman then gave me a letter from his king, the king of Aram.... I wondered what would be inside this letter.... I quickly opened the letter... I read it.... It did not make sense to me..... It seemed the king of Aram wanted me to cure the commander of his army of his leprosy... How could he possibly ask me to do that?... Who does he think I am?.... God?".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn how the king of Israel reacts to the letter of the king of Aram....


            ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                            AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART IV

However, God has not prepared the king of Israel to be His instrument of healing for Naaman. He has chosen the prophet to be that instrument, just as the young girl has said. Consequently, the king becomes very confused when he reads the letter of the king of Aram for God has not told him about His plans for Naaman as you van read in II Kings 5:6-7

The letter that he took to the king of Israel read, "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you that you may cure him of his leprosy." As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to Life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of my leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"

The visit of Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, has brought much confusion to the king of Israel.

                         A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                              AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART III

"I, Naaman, the commander of the army of Aram, went to see my king.... I did not go to see the king to discuss a strategy for the next battle.... In fact, the reason I went to see the king had nothing to do with my function as commander of the army of Aram.... I went to see the king to talk to him about my medical condition... I suffer from leprosy.... The king knows I am very ill.... He made sure I saw the best of the physicians in the land.... Unfortunately, not one of them could cure me..... I am as sick as ever.... Everyone in my household knows, of course, of my condition.... Including a young servant girl from Israel, my army one time took with them after a raid..... Last night she spoke to my wife, her mistress.... She suggested that I go to see the prophet in Samaria.... My wife would have normally dismissed any suggestion of this young servant girl... But things are not normal.... So my wife decided to share with me what this young servant girl had said to her.... I did not know she was part of my household.... I am usually too busy to involve myself in household matters..... I leave that to my wife.... I have more important things to do.... Such as commanding an army.... However, I decided that I should not ignore the suggestion of this young servant girl....So I went to see the king... I told him that a young servant girl in my household had suggested I travel to Samaria to see a prophet.... The king has now written a letter to the king of Israel.... I should get ready so I can start my journey as soon as possible.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn Naaman speaks to the king about the suggestion of a young servant girl in his household....


               ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                            AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART III

Now Naaman has a very close relationship with his king so he goes to him and explains to him what the young girl in his household has suggested he should do. The king is only too pleased to do whatever he can to prepare the way for Naaman to be received with favour in Israel but he goes about it in the ways kings do by writing a letter to the king of Israel. After all, kings communicate with kings and not with ordinary people such as prophets as you can read in Ii Kings 5:4-5

Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said, "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel."So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, ten thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.

And so Naaman sets off on his journey to meet with the king of Israel.

                
                               A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                      AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART II

"I, a young girl from Israel, am not living in my country... I live in the country of Aram... Over there I am a servant of the wife of a man named Naaman.... He is very important.... For he is the commander of the army of this nation.... Lately, my mistress has been very worried... I can understand why that is so..... Her husband has gotten leprosy.... Sadly, no physician has been able to cure him... Both my mistress and her husband are very good to  me.... I would very much like to do something for them.... I know what I will do... I will speak with my mistress... And I will suggest that my master goes to visit the prophet in Samaria.... I am sure he can heal him.... I know that I am only a servant.... But times are very desperate so, perhaps, the master will listen to my suggestion.".... Please read the typed out attachment when you will learn about a young girl in Naaman's household...



             ATTACHMENT A PURPOSEFUL LIFE; OLD TESTAMENT STORIES

                                  AN INSTRUMENT FOR HEALING PART II

However, a young girl in Naaman's household, who had been taken captive by his army, has the answer to his problem: Naaman should visit the prophet in Samaria as you can read in II Kings 5:1

Now bands of Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel and she served Naaman's wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."

No doubt, Naaman will already have been to every doctor in the land but to no avail. All the medicine he has received up till this moment will only have made him worse rather than better. Very likely, that is why Naaman decides to listen to this young girl's advice. I doubt that he would have listened to her at any other time. In fact, he may not have known of her existence in his household. But times are not normal for Naaman is a very sick man and he knows it.