The Works of God

Part 1 – In verse one we see God’s sovereignty in Naaman’s life.

Part 2 – In verses two and three we see God orchestrating really unusual things so that a powerless foreign slave girl can deliver good news to the powerful man.

Part 3 – 2 Kings 5:4-5

So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.

Lest we forget or minimize who Naaman is, he is a man of great authority.  He has the opportunity to see his lord, apparently without the need to be summoned.  He recounts the seemingly crazy thing that the slave girl told his wife.  The king wants the best for him and takes him seriously, even writing a letter to a foreign king.  Then Naaman wanders off with 750 pounds of silver and 150 pounds of gold.  The clothes must have also been either symbolically valuable or actually valuable to be mentioned (and they come up again near the end of chapter 5 in an important way).

This is not a nice little fairy tale exclusively for children. Important and complex political, economic, military and diplomatic events are happening – ultimately for God’s glory.

And they are happening because nobody can do anything about Naaman’s leprosy – and he desperately, along with his wife, wants to be healed.

Not unlike our own experiences with and desires for our children.  Yet another reason why 2 Kings 5 is for us.