Bible Reading2 Kings 5:1–19Verse 1: Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
[01:01:55]Verse 2: Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.
[01:02:12]Verse 3: She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
[01:02:20]Verse 4: So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.”
[01:02:32]Verse 5: 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.
[01:02:42]Verse 6: And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”
[01:02:57]Verse 7: And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.”
[01:06:16]Verse 8: But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
[01:08:33]Verse 9: So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.
[01:08:45]Verse 10: And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”
[01:08:51]Verse 11: But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.”
[01:09:00]Verse 12: “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?” So he turned and went away in a rage.
[01:09:14]Verse 13: But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
[01:11:05]Verse 14: So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
[01:11:17]Verse 15: Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so now take a present from your servant.”
[01:11:34]Verse 16: But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused.
[01:12:35]Verse 17: Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD.”
[01:12:51]Verse 18: “In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter.”
[01:13:03]Verse 19: He said to him, “Go in peace.”
[01:13:18]Matthew 28:19–20Verse 19: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
[01:15:23]Verse 20: teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
[01:15:32]1 Corinthians 3:6Verse 6: I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.
[01:18:07]Observation questions- What contrasts do we see between Naaman and the unnamed Israelite girl—their power, freedom, position, and response to Naaman’s need? [01:04:09]
- What did the king of Israel assume Naaman’s request meant, and how was Elisha’s response different? [01:06:16]
- What specifically made Naaman angry about Elisha’s instruction to wash in the Jordan? [01:09:00]
- After Naaman was healed, what words and actions showed that something deeper than his skin had changed? [01:11:34]
Interpretation questions- Why might God have used a captive young girl’s compassionate words as the beginning of Naaman’s path toward healing and faith, rather than beginning with a king or military leader? [01:14:36]
- Naaman came with wealth, authority, and clear expectations about how healing should happen. What does Elisha’s refusal of payment reveal about God’s grace?
- Naaman’s servants encouraged him to obey a command that seemed too simple and humbling. How can pride keep a person from receiving what God wants to give? [01:11:05]
- Paul says that believers plant and water while God gives the growth. How does this shape a believer’s view of a gospel conversation that does not seem to produce an immediate response? [01:17:49]
Application questions- The unnamed girl showed compassion toward people connected to the harm done to her. Is there a difficult person, workplace, family relationship, or past hurt where God may be inviting you to respond with compassion rather than bitterness? What could that look like this week? [01:04:53]
- God uses willing people, not only people with impressive education, money, age, or influence. Which excuse most often makes you feel unable to speak about Christ or serve others? What is one small act of obedience you could take? [01:15:51]
- When have you wanted God to work according to your plan, timing, or preferred method, like Naaman did? What might humble obedience look like in that area now? [01:10:46]
- Is there someone in your daily life—a neighbor, coworker, classmate, cashier, or family member—who may need care, prayer, or a simple invitation into conversation? How could you take a genuine step toward them this week? [01:17:13]
- People from places with little gospel access may already live nearby. How could your home, small group, or church become more known for hospitality, care, and prayer toward people from different cultures or faith backgrounds? [01:19:22]
- God brings the increase, but believers are called to sow and water. How can that truth help you remain faithful when someone seems uninterested, resistant, or slow to respond to the gospel? [01:18:07]
- God can use practical care—health needs, children’s ministry, skills, food, building, or community resources—to open doors for the gospel. What gift, skill, or resource has God placed in your hands that could bless people in your community? [01:33:29]