We have this wonderful story in 2 Kings this morning about Naaman who is healed of leprosy.There are all kinds of treasures in this story.
Naaman is an Aramean commander in the army – probably a very successful general serving the king of Aram.It appears that the nation of Aram had conquered the nation of Israel because Naaman’s wife has as a young Israeli girl who had been taken captive, and she mentions that there was a prophet in Israel who could help him.
So, Naaman, through normal diplomatic efforts, attempts to gain access to Elisha by approaching his king who sends a letter to Elisha’s king, the king of Israel to set up this meeting.Sort of how it still works today between nations, I guess.
Well, when the king of Israel receives this letter he is just a bit suspicious.He becomes quite angry, tears his clothes, presumably thinking that the king of Aram is trying to do pick a fight with him.I mean, what if Naaman is not healed?Then the Arameans have further reason to come back and raid Israel again.Too late though, Naaman had already packed his bags and left, taking with him silver, gold, expensive garments - probably about $80,000 worth.
So Naaman, this mighty general, arrives just as we would expect a general to arrive - with his horses, his chariots, his servants, his large sum of money – halts right at the door step of Elisha.Elisha doesn’t even come out to meet him face to face – just sent a message to go out to the Jordan river and wash seven times.
Well, you don’t refuse to see a general who has crossed borders and traveled all and send a messenger to go out to a dirty river.Naaman’s is furious, first at the insult of Elisha not seeing him and second that he is to wash in the Jordan when they have much more beautiful rivers in Damascus.But Naaman’s servants convince him, saying if he did something difficult he would do it, so Naaman washes in the Jordan and is healed.
The Anchor Bible Dictionary calls this Hebrew story, narrative art with a highly developed plot with twists and turns down many paths, a comedy of manners bordering on a farce.Truly, this is a bit comical.
At the same time, there are many lessons in this story.
Lesson 1:We are all in need of healing.
Naaman, on the outside was a very successful man.He had reached the highest rank in his career, had access to the king, popular, lots of money.However, he had leprosy.Despite all he had, he needed healing.
Today, I want to make this story, not a story about Naaman, but a story about us.Every single person in this room, including me, is like Naaman.We have so much, yet we are all in need of healing. For some of us it is emotional, for some of us it is physical, for some it is spiritual.None of us are entirely whole because life is a constant struggle to become complete and healed and put back together.And often, just when we get healed of one thing we’ve got another issue that needs restoration.What is it that you need healing for today?
Lesson 2:Healing begins with a state of mind.
Naaman made up his mind that he wanted to be healed.He wasn’t going to take no for an answer either.In fact, he sought it so wholeheartedly that when Elisha refused to see him, Naaman got angry.
The point of Naaman’s healing began, the moment he started to pack his bags, in fact, the moment a flicker of hope entered his brain.Our attitude is SO important to healing.We can carry around a negative, defeatist attitude or we can carry a candle of hope and be open to God’s healing.
One counselor and pastor writes that people often really do not want to be healed.So many people who come for counseling seem to want only a Band-Aid.They only want support or a chance to ventilate and complain.They say they want to feel better, but do they really want the hard work of obtaining healing.
Healing must be chosen.
Lesson 3:Healing makes us want to give back.
Naaman, after being healed returns to Elisha’s house and insists that Elisa take a gift.Naaaman had a need to show some kind of appreciation and gratitude.That is a common response of us too when we have been healed.You’ve heard this morning about the pledge campaign.Your fellow members and board members are asking that you give back from all that you have been given.We give because we also want others to receive the healing that we have received.
Lesson 4:Healing often comes from where we least expect it.
Nasaman’s healing came from a foreign land, from a God he did not know, relayed through a slave girl, encouraged by servants, and by the river Jordan.How humbling it is when we look to those with status for help and it is often the lowly and the unexpected, sometimes even a child, who God uses to heal.
Sometimes healing comes from a seemingly bad situation.In the early 1900’s down in Alabama the locals were looking forward to their annual cotton harvest. Unfortunately, a little beetle called a boll weevil had different plans. In the space of just a few months it had eaten its way across one county and started into another. In just a few years, 60% of the cotton harvest in the state was ruined. Many farmers just gave up farming altogether. Then one innovative farmer came up with a bold idea. What about peanuts? In fact farmers soon found out that it was less expensive to plant, grow, maintain and harvest peanuts than it was cotton. Many marginal farming efforts were suddenly becoming quite profitable. The people of Alabama who at first greeted the boll weevil with dread and great despair were so overjoyed that they put up a monument to the little bug thanking it; for it had as an instrument of suffering become the means of great blessings.
That’s not the end of the story.During black history month, we often note the work of George Washington Carver.He played a huge part with his scientific research and development on peanuts that helped to save Alabama, so in a time of racial prejudice the boll weevil also help to promote a man who would become an icon for the African-American community and improve also race relations.
Often we have a terrible, terrible situation in our lives or a tragedy, and we think it is the worst thing in the world.Then, it is that very thing that causes us to heal from the inside out.A lost job causes us to go back to school.The end of a relationship brings us closer to God and opens us up to new friendships. Healing often comes to where we least expect it.
Lesson 5:We are often healed in ways we don’t expect.
The obvious healing that Naaman received was the curing of his leprosy.However, if you read between the lines, Naaman received so much more than that.He was hopefully healed of his pride.He was enlightened about social status and relationships.He was healed spiritually.Sometimes, it is the physical healing that is least needed.
Rev. Tony Campolo tells the story of a time he was at a church in Oregon where he was asked to pray for a man who had cancer. Campolo prayed boldly for the man’s healing. That next week he got a telephone call from the man’s wife. She said, "You prayed for my husband. He had cancer." Campolo thought when he heard her use the past tense verb that his cancer had been eradicated! But before he could think much about it she said, "He died." Compolo felt terrible. But she continued, "Don’t feel bad. When he came into that church that Sunday he was filled with anger. He would lie in bed and curse God. The more his anger grew towards God, the more miserable he was to everybody around him.
It was an awful thing to be in his presence. But the lady told Compolo, "After you prayed for him, a peace had come over him and a joy had come into him.Our relationships were healed over these last days before his death.
We are often healed in ways that we do not expect.
Lesson 6:Healing can be dirty work.
One geographical author writes this about the Jordan, “Mostly silent and black, Jordan scores along, muddy between banks of mud, careless of beauty, careless of life.”
I remember as a kid swimming in some of those ponds up north with muddy bottoms.If I could be persuaded to get in, I would do everything I could to not let my foot touch the bottom.If it did and the muck and squished up around our foot and ankle, we would scream and holler.
Healing is sometimes it is dirty work.It causes us to dredge up some unpleasant memories.If it’s emotional, sometimes healing requires us to confront our issues or see a therapist or face unpleasant pasts.If healing is needed between us and others, it may require that we admit our sin, face our own failures and maybe even say I am sorry or facing those who have hurt us and tell them how we have been injured.Healing may mean giving up a difficult habit or eating more healthily.
Naaman had to wash, not only once, but seven times in the dirty Jordan.Sometimes we are called to do unpleasant these things over and over again for the healing to take place.
Lesson 7:Healing is a team effort that involves others.
Did you notice how many people in this story contribute to Naaman’s healing?The captive Israelite girl, the wife who relays tells him about Elisha, the king of Aram, the king of Israel, those who travel with Naaman, his servants who convince him to wash in the Jordan and Elisha.I can’t think of one biblical story in which the person was healed all by themselves with no help from others.
This reliance on others requires Naaman to be vulnerable here.He had to put his request out there, which probably wasn’t easy for a macho general man like himself.
How great is our need for one another.
That is why a faith community is so important.As a church we offer intercessory prayer, a healing touch or just a shoulder to cry on - we must be a safe place where people can come for healing.
Margaret Kornfeld, in her book ‘Cultivating Wholeness’ says that faith communities have the power to heal, or if dysfunctional, have the power to harm.
We can make a choice of what kind of faith community to be.I know many have been healed in this place, but the stories I am receiving is that some have also been harmed with harsh words or treatments.
To say, I choose healing is to choose it not only for ourselves but to also choose it for each other and realize that we have a choice letting God use us in helping to heal one another.
Lesson 8:Healing is God’s work.
God is a God of creation, not destruction.When we look around at creation, we see that earth is always rejuvenating itself, despite what we do to it.
In Phoenix at the MCC General Conference in 2007, we had a healing service.As people came forward for prayer, there on the front row sat George with his guide dog.One of the people who came forward for prayer rested in the spirit, right in front of George and his guide dog and as we looked down we noticed that the dog was licking their face.
That is the nature of God – always healing, always life-giving, always life-affirming, even when we are unaware of it.May we all choose healing and may we continue to reach out to our healing God.Amen.
