Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Have Faith That God Will Provide Medical Help

Have Faith That God Will Provide Medical Help

Last updated on: August 24, 2017 at 4:22 pm by Jim Erwin

Have Faith That God Will Provide Medical Help 2017-08-24T16:22:14-05:00 Jim Erwin

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Have Faith That God Will Provide Medical Help

August 21, 2017 Year A

2 Kings 5:1-14

You know how it feels to go to the doctor when you have a problem. You ache, hurt, or see a clear disease or problem with your body and yet you won’t go. That is the feeling Naaman had about his skin disease.

He continued to work hard as the commander of the army for the king of Adam. Instead of going to the local hospital in Damascus, Syria, he continued to ignore his skin disease (2 Kings 5:1).

“Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded because through him, the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was a valiant warrior, but he had a skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:1, CSB)

Aram had gone on war raids where he picked up a woman to give his commander a servant to his wife (2 Kings 5:2).

“Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife.” (2 Kings 5:2, CSB)

So the young lady and Naaman’s wife were talking one day and the wife mentions that she is concerned that Naaman hasn’t gone to see the doctor. She knows that there is a doctor (a prophet) who could heal him (2 Kings 5:3).

“She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.”” (2 Kings 5:3, CSB)

Naaman hears about it and reluctantly tells his boss the king of Aram (2 Kings 5:4).

“So Naaman went and told his master what the girl from the land of Israel had said.” (2 Kings 5:4, CSB)

The king puts his commander Naaman on medical leave and sends him off to see the prophet for help (2 Kings 5:5).

“Therefore, the king of Aram said, “Go, and I will send a letter with you to the king of Israel.” So he went…” (2 Kings 5:5, CSB)

His work release form included items for the king of Israel (2 Kings 5:5-6).

“…So he went and took with him 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. He brought the letter to the king of Israel, and it read: When this letter comes to you, note that I have sent you my servant Naaman for you to cure him of his skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:5–6, CSB)

Like a modern American insurance company, the king of Israel slows the process down. He is upset and complains about having to cure a foreigner from another country (2 Kings 5:7).

“When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and asked, “Am I God, killing and giving life that this man expects me to cure a man of his skin disease? Recognize that he is only picking a fight with me.”” (2 Kings 5:7, CSB)

Even though the king of Israel doesn’t have compassion for Naaman, Elisha does. He calls for the patient to come to his house (2 Kings 5:8-9).

“When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Have him come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel.” So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.” (2 Kings 5:8–9, CSB)

The doctor/prophet prescribes the medicine, and sends a physician’s assistant to tell the patient that he should wash himself seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:10).

“Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean.”” (2 Kings 5:10, CSB)

Like some patients, Naaman doesn’t like to take his medicine. He wanted a quick fix. He wanted to be healed without any effort on his part (2 Kings 5:11).

“But Naaman got angry and left, saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:11, CSB)

He even complains about the services of this medical center (The Jordan River Hospital). He says that the Abana River Hospital and the Pharpar River Hospital has much better service and facilities (2 Kings 5:12).

“Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage.” (2 Kings 5:12, CSB)

Of course, Naaman’s family tells him that he should listen to the prophet/doctor (2 Kings 5:13).

“But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?”” (2 Kings 5:13, CSB)

Naaman follows the instructions of the prophet/doctor and is healed of his skin disease (2 Kings 5:14).

“So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:14, CSB)

The key to this passage is the fact that one needs to have faith even when one receives medical help. One needs to trust that God knows what He is doing. If you want to get better, you need to follow the doctor’s directions, take your medicine, and trust God with the results.

Photo by Jenelle Ball on Unsplash

Previous Post

August 15, 2017

7 Ways God Proves He Is My Source of Strength

Next Post

August 23, 2017 Ecclesiastes 12:9-14 What Life Is All About Part 2

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 Chronicles 1 Corinthians 1 John 1 Kings 1 Peter 1 Samuel 1 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Chronicles 2 Corinthians 2 John 2 Kings 2 Peter 2 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2 Timothy 3 John Acts Advent Amos Book Review Colossians Comics Culture Watch Daniel Deuteronomy Ecclesiastes Ephesians Esther Exodus Ezekiel Ezra Galatians Genesis Guest Post Habakkuk Haggai Hebrews Hosea Humor Inspiritational Isaiah James Jeremiah Job Joel John Jonah Joshua Jude Judges Lamentations Lectionary Lent Leviticus Link Love Luke Malachi Mark Matthew Micah Movie Review Nahum Nehemiah Numbers Philippians Political Watch Prophecy Watch Proverbs Psalm Revelation Reviews Romans Ruth Science Watch Sermon Series Sermons Simple Thoughts Song of Solomon Titus Top Ten Uncategorized Video Review Zechariah Zephaniah

Select a Month May 2026 October 2025 September 2025 June 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 April 2024 March 2024 January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 January 2022 June 2021 January 2021 October 2020 July 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2009 June 2008 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 October 2006 September 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 September 2005

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

From a whirlwind, God questioned my understanding of creation's mysteries. What did God ask me to consider that I could not control?

Select your answer to see how you score.

The stars and moon The depths of the sea The Behemoth and Leviathan Thunder and lightning