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…” (2 Kings 5:15).

As I was reading through 2 Kings chapter 5, I saw Naaman’s story with new eyes. Naaman was a mighty army captain and warrior who worked under, and was highly respected, by the King of Aram. 

One of the problems he faced was his affliction with leprosy.  Surprisingly, a servant girl, whom his men had taken captive from Israel, came and shared with him a way to be healed from his ailment. She told him about Elisha, a prophet from her homeland, who had the ability to heal him. Through a series of events, God brought Naaman to Israel to meet with Elisha, who offered to heal him.

For Naaman to be healed, he had to go against some of his cultural practices. First, he sought healing in a foreign land from a man who worshiped a God he didn’t know or believe in. In addition, he had to swallow his pride, overlook the insult of not being personally greeted by Elisha, and bathe in the Jordan River, as opposed to one of his “home rivers.” The religious beliefs held in Aram were deeply connected to the land and its many gods, so bathing in another’s country’s rivers was, again, very humbling.  Naaman finally chose to submit to Elisha’s instructions and was healed completely.

This experience changed Naaman inside out. He changed his religious belief from worshiping a false god to recognizing that there is only one true God. In addition, his stubborn, prideful heart became humble and worshipful. Not only was Naaman forever changed, but so was the future of Israel. When Naaman declared that Israel’s God was the only true God, it began the process of reconciliation between two hostile nations.

I think God often uses hard times to humble us and get us to change. Like Naaman, we all struggle with pride, but God meets us where we are. He sees our potential and what we could be, rather than what we currently are. God had a plan for Naaman, Israel, and even for Aram. He used Naaman’s leprosy as a stepping stone for future change. God loves us, too, and wants us to be saved and to have a relationship with Him. He meets us where we are no matter how feeble or misguided our faith. Naaman’s story shows how God’s love knows no cultural, religious, or social boundaries. 

God sees differently than we do and works in ways that are often counter-cultural. I’m so thankful for that!

Is there an area of your life God is prompting you to change? Do you struggle with an unspoken prejudice about people who are different from you?  Don’t wait for a hard time to turn to God and follow Him. Ask God to help you see situations and people through His eyes.