“Elisha and Naaman,” Friend, July 1990, 39
Elisha and Naaman
Illustrated by Phyllis Luch
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Naaman, a Syrian, was a brave man and the captain of his king’s army. Sadly, he had leprosy, a skin disease that had no cure. (See 2 Kgs. 5:1.)
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His wife’s Israelite maid told her mistress about a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman. When the king of Syria heard this, he sent Naaman with a letter to the king of Israel, asking him to cure the Syrian captain. (See 2 Kgs. 5:2–6.)
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The king of Israel could not cure Naaman. He was frightened that Syria would start a war with Israel if Naaman was not healed. The King was so unhappy that he tore his clothes. (See 2 Kgs. 5:7.)
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Elisha was then the prophet. He told the king to send Naaman to him. So the captain went to see Elisha. (See 2 Kgs. 5:8–9.)
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When Elisha told Naaman that he would be healed if he washed seven times in the Jordan River, Naaman was angry. He said that there were better rivers in Syria. Why couldn’t he just wash in those rivers? He decided not to do what the prophet counseled. (See 2 Kgs. 5:10–12.)
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But Naaman’s servants asked him why, if he would have done something difficult to be healed, he wouldn’t do something easy. Naaman repented and obeyed Elisha’s instructions, and he was cured. And from then on, although he had been worshipping false gods, he worshipped only the Lord. (See 2 Kgs. 5:13–17.)