Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 5
Naaman went to Elisha because he (Naaman) had a serious disease in his skin. He had heard that Elisha could cure him by the power of God. However, God had shown by Elisha that Naaman had a much deeper problem. It was a problem in Naaman’s mind and spirit.
2 Kings 5:1 tells us that God had given great success to Naaman in his work as the commander of Aram’s army. However, Naaman thought that he had achieved that success by his own efforts. Therefore, he developed extremely proud attitudes. God wanted to deal with those attitudes; and, after that, he would cure Naaman’s illness.
Naaman had expected Elisha to carry out an impressive ceremony that would give honour to Naaman as a great man. However, Elisha could not do that. It would be as if he was declaring the true God merely to be Naaman’s servant. In other words, God would be curing Naaman simply to please Naaman. However, Naaman needed to respect the greatness of God. It was Naaman’s serious duty to turn from his proud attitudes.
So instead, Elisha had refused even to see Naaman (compare 2 Kings 3:13). He would not give the honour to a man that only God deserved (compare Esther 3:1-5). God had given Elisha a message for Naaman – but Elisha sent someone else to declare that message. That message clearly upset Naaman. He became so angry that he did not even want God to cure his illness.
Next part: The reasons for Naaman's anger (2 Kings 5:12)
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