Leprosy tightened its killing grip on yet another victim. This time the victim was a mighty commander of the Army of Aram called Naaman (2 Kings 5:1). How fast should it bring the soldier down? Spread quickly and bring him to sudden ruin? Or, better yet, maybe it should stretch out Naaman's agony by making his fingers, toes, nose and ears fall off dead one by one? Oh yes! The latter would bring more tears, more despair, more suffering!

By the power of the Lord, Naaman was a valiant soldier, “a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded” (5:1). However, Leprosy is an equal opportunity killer like its cousin Cancer. It destroys the valiant along with the coward. In a short while Naaman would not be able to hide his condition from his men. His military career would be over. Worse yet, his social life would end on the same day. Could he live as an outcast of men after all of his faithful service to his country? Leprosy grinned in deep satisfaction from the pain it was causing this mighty warrior of men. Ha, ha, ha! The fool was just beginning to understand when it was too late!

Naaman was not a child of God. No, he was the commander of the enemy's army that stood arrayed against Israel. And yet, the Lord had great plans for him. Through the simple faith of a young Israelite girl, a mere captive serving Naaman's wife, came the message of hope. “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy,” she said (5:3). Leprosy squirmed at the news.

After counsel with the King of Aram, letters were sent to the King of Israel for him to cure Naaman. Elisha, God's prophet, intervened and sent word to Naaman. “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (5:10). However, Naaman went away angry. He thought the prophet would come to him, make him call on the Lord's name, wave his hand over the leprosy and heal him (5:11). Besides, the rivers of Damascus were cleaner than the Jordan. Fortunately, Naaman listened to the counsel of his servants to obey the Lord's commands. “If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!”(5:13).

Naaman obeyed the Lord's command in simple faith and Leprosy fled. Can we practice such a simple faith, obey Jesus' command to be immersed and be healed of our leprosy, our sin? Jesus said to his disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized (immersed) will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16).