2 Kings 5 Naaman, Commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord [Naaman] were with the prophet [Elisha] who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord [the king of Syria]….So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman was angry, and went away, saying “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his GOD, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. [Revised Standard Translation]
Summary
2 Kings 5 is a chapter worth reading again and again. The story of Naaman is a story with many layers.
Naaman is described as a great man, highly regarded, a man who had tasted victory; however, no matter what he did, he was saddled with some would call a “handicap.” No matter what great things people might say about him—skilled, warrior, mighty soldier, commander, feared, they would always insert a “but”----“but he was a leper.” It bothered Naaman. It was a visible. It defined his existence. Not matter what he did, people would always see his skin color first.
Naaman was also a military man. He understood the chain of command and military power. In Naaman’s mind, he reported to the king of Syria. As the victor over Israel, Naaman thought he had the right to “be respected.” He thought that if he went to see the prophet from Israel, the land he had defeated, the prophet should, come out and greet him, especially given Naaman’s credentials. That was the least the man could do, for a great military leader, like Naaman. But, what Naaman did not understand was that GOD was in control the entire time. He didn’t understand that Syria was victorious because GOD allowed Syria to be victorious over Israel.
Naaman also thought he could be healed on “Naaman’s terms.” He brought horses carrying silver, gold and fine garments. Naaman was ready to give all this to the prophet Elisha in exchange for a healing. He envisioned his healing would involve some “magic words or gestures.” But, instead of being healed the way Naaman expected, Naaman felt insulted, because the prophet had actually suggested that he, the great Naaman” dip himself in muddy, dirty water. In Naaman mind, the thought was outrageous. After all, didn’t Naaman have servants who ran to him when he entered his home to wash the dirt and soil from his hands and feet. Wasn’t it one of the “perks” of command that the Commander rode a horse into battle, above the lowly foot soldier, who ate dirt and mud daily. The idea that his leprosy could be “cleansed” with “mud” just seemed ridiculous and “backwards,” in Naaman’s mind, especially since there were cleaner rivers. So, Naaman flew into a rage.
Fortunately, for Naaman, the story does not end here. Just as the simple faith of a servant girl convinced Naaman to go to the man of GOD for help, Naaman’s servants again intervened and convinced Naaman to have faith, obey and do what he was told to do and just dip himself in the water. After all they said, if the man of GOD had told Naaman to do a great thing, with a lot of pomp and circumstance, he certainly would have done it. So, they said, so why not have faith and do what the man of GOD told him to do.
So, Naaman, had faith. He acquiesced. He walked to the Jordan River, dipped himself in the water and was healed.
Just as GOD was “trying to tell the Israelites something” by using Naaman and giving victory to the Syrians over the Israelites, GOD again, “tried to tell the Israelites something” by Naaman’s water healing. [See also, Luke 4:27, where JESUS states that although there were many Jewish lepers living in Israel during the time of Elisha who needed help, only Naaman, the Syrian, was cleansed.]
Lack of faith and the failure to listen and obey have caused many to miss GOD’s miracles.
Water Exercise and Therapy
Water is a great place to exercise. Aquatic exercise is low impact because there is little or no pressure on your bones, knees, joints and muscles, yet water offers a natural resistance, which allows you to strengthen your muscles. If anyone had any doubts, one need only remember some of the Olympic swimmers to see that swimming and water exercise can tone your body, tighten your abdominal muscles, increase your flexibility and build upper body strength.
Although water exercising can be beneficiary for anyone practically at any age, it is particularly beneficial as you age. Warm water therapy reduces stress, raises your body temperature and relaxes your muscles. Some of the benefits of warm water therapy include:
- Decreased joint and soft tissue inflammation
- Improved bone density
- Improved endurance, flexibility, and range of motion
- Improved pulmonary function
- Increased circulation
- Muscle relaxation and pain relief
- Strengthen muscles
See,www.seniorsbluebook.com/articles/Healthy_Aging/Exercise/The-Benefits-of-Aquatic-Exercise-and-Therapy.
Falls are generally not a problem with water exercises since your natural buoyancy generally keeps you upright and if you topple, you are just splashing in water. For this reason it is appro-priate for pregnant women, children and the elderly. For those who want a more challenging
workout, water aerobics now comes in a number of formats including Zumba, kickboxing, step aerobics and aqua yoga.
If you have a health condition, consult your personal physician for the best water exercise of therapy program right for you.
Have Faith and Listen
Like Naaman, many of us want to get healthy “our way” or through “magical thinking,” thinking that perhaps it will just happen spontaneously.
Like Naaman, if our physician were to tell us that we needed a major surgery, or some other ‘big thing,’ to be cured, many of us would more likely do it far more quickly than if our physician told us we had to exercise 2 or 3 times a week or do water therapy or aqua exercises, something simply and far less physically intrusive.
Like Naaman, many create lists of reasons why going to a particular pool of water “won’t work.” (e.g. I don’t want to get my hair wet, I think the water may be dirty, I don’t like the way I look in my bathing suit, I don’t want to go through all the hassle of changing my clothes, it takes too long, the distance is too far to drive to the pool, etc.).
Simone Manuel, the first African American woman to win an individual swimming medal in the 2016 Olympics, is a powerful symbol for all Americans. The water healing of Naaman is a pow-erful message that GOD is trying “to tell us all something.”
Today, pray about it. Listen.
Don’t miss the miracle. Exercise in water but find life in LIVING WATER. (John 4:1-26.)
Have faith and BE BLESSED.
