Today, we will begin to take a look at a legitimate Dynamic Duo - Elijah and Elisha, the Prophets of GOD. What they accomplished was the substance of the myths that filled the hearts of many young boys who dreamed of being bigger, stronger, faster, more agile, and able to fend off every bully in the neighborhood and school hallways. But God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34–35), and the Gentiles eventually received the gospel that Israel rejected.As a youth, this Teacher enjoyed reading comic books about Batman and Robin, who were known by all avid comic book readers as “The Caped Crusaders”, or “The Dynamic Duo”. In the same way, the Israelites of Jesus’ day were missing the Power right in front of their eyes. In Luke 4:27, Jesus tells the crowd in the synagogue of Nazareth, “There were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-only Naaman the Syrian.” The lepers of Israel overlooked the healing that could have been theirs through Elisha, so God healed a Syrian instead. Jesus used the story of Naaman and Elisha as an illustration of Israel’s problem of unbelief.

We can be sure that our sins will find us out (Numbers 32:23). We are called to be honest in all of our dealings, knowing that God sees everything and will judge accordingly. The Bible warns us against “pursuing dishonest gain” (Titus 1:7).

Gehazi’s greed and deception are warnings to us. Naaman’s healing from leprosy is a wonderful picture of our salvation from sin-freely bestowed by the grace of God in response to faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). God is a giver, not a taker, and His gifts cannot be bought. Elisha refused the princely gift offered to him. We, too, should obey the Word of God, even when God’s way does not make sense to us.Īlso, those who serve God do not do so for financial gain but out of love and simple obedience to the Lord. Naaman’s pride was almost his undoing: too proud and stubborn to follow the prophet’s simple instructions, he almost bypassed the blessing that God had in store. Naaman came to be healed carrying rich gifts in fine chariots Elisha had no such finery, just the power of God. Second, we have a contrast between the pomp of Naaman and the lowliness of Elisha. First, there is a clear contrast between the faith of the young servant girl, who knew of Elisha and believed in his power and the distress of Israel’s king, who did not even think of Elisha and fretted over his own lack of power. The Lord had given Elisha insight, and the prophet told Gehazi, “Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever” (verse 27). Gehazi hid the loot and returned home, where Elisha confronted him. Naaman gave him “two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing” (2 Kings 5:23).

However, Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, followed Naaman and deceitfully asked for a gift in Elisha’s name. Elisha refused the gift and sent the Syrian commander away in peace. Naaman returned to Elisha and said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel so accept now a present from your servant” (verse 15). In fact, “his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy” (2 Kings 5:14). After dipping himself in the Jordan River seven times, he was completely healed as Elisha had said. Naaman’s servants urged him to reconsider, and Naaman wisely did. 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” (2 Kings 5:11–12). “Naaman was angry and went away, saying, ‘Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. Instead, he sent a message to wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed. Naaman then came to Elisha’s house with his chariots, gifts, and servants.Įlisha did not even come out to greet Naaman. When the prophet Elisha heard of the king’s distress, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel” (2 Kings 5:8). The king of Israel’s reaction was panic-how could anyone heal leprosy? The king of Israel thought Ben-hadad was trying to start a fight (2 Kings 5:7). Naaman left for Israel, taking a large gift with him and a letter from Ben-hadad, the king of Syria, asking the king of Israel to heal Naaman (2 Kings 5:1–6). His Israelite servant girl suggested he go to Elisha to be healed. Naaman was the commander of Syria’s (Aram’s) army and well regarded as a military man, but he had leprosy.

Bible study elijah and elisha