Do you have a Naaman in your life? What's he done to you? How do you feel about him?
My Naaman's name was Bob. He lived down the street from us in a house that I passed on my way to school. Whenever I went that way, I kept watch and tried to slip by undetected because I didn't know what might happen. He became my neighborhood bully.
It all started one winter during a school break. My brothers and I and the other professors' children were allowed to use the gym on the college campus where our fathers taught. We had great fun playing basketball, volleyball, kickball, and wrestling on the mats for hours. We were allowed that privilege as prof's kids. But for a variety of reasons we weren't supposed to let others into the gym.
One day Bob and a few of his cronies showed up at the door, wanting to come in. Bob was about 4 years older than I, a great basketball player, tall, lanky, and strong. I had to tell him I couldn't let him in. He was not happy and kept after me. But I wouldn't open the door. Finally he left, shaking his fist at me.
A couple days later I was on my way home from school and was trying to slip by his house undetected. I didn't quite make it. First there came a barrage of snowballs. Then Bob burst around the corner of the house, running faster than I could. Have you ever had a face wash in midwinter snow? Finally, I got away and ran home. But ever after I was afraid and avoided him. Bob was one in my hometown that I never liked. In my childhood he was my Naaman.
Do you have a Naaman in your life? Someone who has harmed you? Bullied you? Gotten the better of you? A real thorn in your flesh? Would you do anything kind towards him? Could you love such an unlikable person? God does. Naaman is proof.
I. A little girl knew this is true.
To the Israelites of his day, Naaman was the neighborhood bully. He was commander of the Aramean army to the north which tormented God's people. To the Arameans he stood tall and strong, a national hero, honored by his king, unstoppable, trampling one country after another, a man whom the Israelites feared and hated. So what was this little Israelite girl doing in his home? She had been captured by one of his raiding parties that had attacked her village. Such raids wreaked havoc, tearing families and homes apart. Bodies and hearts were wounded; money and possessions stolen. In one such raid this girl was taken, transported far from home, and made the servant of Naaman's wife. Had her parents been killed? Her home destroyed? Her people mistreated and brutalized? It could well have been because the Arameans were ruthless. They did horrible things, atrocities. Sins against God and man didn't matter to them as long as they got what they wanted. They were bullies, enemies of God and His people. What would it be like forced to live with and serve such an unlikable guy?
You would think she had every right to be bitter, wouldn't you? You would think that when Naaman's leprosy got so bad she would say, “Good, serves him right, that heathen! Let him and his wife go to hell!” But this little girl didn't think that way (Rm.12:19;Ga.4:32). Indeed in her heart, a miracle had taken place.
It was a miracle that you know as the gospel. The gospel, the story of God's love in Christ for all sinners, had made her into a different kind of person, a new person, a person who thought and acted out God's love. Yes, this man was unlikable ! Yes, this man had harmed her! Yes, this man deserved to die for his sins and the pain he inflicted! But she held no grudge against the man who had snatched her away from her family. She didn't despise him who had reduced her life to that of a slave. She didn't even loathe him covered and disfigured with the awful sores of leprosy. Not at all because she knew the coming Savior! That faith compelled her to love (2Co.5:14) Naaman who didn't and seek to help him. Why?
Because she believed that God does not want anyone to perish but all to come to repentance (2 Pt.3:9). She knew that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son for everyone, even bullies (Jn.3:16). She understood that no matter how far a person has strayed, the love of the heavenly Father for the sinner will always take the prodigal in when he comes (Lk.15). She knew the gospel, for herself and for others; it changed her outlook on life.
The Bible says, “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another…Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1Jn.4:9-12,8).
A little girl knew it was true - God loves even the unlikable. He loved her, sinful as she was. Convinced of that she believed God loved Naaman, too. A nameless child of God resting life completely on God's love! Such a small child; such a large faith. The Bible says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hb.11:1). In faith she was certain God would help him, unlikable as he was. God grant us such faith.
II. A doubting man found it was true.
A faith like that sees happy results, even if they haven't taken place yet. So it was that she said, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
Ah, a ray of hope held out by a little servant girl. What an unlikely instrument. But God often uses the unlikely for His saving purposes; He frequently uses the unknown to make Himself known. That is why, dear friend, you never should say that you are too small or that your life is too narrow to have any affect in God's Kingdom. God will use the most insignificant to bring the hope of His salvation to others. Naaman and his wife grabbed hold of it here, as well as the king who sent Naaman off to Israel.
First off they went to Israel's king, Israel's godless king. But he didn't know what to do or where to turn. Then Elisha urged him to send Naaman on to him. So to Elisha he went.
Elisha's command was clear and simple: “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and you will be cleansed.”
Such an easy command! God doesn't require the impossible of people. He understands they cannot do it. But with God all things are possible (Lk.18:27). So, in compassion and willingness to help an unlikable man, the command was easy. But for Naaman it was too simple; too humiliating.
Naaman was looking for something flashy, something dramatic. “What's so good about the Jordan,” he scoffed. “It's an old muddy river. The rivers of Damascus are far, far better!”
Ah, dear friends, add to the ruthless and brutal nature arrogance. Here God offers a cure through His prophet; an offer that would cost Naaman nothing, an offer with no strings attached, and Naaman refused it because of unbelief. Naaman would have stomped off and never come back. Who could like such a man?
But God had given him loving and wise servants who urged him forward saying, “Sir, wouldn't you do anything to be cured? Wouldn't you walk, maybe even crawl the 100 miles or so back to Damascus if that's what it took? Wouldn't you give Elisha all that money that we brought along if he commanded you to? Wouldn't you have been willing to do anything? He told you to do something that's neither difficult nor costly. Give it a try.”
Naaman listened. He followed the instructions of the man of God. And God was true to His word. God is always true to His word (Jn.10:35;1Pt.1:25). He performed a miracle. Naaman was healed – completely! After all his blustering, a doubting man found it was true; God loves even the unlikable.
Dear friends, there are countless “Naamans” in our world - bullies and brutes, doubters and disbelievers. They are successful in their professions and influential in their communities. They commit their share of sins and have their share of sicknesses and problems. They can be unlikable to many. And so have no one to turn to for hope or help except you who represent Christ.
There are also “young girls from Israel” in the world today. They are the many dedicated, humble Christians, sometimes in tough situations, who are full of faith, hope, and love in a Savior. They know His love, even for the unlovable, and want to share it.
If people are basically the same as then, God is entirely the same! He does not, cannot, will not change for He is the “same yesterday, today and forever” (Hb.13:8). His hatred for sin has not changed, nor His threat to punish the sinner who remains in it. Likewise His compassionate and gracious will to save the sinner is unalterable, for “He is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble” (Ps.46:1). He still loves the sinner and wants to act in his behalf. So Jesus came and died to win life for all who believe in Him. In this way He loves even the unlikable. Do we?
You know, I don't know whatever happened to Bob. I know that later he became one of the top basketball players in the state. I wish I knew if he knew the Lord Jesus; but I don't. And now I wish I could tell him; but I can't. Still my comfort and hope lie in this: God Loves Even the Unlikable . Someday He may use some little girl to tell Bob. And if an opportunity to reach out with Christ arises for me or for you, God grant us the love and courage of a little Israelite girl and a faithful Hebrew prophet to take it so that our “Naamans” might have the opportunity to hear the gospel, believe it, and be saved; for Jesus' sake. Amen.