Recovering our Lost Ground: Naaman’s Recovery Story.

The story of Naaman is perhaps a very popular story to an average church goer. Most people know at least two things about Naaman: he is remembered as a great commander in the army who had a “but” in his life despite his great achievements. Many preachers have often used this at evangelistic rallies to hammer on the “but” of sin in the lives of their hearers.

It is however interesting to note that there were so many wonderful things about Naaman. A closer look at our text reveals many vital information about this character that are worthy of emulation.

While it is true that the Bible didn’t talk much about Naaman again, except for a single reference by our Lord Jesus Christ in Lk. 4:27, it is important to know that Naaman’s story leaves us with unchanging and tested principles from the word of God on how we can recover our lost grounds.

It is my prayer that the Holy Spirit will help you and I to understand these principles and use them as we make effort to recover all we have lost at the personal, family or organizational levels, in Jesus' Name.

A.                Who was Naaman?

• The name - Naaman is a Syrian name that means Pleasant. Who does this remind you of? Naomi! Ruth 1-4.

• An Army Commander - V.1

Some other translations used the word General (MSG), Captain (KJV), etc. whichever, these titles suggest that Naaman was not a mean man.

• A Great Man - V.1.

Naaman was a great man by all standards. His status, his position, his accomplishments, etc. attest to his greatness.

• Highly Regarded/admired for the great victories wrought through him - V.1

As a result of his accomplishments, Naaman was reputable in the palace. The king of Aram particularly “had great admiration for him" (MSG).

• A Valiant Soldier (mighty warrior -NLT; a truly great man, MSG; a mighty man of valor, NKJV- V.1)

To be valiant is to be courageous and determined. This, no doubt, is required of a soldier of Naaman’s status. Naaman possessed these attributes. His rising to the position was not based on ethnic consideration, political manipulation and such like.

• A Married Man - V.2.

It is clear from our story that Naaman had a wife. It seems to me that this man had a good marriage and a good home where everybody was free to express themselves. I think there must have been a good atmosphere in Naaman’s home.

• A Compassionate and Caring Husband - V.2

No doubt, Naaman was a compassionate and caring husband. That he would allow his wife have a helper at home is noteworthy. Some men won’t permit this. They would tell you that the woman is being lazy for asking for a house help.

If that was the case, you can imagine how Naaman’s wife would have coped with her husband’s status. I want to assume that they must have always had visitors of great standing coming to their home from time to time. How would she have coped all alone. Naaman was a good husband.

Some wives are actually afraid of having house helps because their husbands are yet to be delivered from promiscuity. Some men can sleep with anything and anybody anywhere and at anytime. It may therefore not be safe to have female helpers especially.

• A good-hearted man - V.3, 4.

This young girl from Israel could have gotten into serious trouble for daring to talk to her mistress about her husband’s health condition. Naaman’s reaction however shows how good-hearted he was. Though a Commander, he was still open to suggestions, even from a slave girl. He was not a know-it-all master. He was approachable.

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