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Naaman, the army general with leprosy

Naaman, leprosy, a Jewish servant girl and Elisha.
Contributed by Sweet Publishing
Story also available on our translated websites: Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Romanian, Hindi, Simplified Chinese
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Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He had won many battles and was highly regarded by his king. However this brave soldier discovered he had a terrible skin disease called leprosy. – Slide 1
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The kingdom of Aram was not far from the Kingdom of Israel where the prophet Elisha lived. – Slide 2
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Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife.  – Slide 3
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She said to her mistress, ‘If only Naaman would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ So Naaman asked the King of Aram to write a letter to the King of Israel and set off to visit him with gifts of silver, gold and expensive clothing. – Slide 4
5
The king of Israel read the letter, ‘I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.’ The king tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? Can I kill and bring people back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? He must be trying to pick a quarrel with me!’ – Slide 5
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When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: ‘Why have you torn your robes? Send the man to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.’  – Slide 6
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So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’ – Slide 7
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Naaman was furious and said, ‘I thought that he would come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God and cure me of my leprosy. The rivers of Damascus are better than all the waters of Israel. Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’ He turned and went off in a rage. – Slide 8
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Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘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.”’ So Naaman set off for the River Jordan. – Slide 9
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He went down into the river and dipped once … then twice … – Slide 10
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He dipped a third and fourth time … – Slide 11
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He dipped a fifth time … Then a sixth time … – Slide 12
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The he dipped for the seventh time … Just as Elisha had said, his skin was healed and became clean like that of a young boy. – Slide 13
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Naaman and all his attendants went back to Elisha. Naaman told him, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’ Elisha replied, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.’ Even though Naaman urged him, he refused. Naaman promised Elisha he would only worship the Lord God in future. ‘Go in peace,’ Elisha said. – Slide 14
15
Gehazi, the servant of Elisha, however followed after Naaman. ‘Elisha sent me to say, “Two young prophets arrived at the hill country of Ephraim,”’ he lied. ‘Please give them silver and two sets of clothing.’ Naaman willingly gave Gehazi twice the amount of silver he had asked for and the clothes. He smuggled them back to the house and hid them. – Slide 15
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Elisha asked ‘Where have you been, Gehazi?‘Nowhere,’ Gehazi, lied.‘Was not my spirit with you when Naaman got down from his chariot to meet you?’ Elisha asked. He knew about his dishonest servant’s dealings and declared, ‘Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever.’ Gehazi’s skin became leprous - as white as snow. – Slide 16
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