Dear Azy, Rumi, and Ari,
Today, we’re going to continue with the stories of the kings of Judah and Israel that came after David and Solomon and God using his prophet, Elisha, to continue to prove he’s the one true God and have those who had turned away come back to him. We’ll follow same format as last lesson, the miracle followed by any additional lessons where needed.
The king of Aram had a great commander in chief of his army, Naaman, who he admired very much because he had given him many victories. So when Naaman was struck with leprosy and their pagan Gods couldn’t heal him, he asked the king of Israel for help. The king of Israel said who am I that I would be able to heal him? But Elisha sent a messenger to king of Israel saying, send Naaman to me, and he will learn there is one true prophet in Israel.
Naaman packed many gifts to meet with Elisha, but when he arrived, one of Elisha’s messengers came out and told him: Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan river. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.
Naaman grew angry thinking I came all this way. I am this great commander of an army and this prophet didn’t even come out to meet me. I expected him to wave his hand over this leprosy using the name of his God and make it go away. And Jordan river is a simple river, not like our great rivers of Damascus, which is much better. Let’s go back home. But his soldiers told him, sir, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? So why not obey when he says simply to go wash yourself and be cleansed?
So Naaman went down to the Jordan river and washed himself seven times as the man of God instructed and saw his skin was healed and looked like that of a young child. Then Naaman, ecstatic, went back to the home of Elisha with gifts, bowed down, and said thank you. Now I know there is one true God, the God of Israel. Elisha said you’re welcome. I cannot accept any gifts as this is from God. Naaman said okay but please let me take some of the earth from here so I can build an alter to your God and worship him when I get home. And when the king of Aram worships his pagan Gods and leans on my left arm, may the Lord forgive me when I bow down too. Elisha responded, understood. Go in peace. (2 Kings 5)
Lesson: God helps everyone who turns to him. In this case, he healed Naaman from the land of Aram who was not an Israelite. God will perform miracles for people to serve his purpose. It is not for us to say who or why for he has his own reasons. The key is for them to share their story and glorify him, in this case a commander of an army who lived in a kingdom that worshipped false Gods. Two, Naaman almost missed out on his miracle because he had an expectation on how he would receive that miracle. He thought Elisha should of come out to meet him because he’s a major commander of an army. And he was used to people bowing down and serving him. Remember this, God is not impressed with your position or title. He’s God. He created all things. Whatever you think is impressive in worldly terms is not even a speck of dust to him. What he cares about is your heart. And you’re humble. Naaman didn’t have to meet with Elisha or be washed by a great river’s waters. God made it to where Elisha didn’t have to see him and washed in the simple Jordan river because he wanted him to know it was not the people or the water that healed him. It was God. So when you talk to God, and ask for certain things, don’t have expectations on how he makes those things happen. He has his own ways, and whatever they may be, he has our best interest in mind and that path is better than any expectation we may have.
Last, Naaman turned his heart to God and made it clear that he’s following orders for the King and by having to go to pagan temples, it’s not because of his faith. It’s important to communicate with God about what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. Even though he knows our hearts, it’s for our benefit so we hold ourselves accountable to our faith and make sure we are always facing him.
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After Naaman left, Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, said to himself, it isn’t right my master did not receive gifts for his work. So he ran after Naaman after he had left and said, my master has sent me to tell you two young prophets just arrived and need help. He needs 75 pounds of silver and two sets of clothing. Naaman replied, by all means, take twice as much as you need. And Gehazi took the gifts and hid it in his house. Once he went back, Elisha asked where have you been. He replied I haven’t been anywhere. Then Elisha said don’t you realize I was there in spirit when you met with Naaman and accepted those gifts by lying and hiding them at your house for yourself? Because you have done this, you will get Naaman’s leprosy and so will your descendants forever. As Gehazi left the room, he was covered with leprosy, his skin became as white as snow. (2 Kings 5)
Lesson: God sees everything. Whenever we do something wrong because we think we can get away from it, we can’t get away from God. He’s everywhere and knows everything. In face, he knows our hearts before we even do anything. So it’s important, whenever we can, to do the right thing. And when we do the wrong thing, because we will as we’re not perfect, we’re human. And since Adam and Eve, we have a sin nature, or do things wrong. We need to confess to God and admit our wrongs to the ones we harmed, even if nobody sees it. In this case, Gehazi should have returned the gifts to Naaman and tell Elisha what he did and then face the consequences of his actions. And ask for God’s mercy. His Heart would of then turned back to God. But because he didn’t, his punishment was much more severe. He not only got leprosy but so did all his descendants. So remember God can see everything. And when you do something wrong, repent, address the people you did wrong, and God will forgive you because he’s a merciful God.
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During a severe famine, Elisha prophesized that the next day the markets would have food. When one of the king’s men did not believe him, Elisha said the people will have food but you won’t. Then the Lord had an Aramean army that was near hear the sound of speedy chariots and galloping of horses where they thought a great army was approaching. So they got scared and ran away, leaving all their food and supplies. Then the Israelites plundered their supplies and had food in the markets. When the king’s man that had doubted Elisha came to the market, he was destroyed trying to control the crowd. (2 Kings 7)
Lesson: Don’t doubt God. And God will provide.
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Elisha keeps reporting the king of Aram’s attacks to the king of Israel so they were always one step ahead of them. When king of Aram finds out it was Elisha doing this, he attacks him with his whole army. Elisha blinds the whole army where they can’t see where they’re going and leads them to Samaria, Israel’s capital at the time. He then tells king of Israel to have mercy on them by feeding them and sending them back. The king did and the Aramean army stayed away from Israel for the next few years. (2 Kings 6)
Lesson: Attacks against men of God will always fail. Because who can defeat God? Someone may win temporarily but God will always win at the end. And God is merciful. He let the soldiers go even though they were trying to harm his prophet. God is Good.
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Elisha anoints king Jehu to destroy king Ahab’s family as prophesized by Elijah 20 years before. Jehu not only destroyed Ahab’s kids but all his relatives and close friends. While he destroyed all of baals temple, he only did so because they were followers of Ahab, not because it was pagan and evil. He also did not destroy the pagan temple with the golden calves because it would keep people from going to Jerusalem. So Jehu used God to take control and to serve his own selfish ambitions to rule Israel as king and take out any rivals. God declared Judgement on Jehu and his family later for his wicked acts. (2 Kings 9)
Lesson: God’s prophecies come true. Also, many people try to use God for their own selfish motives, saying they’re doing things to serve God when in reality they are just trying to serve themselves. God knows the difference and will punish those if they don’t turn from their harmful ways.
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Elisha was in final days here on earth before he would die and return home. King Jehoash of Israel came to him to ask if they would have victory over them in their next battle with Aram. Elisha said get a bow and arrows. Put your hand on the bow and shoot it out the window. This is the Lord’s arrow, an arrow of victory over your next battle with Aram. Now pick up the other arrows and strike them against the ground. The king picked them up and struck the ground three times. Elisha said you should have done so 5 or 6 times to completely defeat them. But because you only did it 3 times, you will win the next 3 battles and then they will defeat you. King Jehoash defeated Ben-Hadad of Aram the next 3 times as Elisha prophesized but lost after. (2 Kings 13)
Lesson: While we have free will, God can see through time. He can see what we’ll do our whole lives. What seems like 100 years for us is but a minute to God. So he can tell us what’s going to happen at any time. So it’s important to listen to him when he talks to us when we reach out and ask him questions after praying and reading the bible.
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When Elisha died, he was buried but the burial was left open. Another man who had died was thrown accidentally into Elisha’s tomb. When the man touched Elisha’s bones, he revived and jumped to his feet! This was the 3rd resurrection in the bible, and the first to happen simply from touching a prophet’s bones without any prayer by the prophet. (2 Kings 13)
Lesson: God can perform miracles in any way he likes, even including using the bones of his prophets after they died. It just shows the magnificence of God.
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Hopefully, through this lesson, and the last, you can see how God used Elijah and Elisha to perform miracles and remind Israel and its neighbors who is the one true God, to live a good life based on his commandments, and ask for forgiveness for the things they’ve done wrong (sins). He was always there. He never gave up on them. And those who did turn back to him, he showed mercy and forgave them.
We have a truly amazing God. And just like Elijah and Elisha, you have the ability to build a deep personal relationship with him so you can find out how he wants you to serve his people and the plans he has for you. The same way he has plans for mommy and Daddy, which one of those plans is to love you, so you can feel just a small glimpse of how much God truly loves you!!! 🙂
Next time, we’ll talk about the story of another one of God’s prophets, Jonah, who came after Elijah/Elisha, and how following God’s plans, even when you might have a hard time doing so, is always the best path.
Till the next adventure! Remember, Daddy loves you! 🙂
Love,
Daddy
7/12/25
