"Naaman's servants went to him and said, 'My father, 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"!'" (2 Kings 5:13).

The story of Naaman is an interesting one. Naaman was a general over the armies of Aram. He was a successful man, because the Lord had used him, but he was a leper. An Israelite slave girl offered sage advise as to how to be healed. She told his wife to send him to the prophet (Elisha) in Israel.

The story seeks to capture all of Naaman's self-importance and arrogance. He considers himself to be a man of power and influence even though he has an incurable disease. He is powerless to help himself, but he cannot see it.

Through this story we see a dominate biblical theme: God gives grace to the humble. We can also conclude from this story that God humbles those to whom he desires to show his grace. He brings Naaman to the end of himself. He makes a child and some slaves to be Naaman's counselors. The Lord does not let Naaman see the prophet until after he is obedient to the Word of the Lord. Naaman must go down into the Jordan and dip himself seven times. The act, in and of itself, is an act of faith. Will Naaman trust the Lord to honor his Word, and thus obey? Or will he reject the Lord's command?

Naaman's rage is soothed by the gentle words of his servants. They encourage him to humble himself and obey the Lord. Their logic is sound: if it had been a great quest, Naaman would have accepted it without hesitation. Why not accept an easier task? What did he have to lose by bathing in the Jordan? Only his pride (and ultimately, his leprosy). Naaman finds healing as he abandons his pride. He comes up out of the Jordan with baby soft skin and a new heart to match.

This story reminds us that pride is like a disease. It gnaws at a person, slowly working its way into every area of their life. It bloats their ego and swells their head. It blinds them to the reality of God's sovereign power, and their own desperate need. Pride drives a wedge between a person and their Creator. Pride comes before a fall, but if we humble ourselves before the Lord, he will lift us up.