2 Kings 5:1-14
1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife.
3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said.
5 "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.
6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy."
7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"
8 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? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel."
9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house.
10 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."
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
13 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'!"
14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

When he stepped into the door of Elisha, Naaman had few expectations in his mind - the prophet should behave such and such ways that would fit to honor a person like him, an army commander. In his mind Naaman was imagining a scene where Elisha calls upon the Lord, wave his hand over the leprosy and heal it to the surprise of everyone around. But what happened was literaly discouraging and shameful for Naaman. No calling of the Lord with a loud voice, no prayer, no waving of the hand, no fire works and surprised faces and definitely no healing of his shame. Only a ridiculous command - ‘go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan.’

Naaman was furious at Elisha. When things did not go as he wished it would, Naama’s true face came out, the mask of humility he was wearing till then came apart torn. The real leprosy which would lead his soul into eternal torment fermented to the surface. Do I have better rivers in Aram, why should I go to this river? He erred in understanding the command, it was not a command intending to the river but a command for his ailing soul.

We find ourself at this point at times. We would have some expectations towards the advices we seek. When the advice differs from what we sought, all our humility and openness becomes a mere act. We find fault with the one who came to help us. The pride, leprosy of the soul will remove its vail and come out.

As for Naaman, praying was such an easy thing, but for Elisha and God, teaching humility was easier. Later, when Naaman listened to the words of his servant, he was healed. As for us also, when we remove the pride-leprosy in us, we will come out blessed.

Prayer idea

Search for the pride-infected areas in life. Decide to change.