In Exodus 33 and 34, we read the story of Moses meeting God on the mountain. Moses asked God to show him his glory and when God spoke that day, and told Moses who he was, he named five attributes and two actions that defined him. Exodus 34:6-7 says:

Five Attributes of God:

“The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

Two Actions of God:

maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”

In this statement God revealed the reasons for everything he did throughout the Old Testament. His default position was compassion, grace, patience, love and faithfulness. When he had to take action against sin, he still maintained his love and forgiveness.

But if people deliberately went on sinning in rebellion against him, God disciplined them. And he worked with their children to the fourth generation to rout out sin and it’s devastating effects.

The Kindness of God

God’s discipline was inseparable from his compassion, grace, love and faithfulness. He punished people to stop sin, but even his punishment was a kindness, meant to lead people to salvation. As the Apostle Paul pointed out later:

“Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?” Romans 2:4

Naaman the Leper

“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 Kings 5:1

Aram was continually at war with Israel during this time. They conquered land that belonged to Israel and frequently crossed the border to steal people and property. Naaman was the commander over all of these military operations. When he discovered he had the dreaded disease of leprosy — ironically — it was a young captive girl from Israel who offered Naaman help.

“She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’” 2 Kings 5:3

The king of Aram sent Naaman to the king of Israel with a letter requesting that he be cured.

“As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? . . . 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!” 2 Kings 5:7

This was a job for God, not the king, so Elisha had Naaman sent to his house. While the commander and his entourage waited outside the door, Elisha sent a messenger to say, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:10

Naaman Complains, Then Complies

Elisha said Naaman would be cleansed, not healed from his leprosy. Jesus used the word “cleansed” when he healed lepers, too. In the Bible the incurable condition of leprosy was symbolic of the incurable condition of sin. Leprosy and sin were both dependent on God’s mercy if the sufferer was to be restored.

Elisha sent Naaman to wash in the Jordan (just as sinners need to be washed in the blood of Christ in order to be clean). Naaman thought it was beneath him, it was too simple, and it was insulting to be humbled in that way. But his servants urged him to do what Elisha said.

When Naaman dipped himself into the Jordan seven times, he came out completely whole, with skin like a young boy. It was as if he had been born again.

He said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15)

He wanted to take some of the soil of Israel back with him so he could create a place to worship God, but he worried about the times ahead when he would be forced to enter the Aramean places of worship with the king. Elisha assured him he would be all right. Naaman’s body and soul had both been transformed by the mercy of God and he was safe.

“‘Go in peace,’ Elisha said.” 2 Kings 5:19

Gehazi’s Greed

Naaman offered Elisha a handsome reward for his help, but Elisha refused it. His servant Gehazi wanted some of the money and clothing Naaman offered, however, so he pursued Naaman and made up a story about two young prophets who showed up needing money and clothes. Naaman gladly gave Gehazi what he asked for and Gehazi hid it in the house he shared with Elisha.

The Lord showed Elisha what Gehazi had done. When he confronted Gehazi, he told him that from then on he and his descendants would suffer from Naaman’s leprosy. Gahazi wanted what Naaman had, but he got more than he bargained for.

Elisha Meets Aggression with Grace

The king of Aram remained at war with Israel. He tried to ambush and capture Israel’s king, but he evaded the trap every time. The king of Aram thought he had a traitor leaking information in his camp, but it turned out it was Elisha who warned the king of Israel. The double spirit of prophecy God gave Elisha made him able to overhear secret conversations taking place miles away from him.

Elisha also had eyes to see what others could not. When Elisha’s servant told him that Aram’s horses and chariots had surrounded their home, Elisha asked God to open the servant’s eyes to see what God had done to defend them.

“Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17

After praying that God would open his servant’s eyes, Elisha prayed that God would make the army of Aram blind. He led them, blinded, into the city of Samaria where God restored their sight and they found they were prisoners of war. The king of Israel was excited to have these soldiers under his control, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” 2 Kings 6:21

Instead Elisha prepared a lavish feast for the captives and sent them back home. This act of mercy  brought a time of peace and for a while Aram stopped raiding Israel.

Aram Besieges Samaria

Eventually Ben-Hadad revived his aggression against Israel and laid siege against Samaria. He cut the city off from every source of supplies and people resorted to desperate measures to stay alive. The king of Israel was distraught and he blamed Elisha for not delivering Samaria.

“The king said, ‘This disaster is from the Lord. Why should I wait for the Lord any longer?’” 2 Kings 6:33

Elisha prophesied a miraculous deliverance the next day: Overnight Samaria would be freed and there would be plenty of food.

That night four lepers decided to sneak out of Samaria and surrender to the Arameans. Perhaps they thought the Arameans would welcome them as informants. They expected to die, but they were going to die in the city anyway.

When they got to the Aramean camp it was completely deserted. God had sent sounds in the night that made the Arameans think they were under attack and they fled for their lives.

The lepers helped themselves to some good food and plunder, and then decided to go back to Samaria and share the news. It was still night when the king sent out a reconnaissance team to see where the Arameans had gone. The spies discovered that the Arameans had truly fled, discarding clothing and equipment as they ran to get out of Israel.

The people of Samaria rushed out and plundered the deserted Aramean camp. The siege and famine were over. God had performed a miracle to deliver Samaria.

Back Story

The back-story to all of these events was God’s passion for relationships with people. He never stopped reaching toward them, trying to win their hearts.

And Elisha was God’s instrument of grace to Israel. Everyone who came to him received a personal response from the Lord. Elisha performed miracles, raised the dead, overruled nature, rebuked sinners, and prayed for people’s salvation. He was like Christ to the people of Israel at this time, because . . .

“The Lord, the Lord, [is] the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7