Behold, I Thought

2 Kings 5:1-14

INTRODUCTION: Life is filled with frustrations and discouragement. Oftentimes these feelings are based upon reality checks answering our own misconceptions or false perceptions. Such times are obviously disappointing, but also often threaten our endurance in the Christian walk.

I. THE GLEANING OF MISINFORMATION (2 Kings 5:1-12)

A. The Sources of Information (2 Kings 5:1-4)

1. A maid (2 Kings 5:2)
a. A young lady in Syrian captivity from Israel
b. A young lady who had been assigned to minister to Naaman’s wife
2. Naaman’s wife (2 Kings 5:3)
3. An unnamed servant (2 Kings 5:4)

B. The Subject of Information

1. Naaman’s leprosy (2 Kings 5:1)
2. The healing available (2 Kings 5:3)
a. There was a prophet in Samaria
b. He [the prophet] would recover him [Naaman] of his leprosy

C. The Presence of Misinformation

1. The entrance of misinformation
a. Those receiving information
1.) Possibly Naaman’s wife
2.) Possibly the servant
b. The assumptions of men
1.) The king of Syria
2.) Naaman
2. The evidence of misinformation
a. The assumptions of the king of Syria (2 Kings 5:5-6)
1.) The king of Israel possessed some power in the matter
i. The recipient of the letter (2 Kings 5:5)
ii. The request for healing (2 Kings 5:6)
2.) The healing would be encouraged by gifts
b. The assumptions of Naaman (2 Kings 5:11)
1.) He [Elisha] would come out to him [Naaman].
2.) He [Elisha] would stand and call on the name of the LORD his God.
3.) He [Elisha] would strike his hand over the place and recover the leper.

II. THE DISCOURAGEMENT OF MISINFORMATION (2 Kings 5:11-12)

A. The Product of Discouragement (2 Kings 5:11-12)

1. Naaman was wroth (2 Kings 5:11).
2. Naaman began to question (2 Kings 5:12).
a. Are not Abana and Pharpar better than all the waters of Israel?
b. May I not wash in them, and be clean?
3. Naaman was “in a rage” (2 Kings 5:12).

B. The Temptation of Discouragement (2 Kings 5:11-12)

1. He “went away” (2 Kings 5:11)
2. He “turned and went away” (2 Kings 5:12).

III. THE REMEDY FOR MISINFORMATION (2 Kings 5:13-14)

A. Real Friends (2 Kings 5:13)

1. Naaman was a man to be feared under normal circumstances, but even more so when “in a rage” (2 Kings 5:12).
2. In spite of that, his servants came near and spake unto him.

B. Real Truth (2 Kings 5:13)

1. Naaman’s acceptance of “some great thing”
2. Naaman’s folly in the presence of some simple thing
a. He would rather stay a leper
b. Than to accept the prophet’s instruction

C. Real Faith (2 Kings 5:14)

1. Naaman obeyed.
2. Naaman came forth healed and clean.

IV. THE PRESENT DANGERS OF MISINFORMATION

A. In the World

B. Among the Saints

CONCLUSION: Disappointments are a fact of life, though sad. What is worse is that we so quickly give up when we learn of our misconceptions. May God grant us some voices that encourage us to plow ahead in obedience in spite of the sad disappointments hurled in our paths.