Naaman Gets Healed

On Friday we learned about Naaman. He was the top commander of the army of Syria. But Naaman had a problem. He had a bad disease called leprosy. When someone has that disease they will eventually die.

We first played Hockey:The story continues: Naaman found out that in Israel, a neighbouring country, there was a prophet called Elisha who might be able to help him. Naaman gathered gifts of silver, gold, and fine clothes, and set off for Israel.

We then played Donkey Race:

The story continues: When he finally reached Elisha's house, Elisha sent a messengerr to Naaman. "Go and wash in the Jordan River seven times, and then you will be healed." But Naaman didn't like this message. This was much too humiliating for him! “I expected something much more special from this prophet.”

We then played Face Wash:

The story continues: But Naaman's servants convinced him to give it a try. “If the prophet had asked you to do something special you would have done it.” And so he did. When Naaman came out of the water the seventh time, he was completely healed! Naaman was of course very happy and went back to Elisha.

We then played Happy Chappy:

The story continues: Naaman said to Elisha, "Your God is the only true God. Please accept this silver, gold and these fine clothes as my thanks." But Elisha refused. Elisha did not want to be paid for what God had done. And so Naaman went back home completely healed and continued worshiping the true God the rest of his life.
We then played Jelly Bean Trade:

Linking the Story to a Life Lesson:

Naaman was very sick. He needed to be healed. Even though we might feel perfectly healthy, God calls us ‘sick’, or even ‘dead’. This means that we have sinned against God. The relationship between God and us is then ‘sick’ or ‘dead’. God also gives us a method to get better. He says: “Repent and believe”. Repenting means telling God what sins you have done, asking God for forgiveness and trying to never do sin again. God promises that he will forgive your sins. God calls this: “washing away of sin”. The same way as Naaman’s leprosy was washed away. The reason this is possible is because Jesus has taken the punishment for sin on him. When we ask God to forgive all our sins, we then can believe that Jesus has also died for our sins and they are indeed forgiven.

God has given us a method to be healed. Do we believe it, like the servants of Naaman and later Naaman himself? Or do we not believe it? Either decision we make has huge consequences for our life and after-life.