Anger: Naaman, Because Elisha Directed Him to Wash in the Jordan
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Naaman, a commander of the army of the king of Aram, is a prominent figure in the biblical narrative found in 2 Kings 5. Despite his high status and military prowess, Naaman suffered from leprosy, a condition that not only affected him physically but also socially and spiritually. His account is a profound illustration of how pride and anger can obstruct divine healing and blessing.

Naaman's journey to seek healing begins with a young Israelite girl, a captive in his household, who suggests that the prophet Elisha in Samaria could cure him of his leprosy. Acting on this advice, Naaman secures a letter from the king of Aram and travels to Israel, laden with gifts, to seek the prophet's help.

Upon reaching Elisha's house, Naaman is met not by the prophet himself but by a messenger who delivers Elisha's instructions: “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be clean” (2 Kings 5:10). This directive incites Naaman's anger. The text describes his reaction: "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. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?' So he turned and went away in a rage" (2 Kings 5:11-12).

Naaman's anger is rooted in his expectations and pride. He anticipated a grandiose healing ceremony befitting his status, not a simple act of washing in the Jordan River, which he considered inferior to the rivers of his homeland. His reaction highlights a common human tendency to resist divine instructions that seem too simple or beneath one's dignity.

Despite his initial fury, Naaman's servants approach him with wisdom and humility, urging him to reconsider: “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). Their counsel prompts Naaman to set aside his pride and follow Elisha's instructions. As a result, he is miraculously healed, his flesh restored like that of a young boy.

Naaman's account serves as a powerful reminder of the barriers that anger and pride can create between individuals and God's blessings. It underscores the importance of humility and obedience in the face of divine guidance, even when it challenges personal expectations or societal norms. Through Naaman's eventual compliance, the narrative reveals the transformative power of faith and submission to God's will.
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2 Kings 5:12
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
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Resources
Does God have emotions? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Simeon? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Levi / the Levites? | GotQuestions.org

Anger: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Subtopics

Anger

Anger in Prayer be Free From

Anger of Cain Slaying Abel

Anger: A Characteristic of Fools

Anger: A Work of the Flesh

Anger: Ahab, Because Naboth Would not Sell his Vineyard

Anger: Ahasuerus, Toward Vashti, for Refusing to Amuse his Courtiers

Anger: Anger of God

Anger: Asa, Because the Prophet Rebuked Him

Anger: Avoid Those Given To

Anger: Balaam, Toward his Ass

Anger: Balak, Toward Balaam

Anger: Be Slow To

Anger: Brings Its own Punishment

Anger: Children should not be Provoked To

Anger: Connected With: Clamour and Evil-Speaking

Anger: Connected With: Cruelty

Anger: Connected With: Malice and Blasphemy

Anger: Connected With: Pride

Anger: Connected With: Strife and Contention

Anger: Elihu, Because Job had Beaten his Friends in Argument

Anger: Ephraimites, Toward Gideon, for not Soliciting Their Help Against the Midianites

Anger: Forbidden

Anger: General Scriptures Concerning

Anger: Grievous Words Stir Up

Anger: Haman, Because Mordecai did not Salute Him

Anger: Herod, Toward the Wise Men Who Deceived Him

Anger: Jews, Against Stephen

Anger: Jonah, Because the Gourd Withered

Anger: Jonathan, on Account of Saul's Persecution of David

Anger: Justifiable: Jacob

Anger: Justifiable: Moses

Anger: Justifiable: Nehemiah

Anger: Justifiable: Our Lord

Anger: May be Averted by Wisdom

Anger: Meekness Pacifies

Anger: Moab

Anger: Moses, Toward Pharaoh

Anger: Naaman, Because Elisha Directed Him to Wash in the Jordan

Anger: Nebuchadnezzar, on Account of the Insubordination of the Three Hebrews, Who Refused to Worship his Idol

Anger: Paul, Toward Ananias

Anger: Pharaoh, Toward Moses

Anger: Saul, Toward Jonathan, on Account of his Sympathy With David

Anger: should not Betray Us Into Sin

Anger: Simeon and Levi, on Account of the Humbling of Their Sister, Dinah

Anger: Sinful: Ahab

Anger: Sinful: Asa

Anger: Sinful: Balaam

Anger: Sinful: Cain

Anger: Sinful: Esau

Anger: Sinful: Haman

Anger: Sinful: Herod

Anger: Sinful: High Priest

Anger: Sinful: Jews

Anger: Sinful: Jonah

Anger: Sinful: Moses

Anger: Sinful: Naaman

Anger: Sinful: Nebuchadnezzar

Anger: Sinful: Saul

Anger: Sinful: Simeon and Levi

Anger: Sinful: Uzziah

Anger: The People of Nazareth, Toward Jesus

Anger: Uzziah Toward Azariah, the Priest, Because of his Reproof of

The Anger of God is Averted from Them That Believe

The Anger of God is Averted Upon Confession of Sin and Repentance

The Anger of God is Righteous

The Anger of God is Slow

The Anger of God: Against: Apostasy

The Anger of God: Against: Idolatry

The Anger of God: Against: Impenitence

The Anger of God: Against: Sin, in Saints

The Anger of God: Against: The Wicked

The Anger of God: Against: Those Who Forsake Him

The Anger of God: Against: Unbelief

The Anger of God: Aggravated by Continual Provocation

The Anger of God: Averted by Christ

The Anger of God: Cannot be Resisted

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Aaron and Miriam

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Abimelech

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Builders of Babel

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Cities of the Plain

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Egyptians

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Enemies of Israel

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Five Kings

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Israelites

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Korah

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Men of Bethshemesh

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Nadab

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Saul

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Saul's Family

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Sennacherib

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: The Old World

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: The Spies

The Anger of God: Exemplified Against: Uzzah

The Anger of God: Extreme, Against Those Who Oppose the Gospel

The Anger of God: Folly of Provoking

The Anger of God: Manifested in Judgments and Afflictions

The Anger of God: Manifested in Terrors

The Anger of God: Removal of, should be Prayed For

The Anger of God: should Lead to Repentance

The Anger of God: Specially Reserved for the Day of Wrath

The Anger of God: Tempered With Mercy to Saints

The Anger of God: The Justice of, not to be Questioned

The Anger of God: To be Born With Submission

The Anger of God: To be Deprecated

The Anger of God: To be Dreaded

Related Terms

Compassionate (22 Occurrences)

Provoking (29 Occurrences)

Provocation (20 Occurrences)

Abounding (28 Occurrences)

Burneth (67 Occurrences)

Vanities (14 Occurrences)

Slow (43 Occurrences)

Provoked (70 Occurrences)

Kindle (25 Occurrences)

Provoke (64 Occurrences)

Kindled (83 Occurrences)

Aroused (29 Occurrences)

Mightily (36 Occurrences)

Stirred (64 Occurrences)

Merciful (53 Occurrences)

Burns (34 Occurrences)

Stir (57 Occurrences)

Devouring (20 Occurrences)

Malice (24 Occurrences)

Passionate (6 Occurrences)

Practiced (22 Occurrences)

Plenteous (16 Occurrences)

Ba'asha (26 Occurrences)

Choler (2 Occurrences)

Angered (13 Occurrences)

Baasa (26 Occurrences)

Selleth (17 Occurrences)

Quenched (22 Occurrences)

Devoureth (27 Occurrences)

Slander (34 Occurrences)

Backsliding (19 Occurrences)

Perpetually (10 Occurrences)

Consuming (26 Occurrences)

Scatter (65 Occurrences)

Amazi'ah (37 Occurrences)

Angry (269 Occurrences)

Shattered (42 Occurrences)

Strife (71 Occurrences)

Baasha (26 Occurrences)

Accomplished (64 Occurrences)

Displeased (39 Occurrences)

Burned (587 Occurrences)

Blot (23 Occurrences)

Blast (28 Occurrences)

Ba'al (55 Occurrences)

Alas (62 Occurrences)

Streets (83 Occurrences)

Abundant (124 Occurrences)

Spend (54 Occurrences)

Mischief (64 Occurrences)

Sown (45 Occurrences)

Vile (59 Occurrences)

Spared (45 Occurrences)

Devoured (81 Occurrences)

Quarreling (17 Occurrences)

Zeboiim (7 Occurrences)

Kindleth (9 Occurrences)

Astonishment (51 Occurrences)

Dissension (18 Occurrences)

Divined (6 Occurrences)

Disobey (15 Occurrences)

Displeasure (12 Occurrences)

Dismissed (22 Occurrences)

Discharged (8 Occurrences)

Drifting (3 Occurrences)

Mediums (10 Occurrences)

Pitied (19 Occurrences)

Practised (13 Occurrences)

Provoketh (7 Occurrences)

Pardoneth (2 Occurrences)

Blotted (15 Occurrences)

Ban (12 Occurrences)

Brood (19 Occurrences)

Befall (25 Occurrences)

Choosing (6 Occurrences)

Crouch (7 Occurrences)

Consumeth (37 Occurrences)

Consumes (21 Occurrences)

Chastise (21 Occurrences)

Anger: Moses, Toward Pharaoh
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