Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: FRESH (04/29/21)
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TITLE: When Hyssop Was Not Necessary | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sue Botte
05/05/21 -
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Na’aman stepped from the eating area, rubbing his itchy skin.
It is painful when I touch my skin; what is this?
He looked at his arms; the outer layer of his skin had become dry and patchy, covered in unsightly pink-and-white small scales. He brushed against his forehead; he cried out in pain, semi hard flecks of skin were on his fingers. In his heart he knew it to be leprosy.
My eyes are sore and itchy.
Na’aman touched his face.
My nose feels warm and is swollen; tingling stabbing pain especially in my hands and feet.
His wife, Aisha stared at him.
Through the lattice type windows of the upper floor where Na’aman’s living quarters were, the wind blew in pollen, small seeds and dust. His eyes were itchy, red and burning; he sneezed, everybody jumped away from him.
He cringed.
Frightened he turned to his wife. Aisha stepped further back.
Miriam, Aisha’s little slave-girl from Israel spoke:
‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.’
Na’aman, humiliated and despondent as he walked away, heard what the little slave-girl had said.
Leprosy was a stigma disease. Socially unacceptable, which the community regarded as aggressively contagious, and as a living symbol of disorganization related to politics and economics; more so, in the case of the commander of the king’s army.
He exercised voluntary exile.
He wasted no time in speaking to the king.
With a letter from the king, and the appropriate gifts he set out on his journey immediately.
Na’aman was recognized and treated with trepidation.
‘You want me to belief this, this letter?! Have you come to quarrel with me, you… you who killed my people? Take this man out of my sight!’
The king of Israel tore his purple robe.
Elisha heard about it.
‘Quick, take this letter to the king.’ Elisha said to his messenger.
To cleanse leprosy was a specific, precise and intense procedure supervised and done only by the priests. The process involved two young doves, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop, referenced to purification. The process took about a month to complete.
However, in the case of Na’aman God directed Elisha otherwise.
Elisha’s messenger spoke to Na’aman, the words of Elisha:
‘Go and wash in the river Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.’
Na’aman’s face turned red.
‘He will surely not come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy! Could I not wash in any other river?’ he shouted to the messenger.
He turned the chariot and went away, still rebellious.
Nearby the river Jordan, they set up camp.
He moaned and groaned, the leprosy got worse and more painful.
Na’aman was held in high regard by his fellow countrymen and especially by his servants. From the moment they first laid eyes on him a few weeks ago, they understood his humiliation and his permanent exile from society if not healed.
In fear but more in sympathy, his servants approached him with caution.
‘My father, please let us speak to you.’
From under his tent, in a half sitting position, he only looked at them.
‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, “Wash, and be clean”?’
Without further rebelliousness, Na’aman stood up and walked down to the river Jordan. His servants kept score. He dipped seven times; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child.
Indeed his skin was renewed.
He leaped with joy, praising the God of Israel.
He stood before Elisha, admitting to and recognizing the God of Israel.
F flesh R renewed E exalting S saviour H hallelujah.
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Based on 2 Kings 5
The New Bible Dictionary page 314
Social World of Ancient Israel page 151-3
Spirit Filled Life Bible for Students page 471
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