You’ve Got to Be Kidding!

A matter of pride

by Janice Ross

Suitable for Whole School (Pri)

Aims

To consider a Bible character who overcame his pride.

Preparation and materials

• You will need to be familiar with today’s Bible story, which is found in 2 Kings 5.
• Optional: you may wish to arrange for some children to read the five statements in the ‘Assembly’, Step 4.

Assembly

1. Explain to the children that you are going to tell them a story from the Bible about a king called Naaman.
   
   The Story of Naaman
   
   Once, there was a king who lived in a magnificent palace that had magnificent furnishings. He had magnificent clothes, magnificent treasures, a magnificent wife and magnificent food. In fact, everything that he had was magnificent. The king’s name was Naaman.
   
   However, Naaman wasn’t happy. This was because he had a secret that he had been trying to hide from everyone. He had a disease called leprosy and it had become impossible to hide it any longer. White spots had started to appear on his hands and face, and Naaman knew that it wouldn’t be long before he would lose the feeling in his hands and feet. He would have to leave the palace and live alone so that he didn’t infect others because leprosy was very catching.
   ‘Don’t worry,’ said his wife. ‘We have the best doctors in the land. They will be able to cure you.’
   
   However, as the weeks passed, various doctors visited the palace, but each one shook his head when he examined the king.
   ‘I’m sorry, Your Majesty. There’s nothing I can do,’ each one said.
   Suddenly, nothing was magnificent any more. What good was gold and silver and all the wealth of his kingdom to Naaman now?
   
   The palace became a place where people spoke in hushed tones, apart from one exception. One of the queen’s maids chirped up one day and asked the queen, ‘Why doesn’t the king go and see the prophet Elisha? He’ll know what to do.’
   The maid cared about her master, and she knew that her God could heal him.
   
   When the queen told her husband about the maid’s suggestion, the king agreed and saddled up his horses with gifts for the prophet. They were magnificent gifts: 340 kg of silver, 70 kg of gold and ten sets of beautiful clothing. However, when the king arrived at Elisha’s house and called out to him, Elisha didn’t even bother to come out. He sent his servant instead.
   
   Pause the story.
   
   
2. Ask the children, ‘How do you think the king would have felt when Elisha sent out a servant to meet him?’
   
   Listen to a range of responses.
   
   Suggest that the king might have felt puzzled, offended or furious!
   
   
3. Continue with the story.
   
   The servant gave Naaman some advice from Elisha.
   ‘Go and wash yourself seven times in the River Jordan and you will be healed,’ the servant said.
   
   Pause the story again.
   
   
4. Let’s listen to some possible reactions from Naaman.
   
   Optional: invite some children to the front to read out the following statements.
   
   - I thought that, at the very least, you’d come out and speak to me yourself. Don’t you know who I am?
   - I thought you’d come and stand with me, and call on the name of your God.
   - I thought you’d at least wave your hand over my leprosy spots and cure me.
   - There are several cleaner rivers in Damascus that I’d rather wash in.
   - You’ve got to be kidding! Have you seen how dirty your river is?
   
   
5. Continue with the story.
   
   King Naaman turned and went off in a rage! But his servants were wiser than he was.
   ‘If Elisha had told you to do something great, wouldn’t you have done it? Surely bathing in this river can’t hurt you, especially if you’re going to be healed.’
   So, Naaman came to his senses and went down to the River Jordan.
   Seven times he washed himself in the muddy waters, and when he stepped out, he was healed!
   ‘Now I know that there is no other God in the whole world!’ announced the king.
   
   
6. Perhaps we are left with a question lurking in our minds: what did Elisha do when the king offered his gifts of gold, silver and clothing? He declined them!
   ‘No, thanks,’ he said. ‘Magnificent things don’t impress me; it’s more important to me to follow God.’

Time for reflection

Although Naaman was an important and wealthy king, his wealth could not heal him.

Do you think that having lots of money makes people happy?

Listen to a range of responses.

Naaman had to overcome his pride because he had a great need. He had to obey a greater power.

Ask the children, ‘Can you think of any times when you’ve had to overcome your pride and listen to someone’s advice, ask for help or do something that you don’t want to do?’

Listen to a range of responses.

Prayer
Dear God,
Thank you for healing Naaman.
Thank you that you have the power to do what no one else can do.
Thank you that you are still powerful today.
Amen.