Who heals us from our sin?

Jesus heals us from our sin.

 

This week in The Gospel Project^® for Kids, we turn our attention to Elisha, Elijah’s friend and successor, and Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. The Syrians often attacked Israelite cities and took whatever they wanted, including people to work as slaves. One of the slaves carried off by the Syrians has a pivotal role in Sunday’s account.

Naaman was sick with leprosy—a serious skin disease. Without a cure, Naaman would suffer horribly. A young slave girl from the land of Israel, however, knew about the one true God. She told her mistress that Elisha the prophet could heal Naaman.

Naaman told his master, the king of Aram (Syria), what his servant said. This king of Aram wrote a letter to the king of Israel, commanding him to heal Naaman. The king of Israel panicked. He couldn’t heal Naaman—only God could do that! Elisha heard of the problem and sent for Naaman; he told Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan River. It wasn’t the “cure” Naaman was expecting, and he rejected Elisha’s instructions. His servants, however, encouraged him to obey, and when Naaman washed in the Jordan as Elisha had instructed, he was healed! Naaman told Elisha, “I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15).

Naaman was sick. He had a problem with his skin. When Naaman washed in the river, his skin got better. No one can obey God all the time. We are all sick with a sin problem. When we trust n Jesus, He heals us. God forgives us and makes us better.