"What Is God Doing" Kings 5: 1-19

There is so much going on in this story, I'm not sure where to focus the sermon.  Some of the things that grab my attention are:

1.  Verse 1 announces that Aram's victory had been given to them by the hand of the Lord, suggesting that God was working through those who were not even God's people.  Is that a statement on how God works, or does it reflect the storyteller's perspective that if Aram won a battle God had to be on its side because they could not win without God on their side?

2.  The captive slave girls offers the idea that the Israelite prophet Elisha could heal Naaman of his leprosy.  Sort of interesting that the captive offers a way to healing.  I might not be so willing to share with my captors this liberating news of what the prophet Elisha could do.

3.  When the Aramean king sends a letter to the king of Israel inquiring about Elisha, the king of Israel assumes it is all a pretense to give Aram the opportunity to attack Israel.  Not sure he should have known better, but notice that the foreign king is inquiring about the power of Israel's prophet to heal on the advice of the captured slave girl who believes that Elisha can heal, but the Israelite king can only worry about being attacked.  Sort of odd how the faith of those three is displayed.

4.  When Elisha tells Naaman to wash in the Jordan seven times to be healed, Naaman becomes incensed at what appears to him to be a ridiculous way to heal.  His servants convince him to trust in what Elisha has asked him to do.  Perhaps a comment on expecting God to work in grand, glorious ways and missing how God is at work in the mundane.  Or notice that it is the servants who convince Naaman.  Servants seem to have a better handle on matters of faith than the leaders.

5.  When Naaman tries to pay Elisha for his services, Elisha refuses.  Instead, Naaman converts to the faith of the Israelites, although he asks permission to bow down the god of his king whenever he is with the king in a place of worship.  Elisha sends him off in peace.  Naaman converts -- yeah!  Elisha seems grounded in his refusal to accept the gift.  And don't miss Elisha's gracious giving of the peace, even after Naaman notes he will bow down to other gods on occasion.  That seems to express a graciousness in Elisha that is not often found in the OT actions of Israelites toward their enemies.

What jumps out at you in this passage?  What particular topic would you like to see explored?