Naaman The Leper

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:04 Speaker 2: You doubt yourself, Master, of course I doubt myself. I've watched you stand alone against kings and slaughter false prophets. I've even seen you call down fire and part rivers. And now you're leaving me to take your place. 00:00:22 Speaker 3: I am not you, Master. I have no fire, no boldness, no strength. The only thing I know how to do is pray. 00:00:33 Speaker 1: Then you know enough. 00:00:37 Speaker 4: I told you not to give me false hope. I told you I didn't ask for a son. I didn't ask for any of it. I would rather have been bearing forever than feel this. Why why would God do this? Why would he give. 00:00:55 Speaker 5: Only to take? 00:00:57 Speaker 2: I don't know why God does what he does. I don't know why he allows grief to take root what JOHI once bloomed. 00:01:04 Speaker 1: He prayed, And this time it wasn't desperate, It was trust. A shudder, a gasp Ace's body convulsed beneath him, and suddenly he was coughing, breath spilling back into his lungs like water bursting through a crack dam. His eyes shot open, wide, confused alive, Elisha stood back, watching his hard pounding, his body light. This, this was Jahweh's work. This was grace. 00:01:46 Speaker 6: The water was filthy, the command was offensive, and yet that's exactly where healing weighted. Shello, my friends, from here in the holy Land of Israel. I'm y l Exstein with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. Sometimes the hardest thing to receive is mercy, especially when we've been taught to earn everything, to prove, to conquer, to bring something to the table. What happens when the table is already set and all we're asked to do is sit today. In Second Kings, chapter five, we meet a man of valor and a man of weakness, and neither is who you think. When rives in glory, cloaked and steel and silver, the other fades from the story, wrapped in shame. But beneath it all, beneath the miracles and the politics, beneath the dust and the disease, there's a deeper tension. What if healing is only possible and we stop trying to deserve it. 00:02:46 Speaker 1: The roads to Samaria had seen Kings before, They had seen caravans, traders, even conquerors, but they had never seen Nayeman. He rode at the head of his company, his chariot gleaming in the midday sun, the armor on his chest polished to an almost mirror like sheen. His face, sculpted by years of war, bore the look of a man who had never once been denied what he desired. Behind him, a column of horses and chariots stretched like a river of metal and silk, foot soldiers, servants, banners flapping in the hot wind. Carried with them were the markers of his wealth and power. Silver, gold, fine garments. Naaman didn't come to beg He came to purchase his healing. At the gates of Samaria, the guards scrambled at the sight, their hands gripping their spears, with the uneasy tention of men who were suddenly aware of their own insignificance. 00:03:54 Speaker 3: They didn't need an introduction. 00:03:56 Speaker 1: Every soldier in the region knew Naaman, Commander of Aram. His name was spoken in the kind of hushed, weary tones reserved for men whose victories were written in blood and fire. The palace doors groaned open before him, and soon he stood before Joram, King of Israel. If one could call what Joram did standing, the man was already wilting, his fingers twitching at the edges of his robe, his eyes darting between Naeman and the parchment in his hands. 00:04:33 Speaker 7: King Joram, by the King of Naeman, have for a quest from my lord the king of a Rum. 00:04:44 Speaker 1: Naeman handed him the scroll. Joram's throat bobbed as he read it aloud, his voice cracking quick. 00:04:51 Speaker 5: This letter, I've cindy servant, naming to you that you may cure him of his leprosy. 00:05:00 Speaker 1: A thick, unbearable silence stretched tight over the room, like the pause before a blade fell. Then fabric tore. John ripped his own robes, his breath coming in sharp, erratic bursts. The young king flailed dramatically, as if crumbling under the weight of some unseen burden. 00:05:23 Speaker 5: Am I God, can I kill and bring back to life? Ends on him for the best. 00:05:33 Speaker 7: Head. 00:05:33 Speaker 5: But she told me I was weak. She told me I ruined everything. 00:05:41 Speaker 1: His gaze darted between his advisers, searching desperately for someone, anyone, to tell him this wasn't happening. His fingers clawed at his hair, his breath shallow, his pupils dilated with fear. 00:05:57 Speaker 5: Arab Is looking for an excuse to start a war. 00:06:00 Speaker 8: Who to say, I refused a great commander. 00:06:05 Speaker 1: Nae Aman exhaled, sharply, shaking his head. He had seen kings in battle, seen them fall on their own swords, seen them scream for mercy, seen them stand unshaken as they were cut down. But this this was new, a king who unraveled at the mere presence of a stronger man, pathetic. But before he could turn and demand a real solution, a messenger burst into the chamber, eyes sharp, breath, Steady. 00:06:38 Speaker 9: My lord, the prophet Elijah has sent word. He says, why have you torn your ropes? Send the man to me and he will know. There is a prophet in Israel. 00:06:49 Speaker 1: Nae Man's eyes flickered, his jaw tightening. A prophet. This was what Israel offered him. No audience with the king, no summons to their temple, no display of divine power, just a prophet. 00:07:07 Speaker 7: His prophet speaks of dround tearing robes, but he was not in the room to see it. Interesting sign let the prophet proof of shaff. 00:07:24 Speaker 1: A dust cloud announced Naaman's arrival, long before his chariots rolled up to the modest home. Perched on the outskirts of the city. The contrast was almost comical. The finest military force in the region parked in front of a house barely large enough to fit a family of goats. Naaman stepped down from his chariot, his armor gleaming, his presence and unspoken demand, and then nothing. No welcome, no servants scurrying out to greet him, no sign that anyone inside had even noticed. A flicker of irritation crossed in Neaman's face. Inside the house, Elisha was very much aware of who had arrived. He sat at a rough hewn wooden table, calmly stirring a bowl of lentils, his gaze fixed lazily on the ceiling as Gehayese Eye stood near the doorway, watching the scene unfold. 00:08:25 Speaker 5: Master. If there was ever a time to make an impression, this is it. 00:08:31 Speaker 1: Elisha didn't look up, just blue on his spoonful of stew. 00:08:36 Speaker 2: Oh, I'm making an impression, just not the kind he's expecting. 00:08:40 Speaker 5: Husha, listen to me. Your father would have handled this differently. 00:08:46 Speaker 1: That made Elisha pause. He set his spoon down, finally looking at gehaese Eye. 00:08:52 Speaker 10: Would he now, yes, it would have known one of the old men like Naymon. He would have met him with honor, whre is this moment and made something out of it. 00:09:03 Speaker 1: But you, gehayze I gestured toward the door, exasperated. 00:09:08 Speaker 5: You won't even meet the man. 00:09:11 Speaker 1: Elisha leaned back, arms folding across his chest. He let the words settle between them before tilting his head slightly, a smirk curling at the edges of his lips. 00:09:23 Speaker 2: Naeman is outside, standing like a peacock in full display, expecting a show. 00:09:29 Speaker 3: I'd hate to disappoint. 00:09:30 Speaker 1: Him, gehaze I sighed, rubbing his forehead. 00:09:34 Speaker 5: This isn't just about him, This is about us. This man could could fund God's work. He could bring us gold land influence. 00:09:45 Speaker 1: Elishah's expression sharpened, the humor flickered away, just for a moment. 00:09:51 Speaker 2: I did not leave my father's fields to build another empire. 00:09:55 Speaker 1: Gehayze I opened his mouth, then shut it. The words were, but the weight of them had nowhere to land. Elisha sighed, shaking his head. 00:10:06 Speaker 2: Besides, look at Naeman. Do you see how high he's standing. The man could trip over his own pride. 00:10:14 Speaker 3: Go send him my. 00:10:15 Speaker 1: Message, gehayze I huffed, frustrated, but said nothing. Elisha pushed his bowl aside and gestured toward the door. Gehyes I hesitated, Then, with a final glance at his master, he left the door creaked open. Nay, a man straightened, but the face that appeared wasn't the one he was expecting. Not Elisha, just her servant. Gehayes Eyes stepped forward, keeping his voice level. 00:10:49 Speaker 5: My master says to you, go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored. You will be cleansed silence. 00:11:00 Speaker 1: Naeman blinked. 00:11:02 Speaker 7: Wait, that was it. 00:11:04 Speaker 1: He stared at the servant, waiting for something more, a ceremony, a prayer, something, But gahes I just stood there, waiting for him to leave. Naeman took a slow step forward, his voice dangerously quiet. 00:11:22 Speaker 7: Your master sent a servant to speak to the great nameMan. 00:11:29 Speaker 1: Gaheyes Eyes said nothing. Naeman's breath hissed through his nose, nostrils flaring. 00:11:37 Speaker 7: I thought, surely, surely he would come out to meet me himself. Call and the name of his God waved his hand over my disease, performed some great art. I mean that Jordan are not the rivers of Damascus upon and fampar better done. All the waters of Israel, help, could I not wash in them and be clean? 00:12:06 Speaker 1: Nay a man spat on the ground, his heart full of venom, and then he turned and stormed away. Gaheese eye stormed through the door, the dust from the road, still clinging to his robe. His face was flushed, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, like a man trying and failing to hold his tongue. Elishah sat at the table, tracing slow circles in the last remnants of his lentil stew with a piece of bread, waiting then finally. 00:12:42 Speaker 3: Live in my life? 00:12:43 Speaker 5: Have I been so humiliated? 00:12:45 Speaker 1: A master? 00:12:46 Speaker 8: Lasha, do you have any idea how angry Nayman was The man nearly exploded, face redder than Edamark's sand, and switching for a sword. Lady was debating whether he should murder me or did Jordan river Ah. 00:13:02 Speaker 3: Well, I suppose it could have gone worse. You could have actually murdered us. 00:13:07 Speaker 1: Gahyes, I exhaled, sharply, pacing now rubbing a hand over his face. 00:13:13 Speaker 3: Master, please be serious. 00:13:15 Speaker 11: Yes, this was Namon the Great, naming the man who could crash us if he wanted to, Can you sit him away with a servant and the command to go bathe like a peasant. 00:13:29 Speaker 3: I don't know, Ghhazi. 00:13:30 Speaker 2: It sounds like you're describing a man in need of a good scrubbing. 00:13:34 Speaker 3: You could have at least met him. 00:13:35 Speaker 11: That's what your father would have done, given the respect of the proper greeting. 00:13:41 Speaker 8: This is not the way a prophet behaves. Why your old master Elijah. 00:13:45 Speaker 1: Would have he stopped himself, but the words were already out. Elisha stilled for a brief moment, his face betrayed something, a flicker of something deeper, something before he pushed it down, shoving it beneath the surface, like a stone sinking into deep water. He set his bread down, exhaling softly. 00:14:11 Speaker 2: Trust me, you would have hated the way Elijah would have handled this much more than what I am doing. 00:14:17 Speaker 1: Gahees. I crossed his arms, but wouldn't meet his gaze. Elisha leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table, his voice quieter. 00:14:26 Speaker 3: Now, Gahazi, you practically raised me. You were there when my father wasn't. I know what he would have done, But my question. 00:14:35 Speaker 1: Is he paused, locking eyes with the older man. 00:14:40 Speaker 2: What does Yahweh want us to do right now? 00:14:44 Speaker 1: Gaheyes, eyes jaw tightened, but he said nothing. Elisha gestured toward the door, toward the road where Nayeman had left, still seething. 00:14:55 Speaker 2: Look, Naeman has built his entire life on his own power, his own strength, and now that strength is rotting off his bones. Yahweh isn't just healing him. He's breaking him, teaching him something. If I had met him, if I had honored him the way that he wanted, he wouldn't have learned a thing. He would have walked away, thinking he'd earned his healing, that he had bought Yahweh's favor with silver and gold. 00:15:24 Speaker 1: Elisha leaned back, shaking his head. 00:15:28 Speaker 2: But this way, this way, he has to choose pride or humility. If he really wants healing, he'll take it the way Yahweh offers. If not, then well, he shrugged. 00:15:41 Speaker 1: Gaheze ran a hand over his face, shaking his head. 00:15:45 Speaker 3: I still don't like it, I know. 00:15:52 Speaker 1: The chariot wheels cut deep grooves into the dirt as Naaman and his men tore down the road that wait of their failed mission, pressing like an iron yoke on their shoulders. Nay a man sat rigid, his knuckles white around the reins. His breath came shallow, nostrils flaring, the same way it did right before he sent men to their deaths. His officers knew that look. They had seen it on battlefields, had seen it when villages were burned, had seen it before blood was spilled. It was the look of a man who was one order away from destruction. 00:16:33 Speaker 7: Holy arrogance. 00:16:37 Speaker 1: No one spoke the arrogance. 00:16:41 Speaker 7: Hi, Nayman came with silver, cold, I came with honor. And what did he give me? Don't washing the Jordan? 00:16:52 Speaker 1: The words tasted like poison in his mouth. One of his officers cleared his throat carefully. 00:16:59 Speaker 3: Boy, no enough. 00:17:02 Speaker 1: The force of it made his men flinch. Naaman's breath was ragged, his pride boiling over like water left too long on fire. 00:17:12 Speaker 7: Are not the rivers of Damascus better than all the waters of Israel? For par clear, mighty rivers? Not this does swap? 00:17:29 Speaker 1: He gestured toward the distant Jordan, refusing to even say its name. 00:17:34 Speaker 7: Again. That's not healing that mockery. Come, men, we ride home. 00:17:50 Speaker 1: Suddenly, a voice, soft but steady, one of his younger servants, a boy barely of age riding just behind him. 00:18:00 Speaker 4: My lord, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? 00:18:07 Speaker 1: Nauman's grip tightened. 00:18:09 Speaker 4: Would you not have climbed mountains, cross desert, slain enemies, paid any cost? 00:18:16 Speaker 8: Then why not this? 00:18:17 Speaker 5: Why not something simple? 00:18:20 Speaker 1: Nauman's chest rose and fell, his breathing heavy. Then the words sank in. He had been ready to fight for his healing, to conquer it, to take it by force, by coin, by will. But could he accept it? Could he take it as it was offered, not through power but through humility? A muscle in his jaw twitched. The road forked ahead. One way led back to Damascus. 00:18:51 Speaker 7: The other h nervy, so wise for one so young, perhaps wiser than the great Namen. Oh, all right onward to the Jordan. 00:19:16 Speaker 1: The water lapped lazily against the banks, murky and unimpressive. It was small, almost unworthy of the task set before it. 00:19:26 Speaker 7: Nae. 00:19:27 Speaker 1: A man stood at the edge, staring. His men watched in silence. No one moved, no one breathed. Nay, Amen exhaled and stepped forward. The water was cold at first, a shock against his skin. He walked further. The filth of the river swirled around him, the taste of pride lingered bitter on his tongue. And then he dipped beneath the surface once twice again the water closed over him, the filth clinging to him like a second skin. Four five, six. He lingered, his breath pressing tight in his chest, and on the seventh he rose and the sickness was gone, the sores, the rot, the shame gone. Naeman staggered, his hands, grasped at his arms, his chest, his face, searching for what was missing, But only new flesh met his touch, whole, clean, a warrior reborn. His men stared. Naeman fell to his knees, breathless. There s Naeman's chariots kicked up, asked as they thundered back toward Elisha's house. But this time they did not ride with arrogance. There was no expectation, no pride, only something new, something lighter, something Naaman had never felt before, gratitude. He leapt from his chariot before it had fully stopped, his freshly healed skin catching the late afternoon sun. There was no rot, no sickness, just the feeling of wind against flesh that no longer burned with decay. He strode forward and dropped to his knees before Elisha, his voice trembling with something that felt dangerously close to awe. 00:21:43 Speaker 7: Now I know it's no God in all the world except in Israel. 00:21:50 Speaker 1: Elisha, who had been calmly feeding a goat a handful of dates, barely looked up. 00:21:57 Speaker 3: Oh good, you figured it out. 00:22:00 Speaker 1: Naeman exhaled a soft laugh, shaking his head. 00:22:05 Speaker 12: Please take these gifts. I brought silver, gold, fine garments. You've healed me, and I will pay you whatever you ask. 00:22:16 Speaker 1: Elisha finally turned and his face changed. It was subtle, something in the eyes, something in the way his body suddenly held a stillness that was not passive but deliberate. Elisha looked at Naeman as though he pitied him. No, no, Elisha dusted off his hands, standing. 00:22:41 Speaker 3: This is not my doing. 00:22:43 Speaker 2: This is the work of the Lord, and Yahweh does not sell his mercy. 00:22:48 Speaker 1: Naeman hesitated. He was not used to this. Everything in his life had been earned, one purchased with blood, sweat, and coin. But now a gift unpaid for. Naeman exhaled the weight of it, settling into his bones. He turned back to his chariots, motioning for his men to bring forth a sack filled not with gold but earth, simple dirt taken from Israel's land. 00:23:21 Speaker 12: Then let me take this soil that I may worship our way alone, even the land of a rum. 00:23:31 Speaker 1: Elisha nodded once, and Naaman bowed low before mounting his chariot. The wheels creaked as they turned toward home, But someone was watching them go, and his heart wasn't settled. Gahey's Eye stood at the doorway, his stomach twisting in knots. He had been quiet through the entire exchange, his hands curling into fists, unclenching, curling again. He watched the gold, the silver, the riches ride away into the horizon, and it made no sense, none of it. They had nothing. They lived off scraps, off miracles and faith, while Elisha threw away the greatest provision they had ever been offered. His mind raced. Did Elisha not understand? Did he not see? This money could have fed the profits, He could have rebuilt homes, He could have funded Yahue's work, And Elisha let it go. Gaheyes Eye's breath came sharp through his nose. Then suddenly his feet were moving. Before he had even made the choice in his mind, his body had already decided. The hoofs of Naaman's horses drummed against the road when he heard a voice calling out behind him, my. 00:24:57 Speaker 5: Lord Namin nam wait wait. 00:25:01 Speaker 1: Naeman turned surprised. His men halted the chariots, their hands instinctively drifting to their weapons. Geheyese jogged forward, panting, his face set in a look of careful urgency. 00:25:16 Speaker 5: My master's changed his mind. 00:25:18 Speaker 1: Naeman furrowed his brow. Oh, Gahesei placed his hands on his knees, as if catching his breath. But really he was stalling. 00:25:30 Speaker 5: The two young prophets have just arrived, poor boys, right fresh from the ill country. My master wished he'd taken your offer of it. We might clothe him and provide for their needs. Would his spirit talent of silver? Perhaps two garments? 00:25:48 Speaker 1: A pause? Then nae Man's face lit up. Of course this made sense. He had been right to offer a gift, he laughed, clapping Gehaze on the shoulder. 00:26:02 Speaker 3: Ah, so Elisa has come to a census. Wonderful Nyman is happy to oblige. Here, take two towns, take four take as much as you need. 00:26:13 Speaker 1: He motioned to his men, who hastily dismounted, unstrapping the heavy sacks of silver, loading them into Gehayese's arms. It was easier than expected. Gaheyes I swallowed down the knot in his throat and nodded. Then he turned and walked away, with hands full and a heart emptied. Gehayes I thought he had hidden it well. The moment he returned. He had stashed the silver, the garments, the evidence. He had calmed his breath, had wiped the sweat from his brow. He entered the house as if nothing had happened, and Elisha was waiting, seated still. But the Gehzi stepped inside. The air felt different, and Elisha, Elisha was looking at him through him. 00:27:09 Speaker 3: Where have you been, ghasie. 00:27:11 Speaker 1: A moment, a heart beat too long? 00:27:15 Speaker 7: Uh? 00:27:16 Speaker 5: Nowhere? Really errands to run, things to manage. 00:27:19 Speaker 1: In all that, Elisha flinched, not in anger, not in disappointment, but in pain, because this was Gehazi, his Gehesi, the man who had raised him when his own father had been too busy, the man who had carried him on his shoulders as a boy, who had taught him how to sharpen a blade, how to build a fire, how to read the weather in the sky, the man who had been there when Elijah was taken from him, the only constant when everything else had crumbled into dust. And now Elishah took slow breath, steadying himself. 00:28:03 Speaker 2: Gahazi, was not my spirit with you in naming stepped down from his chariot to meet you. 00:28:09 Speaker 1: Gahayes Eye's breath hitched. No, no, no, no, Elisha knew the blood in Gehayes' eye's veins went cold. Elisha stood his face etched with sorrow. Gusie, why it wasn't condemnation, it was desperation. Despite knowing the truth, Elisha held out hope that perhaps there was some good explanation for his servant's disobedience. There was not, Hi. He didn't know what to say. How could he explain it. That he had done it for the prophets, that he had done it for the people, that he had done it because someone had to be practical, because Elisha never was. It all felt so foolish. 00:29:02 Speaker 7: Now. 00:29:03 Speaker 1: Elisha shook his head, his voice breaking. 00:29:07 Speaker 2: I already lost Elijah. 00:29:09 Speaker 3: I cannot lose you too. 00:29:12 Speaker 1: Gehese I felt something in his chest collapse. His knees shook, his hands trembled. He wanted to fall to the floor, to weep, to beg for mercy, but it was too late, because Elisha was already turning his head like he was hearing something. Gehze I could not, And suddenly his breath caught, his eyes filled. He shook his head, whispering. 00:29:41 Speaker 2: Gausi the disease that left namon. 00:29:45 Speaker 1: His fingers clenched at his robe, like if he gripped hard enough, he could take back the words. 00:29:53 Speaker 3: It will cling to you. 00:29:55 Speaker 1: His throat closed, his breath shook, and then softer. 00:30:02 Speaker 3: And to your children after you. 00:30:05 Speaker 1: A silence so deep it felt like the heavens themselves held their breath. Gehazei froze, then a shudder, his breath stuttered, his hands trembling, and then the burning began. The sickness crept up, his skin bubbling, boiling, his flesh turning white with the first signs of rot. Gehazi stumbled back, gasping, clutching his arms his chest. Elisha watched, but he could not move, He could not breathe. His legs shook beneath him. His hands clutching at his chest like he had been stabbed. This was not anger, This was grief so deep it threatened to break him apart and Gehazi. Gehazi fell to his knees, trembling. He did not weep, for he had been taught long ago to not show his sorrow, a lesson he refused to teach Elisha as a boy. He looked up, meeting his master's eyes film his hands curled into fists, the leprosy spreading crawling up his arms, like judgment woven into his very flesh. 00:31:25 Speaker 5: Who failed you? I failed your father? 00:31:29 Speaker 12: And up. 00:31:33 Speaker 9: The lord. 00:31:36 Speaker 1: That the walls broke. 00:31:39 Speaker 3: A sob ripped from his throat. 00:31:42 Speaker 1: It was brief, like the flicker of a candle's flame, the moment before it is blown out. Gahesei took a deep breath, collecting himself. 00:31:52 Speaker 3: I accept my fate. It is just if I would tread along. 00:32:01 Speaker 5: I don't know. How do you back from your mission? 00:32:05 Speaker 3: Most you can forgive. 00:32:07 Speaker 1: The tears slid down his face as he looked up one final time, and then he turned and walked into the night, Forever unclean, forever alone. Elisha fell to his knees and wept. 00:32:33 Speaker 6: Today's Bible story made me think of something King Solomon wrote in Proverbs eleven two. We read, when pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Because this story had all of that, didn't it. Pride and then disgrace, humility, and then wisdom. The story takes place in the shadow of many of the battles and leaders we've met in previous episodes. Right after Israel had suffered to at the hands of Aram, Ahab, the King of Israel, was killed by the Aramian archer na Man, who scored a direct shot at Ahab's heart. This battlefield success quickly catapulted Nahman to fame, and he became chief of the Aramian army. But Naman's public victory was very soon overshadowed by a devastating personal problem. He was afflicted with saraat with leprosy, the defiling skin disease. Now, Jewish tradition teaches that the root cause of tsarahat is arrogance, because arrogance often manifests itself in gossip, frequently cited as the sin that led to tsarahat, But at the core, the spiritual cause is pride. In n Aman's case, his success from killing the King of Israel led to his own pride, and why not Naman considered himself the greatest warrior in the world. But it was God who had directed Nahman's arrow into Ahb's heart, and God who cured Naman both of his disease and his pride. Not many things are as humbling as being afflicted with an uncomfortable, ugly disease, except for maybe the cure. For Naaman to go to Israel to be cured, the great general was forced to turn to his enemy or help, and then Naman was advised to dip in the Jordan River seven times for a cure. This proud hero was angered by what he thought sounded like stupid advice, but Naman complied, dipped himself in the Jordan, and was cured not just of his skin disease, but of his pride too. I once heard the following advice for putting pride in its place, take pleasure in our achievements instead of being prideful. God has gifted us all with our own abilities, and God is the one who guides us towards our own achievements. So let's remember it's not us but God who deserves the glory. According to the Torah, one of the greatest acts that a member of the Chosen People can perform is called in Hebrew kiddush hashim, sanctifying God's name, both among the Jewish people but also and this is very important to the nations of the world. And how do we do that well? One way is by experiencing difficult situations, which can mean giving one's life for God. For example, if a Jewish person is commanded to worship in idle or be killed, they're required to give up their life rather than commit idolatry. Unfortunately, this very situation has been all too common throughout the history of the Chosen People. But there are other situations in which kidush hushem does not involve giving up one's life, but rather bringing honor to God through an act of good, and that is what we find in this story. A Hebrew maid service in Naman's house had been captured in battle by Naman, and it's this Israelite servant that suggests that Naman turned to the prophet of Israel, Alisha, to cure him. Desperate and skepticalna Man does so, and not only does Alisha kure na Aman, but also refuses any payment for doing so. Naman is overwhelmed with praise for the God of Israel and his prophet, saying, now I know that there is no God in the world except in Israel. Nwa Man rejects idolatry and even takes soil from the Holy Land on which to build an altar to God in his own country. This act of kiddush Hashem by Alisha stands as an eternal example to the chosen people and how to bring the glory of God to the whole world. What a powerful story from the Hebrew Bible when that shows how easily we confuse divine generosity with human transaction. When Naman tried to purchase healing, he was met with silence. God, in his holiness, is not a vendor. He doesn't barter. God gives, and God's gifts always have a purpose to draw us closer to Him. When I was growing up in America, I remember seeing so many people hustle, hustle for jobs, for respect, for love, and sometimes even for God's approval. But hear in this dusty aching story from the Book of Second Kings, we see something different. We see a man stripped of pride and given new skin. Naman had to do something, Yes, he had to act, but he could not earn and that is where faith begins. So today, if you find yourself trying to prove your worth to others, to God, maybe even to yourself, I invite you to stop, to step into the river, let go of what you think you need to offer, and receive what was always waiting for you. 00:38:02 Speaker 1: You can listen to the Chosen People with Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the prey dot com app today. This preydog comproduction is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Schllabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwald, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore. Music by Andrew Morgan. Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paulinier, Robin van Ettin, KAYLEB Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, Rabbi Edward at Abramson, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review,