Lesson From a Leper

Pastor Tom shares the powerful story of Naaman, a leper and enemy of Israel, who is miraculously healed not through status, wealth, or expectations—but through humility and obedience to a simple command. The sermon explores how God’s grace often challenges our assumptions: about outsiders, obedience, and even ourselves. We’re reminded that faith isn’t about understanding everything—it’s about trusting that God sees the whole picture. Pastor Tom confronts the tendency to “pick and choose” when it comes to following God, and he urges us to lay aside judgment, embrace all people as equals, and ask, “What does God want?” not just “What do I want?”

2 Kings 5:13–14

"
But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean.
"

Isaiah 55:8–9

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Lamentations 3:22–23

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Main Points

1. God’s Grace Often Defies Logic

Naaman wasn’t an Israelite—he was a foreign military leader, even an enemy. Yet God healed him. Grace isn’t limited to who we think “deserves” it. God’s mercy often shows up in places and people we’d never expect, reminding us that His love breaks through every human-made border.

2. Obedience Often Looks Simple, Not Grand

Naaman expected a showy miracle but was told to wash in a muddy river. It offended his pride. Often, God asks us to do something simple—but it’s through obedience, not spectacle, that transformation happens. Don’t miss your breakthrough because it doesn’t look like what you imagined.

3. We Can’t Pick and Choose with God

Too often, we obey God when it’s convenient and resist when it challenges us. We “pick and choose” which commands to follow and which people to extend grace to. But God isn’t looking for partial obedience—He wants hearts fully surrendered, even when it stretches our comfort zone.

4. Familiarity Can Lead to Spiritual Blindness

The king of Israel panicked, and Gehazi became greedy—both knew God but failed to trust Him. Just being around church or Scripture doesn’t guarantee faith. When we grow numb to God’s power, we risk missing His movement. Knowing truth isn’t enough—we must believe and live it.

5. God Uses the Humble and Unnamed

The true heroes of Naaman’s healing were a servant girl and his attendants. They had no power or recognition, yet God used them to guide someone toward restoration. Don’t underestimate your impact. God often uses the least likely people to carry out His greatest work.

6. God Sees the Whole Parade

We only see the part of life in front of us—our pain, confusion, or delay. But God sees the full picture, beginning to end. His timing and plans often don’t make sense in the moment, but they are always working for good. Trust the One who sees it all.