This is a fun story, one of many in scripture that are good for giggles if we allow ourselves that reverent freedom when we encounter them. Engaging characters, international intrigue, and finally a denouement that is just pure fun. It is one more affirmation that our God is not only magnificent and mysterious but occasionally mischievous as well.

The cast. Naaman. His name means charm or pleasantness. Apparently a relatively nice fellow as standards of his day would define nice. A powerful personage too - the text calls him "commander of the army of the king of Aram" (modern-day Syria). He was well regarded at court: "a great man and in high favor with his master," and the reason was "by him the Lord had given victory to Aram." Victory over whom? Israel (so the tensions between those two…