Prepare your mind and heart to be taught by the Holy Ghost. Diligently seek knowledge and understanding through careful study, reflection, and prayer. Then follow the impressions you receive through the Spirit.
Begin your study with prayer.
How can faith in Jesus Christ help us when we face questions about commandments we’ve been given?
Listen to Elder Robert D. Hales (1932–2017) of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as he teaches about why we can have faith in the commandments the Lord gives us through His prophets. You can read the text for this video here: “If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2014, 35–36.
A friend who is not very religious asks you for advice on how to handle a difficult personal problem. You tell her that when you struggle with challenges, you pray to God for help. She responds, “I don’t think my prayers would be answered because I don’t even know if I believe in God.”
What would you say to your friend to help her strengthen her belief in God?
As you study 2 Kings 5, look for principles that can help you and others increase your faith in God.
A Captain with a Problem
While Elisha was serving as a prophet in Israel, a man named Naaman was living in the neighboring country of Syria.
Read 2 Kings 5:1–5, looking for what Naaman, a captain in the Syrian army, learns from a young Israelite maid about a possible solution to his problem. Think about if you would have the courage to share your testimony with someone of higher standing than you, as the young maid did.
You can also watch the video “Naaman and Elisha” (located on LDS.org) from time code 0:00–6:11.
You can also watch the video “Naaman and Elisha” (located on LDS.org) from time code 0:00–6:11.
Naaman’s Visit to Elisha
Let’s find out what happened when Naaman visited Elisha. Study 2 Kings 5:6–10, looking for how Elisha’s instructions may have been a test of faith for Naaman.
You can also watch the video “Naaman and Elisha” from time code 6:12–7:40.
You can also watch the video “Naaman and Elisha” from time code 6:12–7:40.
A Test of Faith
Read 2 Kings 5:11–13, looking for principles that we can learn from the servant’s questions.
You can also watch the video “Naaman and Elisha” (located on LDS.org) from time code 7:40–10:40.
You can also watch the video “Naaman and Elisha” (located on LDS.org) from time code 7:40–10:40.
You may have identified principles in 2 Kings 5:13 that are similar to the following: If we have faith that the prophet speaks for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, then we will strive to follow all of his words. As we do the small and simple things requested by God’s prophets, we will receive great blessings.
Think about why we might be more willing to do something great and less willing to do something small to keep the commandments.
1. Answer the following questions:
What are some examples of simple things that the Lord has asked of us?
What is one simple thing you can do to show your faithfulness to the Lord?
How can we set aside pride in order to receive blessings from the Lord?
From what we learn in 2 Kings 5:15 we can identify the principle that as we exercise faith by acting on God’s words, our testimony of Him will be strengthened.
2. Answer two of the following questions:
Why do you think we need to exercise faith in God to build or strengthen our testimonies?
When have you exercised faith by acting on God’s words? How was your testimony of God strengthened as a result?
What aspects of your testimony would you like to strengthen? What can you do to exercise your faith in God’s words so that those parts of your testimony can grow?
When has the Lord helped you (or someone you know) with something that was of great concern to you (or him or her) but that may have appeared small to others? What did this experience teach you about the Lord?
In 2 Kings 6:1–7 we read that Elisha gave the sons of the prophets permission to build a new home because the one they were living in was too small. As the men were cutting down trees, an ax-head one of the men was using fell into the water. This was a great concern for the man, and he told Elisha what had happened. Elisha then performed a miracle. The phrase “the iron did swim” in verse 6 means the ax-head floated to the surface of the water.
Read 2 Kings 6:6–7, looking for what this miracle can teach us about God’s awareness of us and our concerns.
How important do you think an ax-head is in the grand scope of God’s plan?
God’s Concern for Us
From the account in 2 Kings 6:6–7 we can identify the truth that God is aware of our concerns and is merciful to us.
Consider what President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) said regarding this truth. You can read the text for this video here: “Consider the Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 88.
Consider what President Thomas S. Monson (1927–2018) said regarding this truth.
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Thomas S. Monson
“Our Heavenly Father is aware of our needs and will help us as we call upon Him for assistance. I believe that no concern of ours is too small or insignificant. The Lord is in the details of our lives” (Thomas S. Monson, “Consider the Blessings,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2012, 88).
When have you felt that the Lord was aware of your needs? How have you seen His hand in the details of your life?
We then learn that Syria and the Northern Kingdom of Israel went to war with each other. As recorded in 2 Kings 6:9–14, Elisha revealed to the king of Israel the Syrian army’s battle plans. The king of Syria found out about Elisha’s revelation and commanded his army to go to the city where Elisha was to capture him.
Read 2 Kings 6:15–16, looking for how Elisha and his servant reacted when they learned the Syrian army was surrounding them.
How did Elisha answer his servant’s question?
What did Elisha say in these verses that would have strengthened your faith or given you hope had you been there?
We read in 2 Kings 6:17 that the Lord opened the eyes of Elisha’s servant so that the servant saw a heavenly army.
As recorded in 2 Kings 6:18–23, the Lord made it so that the Syrian army did not know where they were. Elisha led the army into Samaria, the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and then persuaded the king of Israel to feed and care for the Syrians. After returning to Syria, the members of this particular Syrian army “came no more into the land of Israel” (verse 23).
From this account, what can we learn about the blessings that come as we choose to remain faithful to the Lord during our trials?
We can identify the following principle from the experience of Elisha’s servant: As we are faithful to the Lord, we can receive His help in our challenges even though we may not be aware of His help at the time.
3. Answer one or both of the following questions:
How can knowing this principle help us “fear not” (2 Kings 6:16) when we face seemingly insurmountable challenges?
When have you received the Lord’s help without being aware of it at the time? What did you learn about the Lord from that experience?
