Leprosy: An Illustration Of Sin - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper.
2 Kings 5:1

Naaman was indeed an important man. His military successes had brought him great respect. Almost everything went right for him. He had a high position and his competence was acknowledged. But, in a brief phrase, the Bible adds his one fault: "but a leper". This terrible disease was clearly still at a stage where he could hide it.
In the Bible, leprosy is an illustration of sin. Respectable people are good at keeping their sin hidden, just as Naaman did with his leprosy. But it was there all the same!
Nowadays many people query the term "sin". They permit anything provided it does not harm anyone. What might go beyond their acceptance can be hidden. It is no one else's business. In Naaman's case someone close to him did dare to mention his problem. It was a young girl, a prisoner brought to Israel to work in his household. She not only hinted at the problem, she had some advice for him. She told him of God's prophet who could heal Naaman. The rest of the story you can read in the Bible. The cure came when that great man was prepared to step down from his high horse and not gloss over anything, and then do what the prophet told him.
Even today, there is someone who can heal the "leprosy" of sin. It is Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world. He died on the cross of Calvary for the sins of all who put their faith in Him. Whoever comes to Him, confessing his guilt of sin, will obtain forgiveness and be healed from disease that leads to death, eternal death.
Today's reading: Proverbs 13