What is driving Naaman to God is suffering; he is literally falling apart. He has leprosy and he is desperate. What is also driving Naaman are some very bad misconceptions about God. What Naaman expects is that because of his position, his prestige, his power, his possessions, he will have his miracle - he will deserve it - but God will not accommodate his expectations.
When Naaman arrives before the King of Israel, the king cried out, "Am I God?" and then proceeded to tear off his clothes. II Kings 5, verse 8 continues: "Elisha - the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes and he said, 'why have you torn your clothes? Let him (Naaman) come to me now that he may know.....'" what? "that there is a miracle worker in Israel?" No, "that there is a prophet in Israel."
A Prophet is a preacher. He is one who has heard the Word of God and faithfully proclaims that Word. And the Word God has prepared in the heart of His Prophet is not at all what Naaman expected. First, Naaman comes to Elisha and Elisha does not greet him, rather he sends his servant. Secondly the servant gave Naaman a very strange command to go to the Jordon and wash. Naaman is angry and leaves in a rage - why? Because Naaman is insulted - this God of the Jews does not operate at all like Naaman expected.
Had the Prophet come out personally and greeted Naaman and waved his hands and said "achieve this nearly impossible task and you will have your healing," Naaman would have understood that and he would have mustered all that was left of him to accomplish it. Then Elisha could have waved his hands, made some invocation and Naaman would be healed. That would have made sense to Naaman - that is religion he would have understood - a grace that is earned, but that is not the way of God.
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