August 16, 2021
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Naaman
The Power of Obedience
Beloved one, Naaman, the general of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because through him the Lord gave great victories. He was a mighty warrior, who had fame, status and power. (2 Kings 5:1) Fame is the worse drug known to man; it can destroy you if it goes to your head and you become prideful. Naaman was a somebody, but he had a serious skin disease – leprosy. Leprosy causes your limbs to fall off! If you had leprosy you had to yell out loud, ‘unclean’ – to anyone coming in your presence. You were isolated from society. It so happened that Aram, on one of its raiding expeditions against Israel, captured a young girl who became a maid to Naaman’s wife. One day she overheard Naaman telling his wife when he took his armor off, he saw he had leprosy. The maid went to his wife and said, I wasn’t eaves dropping, but the walls are so thin and I overheard my master “If only he could meet the prophet Elisha of Samaria, he would be healed of his skin disease.” (2 Kings 5:2-3)
When Naaman got the news, he went straight to his master and reported what the girl said the king of Aram said, ‘well go!’ “I’ll send a letter of introduction to the king of Israel.” So Naaman went to Israel and delivered the letter to the king. The letter read, “When you get this letter, you’ll know that I’ve personally sent my servant Naaman to you; heal him of his skin disease.” When the king of Israel read the letter, he was terribly upset, ripping his robe to pieces. He said, “Am I a god with the power to bring death or life that I get orders to heal this man from his disease? What’s going on here? That king’s trying to pick a fight, that’s what!” (2 Kings 5:4-7)
Elisha the man of God heard what had happened, that the king of Israel was so distressed that he’d ripped his robe to shreds. He sent word to the king, “Why are you so upset, ripping your robe like this? Send him to me so he’ll learn that there’s a prophet in Israel.”
So, Naaman (drove up in his Bentley), I mean with his horses and chariots arriving in style and stopped at Elisha’s door. Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: “Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed, and you’ll be as good as new.” (2 Kings 5:8-10) Naaman who thought he was all that – got mad and lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, “I thought he’d personally come out and meet me, call on the name of God, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. The Jordan River? It’s muddy, why not at least send me to the rivers of Damascus so at least I would be clean when I come out! He stomped off, mad as a hornet. His is servants caught up with him and said, “father, if the prophet had asked you to do something hard and heroic, wouldn’t you have done it? So, why not this simple ‘wash and be clean’?” So, he did it. He went down and immersed himself in the Jordan seven times, following the orders of the Holy Man, Elisha. His skin was healed; it was like the skin of a little baby. He was as good as new. (2 Kings 5:11-14)
He then went back to Elisha with his entourage, stood before him, and said, “I now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is no God anywhere on earth other than the God of Israel. In gratitude let me give you a gift.” He tried to pay for his miracle! Hello! “As God lives,” Elisha replied, “the God whom I serve, I’ll take nothing from you.” Naaman tried his best to get him to take something, but he wouldn’t do it. Naaman said, “if you won’t take anything, “let me ask you for something: Give me a load of dirt, as much as a team of donkeys can carry, because I’m never again going to worship any god other than God Almighty.” (2 Kings 5:15-17) Naaman lost his position, because Syria was soon at war with Israel again. He began reading the Word of God with a determination to find the truth, praying sincerely, and listening to the Holy Spirit for the answer that reflects the will of God, and you must too!
