2 Kings 5:11 “But Naaman was furious and went away and said, ‘Behold, I thought he will surely come out to me and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper.’”
Observation: Naaman was a valiant warrior, honored and respected by the King of Aran as captain of his army, but he was also a leper. When Naaman heard there was a prophet, Elisha, in Samaria who could heal him of leprosy, he asked permission of the king to go to Samaria to seek out Elisha. Not only did the king agree, but he went much further: he wrote a letter to the Israelite king petitioning for Naaman’s healing. He also sent a huge amount of silver, gold, and changes of new clothing.
Ultimately Naaman was led to Elisha’s front door, fully expecting the great man to appear and to loudly call on God to heal Naaman’s leprosy. But that isn’t what happened, not by a long shot. Rather than even bothering to come to the door, Elisha merely sent a servant to tell Naaman to “wash in the Jordan seven times” (v. 10) to receive his healing.
Application: As a result, Naaman was furious. There would be no impressive fire from heaven. No incantations pleading with God to act. Nothing would be done to affirm Naaman’s greatness. Just a quiet instruction passed along by a nameless servant. He had come such a distance, and carried from his boss a letter and treasure affirming his worthiness to receive anticipated blessing, yet all he got was instruction to be cleansed by washing in the muddy waters of the Jordan.
So he was furious. It seems Naaman knew his outward need; his leprosy was obvious. But he also had an inner need requiring healing: an inflated sense of personal merit. A humbling would be required. Ultimately Naaman did go to the Jordan as instructed, where it wasn’t its muddy water that healed him, but his humble obedience to God’s direction.
How often have my own petitions to the Lord grown out of an inflated sense of my own merit? Don’t I sometimes approach God as Naaman did, self-satisfied in my perceived worthiness to receive this financial blessing, or that healing, or a restored relationship? The Lord never calls me unworthy; after all, I have been endowed with immeasurable value by the sacrifice of Christ. Yet sometimes answers to prayer only come after a delay, or after humbling self-awareness. And sometimes the answer is no. So what is my response in those moments? Do I spew Naaman-like fury, or do I command my heart to be at peace even in the toughest of storms?
Prayer: Father God, the cleansing you offer is internal as well as external. You desire to change every fiber of my being, making me glad to receive your outpoured blessings on your terms rather than insisting on mine. Thank you, Lord, for your unending patience with me. Continue to mold me into the image of your dear Son. In Jesus’ name, Amen.