6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: ‘With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.’ 2 Kings 5
The King of Aram spoke to the King of Israel by letter on behalf of Naaman, king to king, but it only brought confusion. Neither king had authority to heal, Naaman had come to the wrong address. The wise men who came a long way to worship the baby Jesus also called with King Herod to get directions but they could have caused His death. We’ll never get God’s answers by consulting the wisdom or power of this world! They are totally incompatible.
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: ‘Why have you torn your robes? Make the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.’ 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house.
Elisha intervened, he had authority from God to deal with the situation and provide the healing Naaman so badly needed. Naaman made a Grand Entrance to the prophet’s house, but all his pomp was ignored. Elisha, no doubt at the Lord’s instruction, didn’t even come out to greet him. Yet he told Naaman what he must do to receive his healing.
10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.’
Naaman was infuriated by the prophet’s lack of courtesy and went off in a rage. We’ve often quoted before that God will, ‘offend the mind to reveal the heart’. Naaman had to humble himself before he could receive his healing, in fact he had to dip or bow seven times to receive his miracle. God is the creator and ruler of our world and He won’t let the proud stand before Him.
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, “Wash and be cleansed”!’ 14 SO HE WENT DOWN AND DIPPED HIMSELF IN THE JORDAN SEVEN TIMES, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Naaman struggled with his reception by the prophet Elisha, but in the end he followed Elisha’s instructions and was healed. God will often take us along paths that our flesh resists, then we’re faced with a choice. Do we obey God and receive our requests or do we stand our ground and miss out? Naaman learned a deep lesson, but after humbling himself he was a changed man for the rest of his life. He received much more than just his physical healing. God often wants to bless us more than we can imagine when our hearts align with His.
May the Lord bless and keep you today. Immanuel, God is with us.