SCRIPTURE:
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.”
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
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.
OBSERVATION:
Namaan of Syria had come to see Elisha in hopes that he could cure him of leprosy. The Syrian army that he captained had captured a little girl who now worked for Namaan's wife, and the girl told her that the man of God in Israel could cure him of the leprosy. After some events transpired Elisha told Namaan to go and wash in the Jordan seven times and then he would be clean as the verse says. As you can see Namaan was skeptical and thought the proceedings should have been a little more theatrical. Eventually he obeyed and was rewarded for his obedience with healing.
APPLICATION:
As I read this I thought of how many times I sort of scoff at the simplicity of the gospel. I believe it in my heart but sometimes I wonder intellectually if it can really be that easy - to believe in Jesus and all will be forgiven. Shouldn't there be more fanfare for something so momentous? Thinking of Namaan's reaction, it seems far too much like what I would have done - to trust in my own understanding. And then I realized that I DO do this - every time I doubt my own salvation. Every time I wonder if Jesus could really have forgiven me for all my many sins. Every time I wonder if I'm really worthy of His grace. But all I have to do is submit and do what he says and it's all mine. (And yours). It really is that simple, and all it requires is trust and obedience - which is actually quite a lot to ask.
PRAYER:
Father, help me to know that your promises are true, that your Son is enough. Help me to lean not on my inadequate understanding and build in me a faith that can move mountains. Grow me closer to your Son Jesus so that I can begin to plumb the depths of His sacrifice for me. I pray that I would listen to those who serve, that I would be humble and faithful to You, and that I will know I have been washed and am clean. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
