Naaman wise servant

 

 

2 Kings 5:8-14

 

August 30, 2021

 

 

Naaman Healed of Leprosy

But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.”  So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house.   And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”   But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.   Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So, he turned and went away in a rage.   But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?”   So, he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

 

The rest of the story is being repeated and it is all about expectation, and pride, and in that comes entitlement.  Naaman the great warrior and leader of men had expectations of how the prophet of God would heal him.  It was a real downer for his pride that Elisha did not come to the door and pay honor to him, and only sent a messenger to tell him to go to the Jordan river and wash seven times, and he would be clean from leprosy.  But ‘Scripture tells us Naaman left in a rage, for not only were his expectations not met, but his pride was also hurt, not what he expected.

 

If that was the end of the story, what a sad end it would be, and yet for many it is so, they have totally turned from God's grace, and will not agree with the Father that Jesus has paid in full the full price of their sins.  That the Father took His full wrath out on His only Son for your sins, and it is by grace and agreement of that truth, one confesses and looks to Jesus as not only Savior but Lord.  With Naaman we have a happy ending on his account, for one of his servants told him it was a good word the prophet said, “Wash and be clean”.  So he died to his pride and expectation and did as Elisha had instructed and his flesh became as of a little child, and he was clean.

 

That is what Jesus did for me 52 years ago at the age of 27 in a hotel room after reading in a hotel Bible in Roman 19:9-10 the path to grace and forgiveness and Jesus came to live in my life.  That night I overcame my flesh desire to do it my way and was in full agreement that I need the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, and I was in full agreement with the Father that I was unclean and a sinner that brought not one thing to the table but came with empty hands and that night I became as Naaman in that I was clean, not on the flesh but in my heart.  And I do believe it is important to say God sends his servant Bob Keese to guide me to the truth, I need a Redeemer.  Let me be your servant, first leave all that you are depending on for life now and also life eternal, and read the gospel of John to be introduced to Jesus as Creator, and Redeemer, and then for more help go to Romans 10:9-10 and pray to God with a heart set on your faith and His grace.

 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice