06/20/2018 WATER HEALING
2 Kings 5 Naaman, Commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little maid from the land of Israel, and she waited on Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord [Naaman] were with the prophet [Elisha] who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” So Naaman went in and told his lord [the king of Syria]….So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted 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 on 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. [Revised Standard Translation]
Summary
2 Kings 5 describes Naaman as a great man. He was a commander of a great army. He was highly regarded by the king of Syria. He was a man who had tasted victory. However, no matter what he did, he was saddled with what some might call a “major problem.” No matter what great feats Naaman achieved--skilled warrior, man of valor, feared commander, highly favored by the king, people would always insert a “but”----“but he was a leper.” It bothered Naaman. It was visible. It showed. It defined his existence. Not matter what he did, people would always see his skin color first before seeing anything else.
As the victor over Israel, Naaman thought he had the right to “be respected.” He thought that if he went to see the prophet from Israel, the land he had defeated, the prophet should, come out and greet him, especially given Naaman’s credentials. But, what Naaman did not understand was that GOD was in control the entire time. He didn’t understand that Syria was victorious because GOD allowed Syria to be victorious over Israel.
Naaman also thought he could be healed on his own terms. He brought horses carrying silver, gold and fine garments. Naaman was ready to give all this to the prophet Elisha in exchange for a healing. He probably envisioned his healing might involve some “magic words or gestures.” But, Naaman never expected what he got. Instead of some majestic greeting where Naaman could present his grand gifts, the prophet never even came to the door. Instead of a personal greeting and presentation, the prophet sent a servant to tell Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan River seven times.
After the message was delivered, Naaman was furious. He felt insulted, that this person would suggest that he, the great Naaman, dip himself in muddy, dirty water. In Naaman mind, the thought was outrageous. After all, didn’t Naaman have servants who ran to him when he entered his home to wash the dirt and soil from his hands and feet? Wasn’t it one of the “perks” of command that the Commander rode a horse into battle, above the lowly foot soldier, who ate dirt and mud daily. The idea that his leprosy could be “cleansed” with “mud” just seemed ridiculous and “backwards,” in Naaman’s mind, especially since there were cleaner rivers nearby. So, Naaman flew into a rage.
Fortunately, for Naaman, the story did not end there. Just as the simple faith of a servant girl convinced Naaman to go to the man of GOD for help, Naaman’s servants again intervened and convinced Naaman to have faith, obey and do what he was told to do and just dip himself in the water. After all, they said, if the man of GOD had told Naaman to do a great thing, with a lot of pomp and circumstance, he certainly would have done it. So, they said, so why not have faith and just do what the man of GOD told him to do.
So, Naaman, surrendered. He gave up all his plans, all his ideas of “the way things ought to be” and just walked to the Jordan River, dipped himself in the water and was healed. At that point, Naaman knew there is none other like GOD!
Just as GOD was “trying to tell the Israelites something” by using Naaman and giving victory to the Syrians over the Israelites, GOD again, “tried to tell the Israelites something” by Naaman’s water healing. [See also, Luke 4:27, where JESUS states that although there were many Jewish lepers living in Israel during the time of Elisha who needed help, only Naaman, the Syrian, was cleansed.]
Lack of faith, the failure to listen and obey, the unwillingness to surrender to GOD, have caused many to miss GOD’s miracles.