Tag: Jordan River
Reluctant Obedience
Scripture reading for July 30: 2 Kings 5:10-14 “And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash
in the Jordan River 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.”
Naaman, commander of the Syrian army, had leprosy. He was told by a young servant girl he had taken captive about a prophet in Samaria who through God’s help would be able to cure him. The King of Syria heard the story, and sent Naaman to the King of Israel to seek help from their prophet Elisha. When the king read the letter, he was afraid that it was a trap and tore his clothes in grief and unbelief. (2 Kings 5:7)
When Elisha heard the story, he asked the king to send Naaman to him. When he arrived, Elisha sent a messenger with instructions as to how to receive his healing. He must wash seven times in the River Jordan. These instructions offended Naaman. He had his own ideas and he became angry. As he was leaving in a rage, his servants appealed to him to humbly receive the instruction and follow through. At their request, Naaman acted and he received the promised healing.
It is easy to have preconceived ideas about how God or those called by God should do their work. Naaman was a proud man, but he had leprosy. God placed a servant girl in his path to tell him of the man of God. God gave him favor with his king and the king of Israel. The biggest obstacle was his pride and stubbornness. His healing came only through humble obedience. Don’t let pride get the upper hand.