So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!
2 KINGS 5:14
Naaman stood with his horses and chariots waiting at the door of Elisha’s house. He was a war hero, the commander of King Aram’s army. His king had great admiration for him because of the great victories he had won. This prophet of Israel would surely come to him and heal him of his leprosy. His wife’s servant girl from Israel had said so. His king had as much as ordered it so by writing the letter to the king of Israel. The letter said, “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.” And here he was, waiting to be healed.
He started out from Syria carrying the letter along with 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and 10 sets of clothing. It should be more than enough to ensure it done. He had presented the letter to the king of Israel, who sent him directly to the prophet’s house. And now he was growing impatient. He shuffled his feet back and forth. Surely this prophet would have come to meet him by now. The door opened, and someone emerged from the house. Finally. Is it the prophet? No, the man had come to deliver a message from Elisha. Before he could object, the messenger said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
What? Wash in that filthy river? He was livid. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” He stalked away in a rage.
Following after him, his officers tried to reason with him. If the prophet had told him to do something very difficult, he would have done it without question. So why wouldn’t he obey something very simple like go wash and be cured? Conceding to their rationale, he went down to the bank of the Jordan River. He looked at the murky water, wondering what in the world he was thinking. Feeling foolish, he sighed, undressed, and dipped his body seven times as the prophet instructed. After the seventh time, he looked at his skin and couldn’t believe his eyes. It was as healthy as that of a young child. Praise the God of Israel! I am healed! He quickly dressed and ran with his officers to find the prophet. Standing before him, he lowered his head in reverence and said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:1–19).
Naaman was a great warrior, and he expected royal treatment. But God expected obedience. Obedience begins with humility, and believing God’s way is better than our own way, even if we don’t understand it. Naaman had to humble himself and obey God’s instructions before he could get well. Sometimes we simply have to move out in faithful obedience, even if it makes no sense. Washing in the Jordan seven times made no sense to Naaman. It wasn’t logical. He expected Elisha to greet him personally, wave a hand over his leprosy, and call on his God to heal. But God doesn’t submit to our human logic, and healing doesn’t always come in the way we expect. God has His own agenda. Naaman acknowledged the one true God as a result of his miracle. And he likely told many people about the power of the God of Israel when he returned home.
Is God waiting for your obedience? God speaks into your spirit and makes His instructions known in the scriptures. We’re disobedient when we know what to do and don’t do it. As you read His Word and listen to His voice, He may ask you to do things you don’t want to do, like dip seven times in a muddy river. Don’t let your pride and self-will hinder God’s blessing. Think back to the last thing you knew you should do, that thing you left undone that nags in your spirit and won’t go away. The next time He prompts you, just do it!
Lord, show me where I have been disobedient to You. Reveal to me any areas where my pride and self-will have hindered my blessing. Forgive me if I’ve allowed the concerns of this world to distract me from following Your leading (Matthew 8:21). Forgive me when I’ve had good intentions but failed to act (Matthew 21:28–31). Forgive me when I thought my own good works could substitute for Your clear directions (1 Samuel 15:22).
Lord, help me to be obedient to You, especially when I don’t understand. Your ways are higher than my ways (Isaiah 55:9). I want to know You, Lord. I want to hear Your voice. When I hear Your prompting, I don’t want to doubt or hesitate. I want to just do it.