2 Kings 5-7

Naaman must have gone through some very emotional swings when he dealt with Elisha.  The first time he approached the prophet he was filled with hope.  He had been living with a dread disease for quite some time and his slave girl had spoken of a prophet of God who could indeed cure what was believed to be incurable.  His steps may have been somewhat tentative but he climbed the hill to Elisha’s house in faith.  When he left the house his mood was quite different.  2 Kings 5:12 said he was in a rage.  That is often the response we people have when we try to confront God on our terms.  He always gives us his terms and they never meet our expectations.  We see God’s message as either far too difficult to complete or as foolish and meaningless words.  Naaman’s response was quite normal when we consider the ravages of sin on our lives.  But Naaman’s initial faith had made his heart fertile ground for God’s word. The seed was planted by Elisha’s servant, and water by one of the general’s servants.  As the power of God’s word slowly melted Naaman’s anger he responded in faith once again and went into the water.  When he came up out of the water Naaman again walked in faith; not that he would be healed but that he would worship no other God but the LORD.  With the passion of a man saved from the brink of death he strode triumphantly back up the hill to the house of Elisha.  A truly penitent man he began seeking God’s favor in all of his life.  When his offer of a reward was refused he walked away in the peace of the LORD.  A new man. A man changed by the word of the LORD.

It took me 15 minutes to read this passage.

Stuart