“But his officers tried to reason with him and said, 'Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn't you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, 'Go and wash and be cured!'' 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 King 5:13-14
The Healing of Naaman is a remarkable story of faith, the unexpected ways in which God answers our prayers, and the importance of showing a simple act of obedience to trust in God to help us receive what we have asked for. In this story, Naaman travelled to Israel with high hopes of being healed from leprosy. The king was dismayed at the request but Elijah offered to heal Naaman. Naaman fully expected Elijah to "wave his hand over the leprosy" and heal him in the name of the Lord. Instead, Elijah did not even come out to meet him and simply informed him to wash in the Jordan river seven times.
Elijah was frustrated and almost refused to follow the instructions because they were not what Naaman expected. He did not see the reason for washing in the Jordan river and did not believe that such a simple act could cure him. His officers had to talk him into following through with the instructions. When Naaman followed through, he was healed and immediately praised God. He renounced other gods and proclaimed the Lord as his true God.
This story best exemplifies how God sometimes asks us to do things that may not seem to make sense, but can actually be the answer to our prayers. It also shows that we are sometimes asked to take action such that God can lead us to the solution. We cannot just sit idly asking God for things as though God is a genie granting wishes. Instead, we are to trust in the Lord and follow his instructions, and He will show us the way.
Reflection: Read 2 Kings 5:1-19 and study Naaman's actions. Consider what he was feeling throughout various points in the passage. What can he teach you about obedience and trusting in God?
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Thank you, Karyn Lau, for this Bible Study article on Christian Calm Radio. Reflect on God's wisdom as you listen to devotional Christian music, Christian choirs and hymns, Christian instrumental music, and Bible audiobooks.