Naaman was captain over the army of Syria. He had a high position of prominence and respect. He was also a mighty man of valor. However, he had one big problem; he was a leper.
Fortunately for Naaman, God was willing to cure him of his leprosy, and Naaman had been told that if he would go to God’s prophet, Elisha, he could be healed of this horrible disease. That Naaman came to the door of Elisha’s house with great hope and desire of being healed there can be no doubt. Naaman had great expectations, but something happened that caused Naaman to be angry and disappointed. Instead of Elisha coming to meet him, a messenger was sent out of the house who told Naaman to go and wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. The Bible says in 2 Kings 5:11-12, “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”
Now, consider Naaman in the state he is in at this point. He has a cure for his dreaded disease of leprosy, but because it is not what he expected, he is choosing to continue to suffer instead of being cured. The Bible reveals that later Naaman changed his mind, but suppose he had stayed in this mindset? He would have continued suffering by allowing what he thought to overrule what God instructed, and leprosy would most likely have caused his death.
How often is this repeated in our day. When it comes to discussions about what God requires of us, many often say, “Well, I think…”, or “I believe…”, or worst of all “I know the Bible says that, but…” instead of giving heed to the actual words of God. Those with this mindset refuse to be swayed by God’s instructions and—following their own beliefs—will continue suffering from spiritual leprosy: sin. If they do not change their minds, it will ultimately cause death (Romans 6:23). There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25). Let us strive to not give what we think or feel but what God says (Jeremiah 10:23; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17). “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
-Mark Day
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