Naaman

Introduction

We live at a time when there is much boasting. From the athlete who dances after making a good play to the politician who boasts of their power, we are surrounded by those who have no trouble boasting about their abilities. The source of boasting is pride. It is rare to find humility among the successful. But this is not new. Those who are powerful and successful often have large egos.

The Story of Naaman

Naaman has proven himself on the battlefield. But his valiant warrior spirit is overshadowed by leprosy. Naaman’s country, Aram, was mightier than Israel. On one of its raids into Israel, Naaman had taken an Israelite girl as a slave. This slave girl served Naaman’s wife. This slave girl recommended that Naaman go to the prophet in Samaria where he could be cured. Naaman requests permission to make the trip and it is granted.

Armed with wealth, Naaman goes to the king of Israel. The contents of the letter is found in verse 6. Naaman is being sent for a cure. It was not uncommon for superior forces to require inferior forces to provide something. In this case it is a cure which is requested and Naaman is willing to pay for the cure. The king of Israel is taken aback by the letter. Failure to fulfill the request might result in further war. The king of Israel tears his clothes and begins defending himself. The king of Israel is not a believer in God; otherwise, he would have known where to send Naaman. He is distraught.

Somehow Elisha hears about the king’s reaction to the letter and sends his own message: have the man come to me and then Naaman will know that there is a prophet in Israel. The king should have known it as well. Naaman goes to Elisha’s house expecting to see the man of God. Instead, Elisha sends out his messenger and tells him to go to the Jordan River and dip seven times in the river in order to be cured. Naaman is angry. He is angry because Elisha didn’t come out to see him. He is angry because there are cleaner rivers to dip in back home. He is angry because the cure is not spectacular enough. The Bible says he left in a rage. Later a servant reminds him that if Elisha had asked him to do something great then he would have done it. Why refuse to do a simple thing? Naaman goes to the Jordan, dips seven times in the river, and he is cured. What are we supposed to understand about this story? Two things.

Application

First, expecting things to be done a certain way keeps us from receiving God’s blessings. Too many times we have in mind what God is supposed to do and how he is supposed to do it. Naaman comes to Elisha’s house in Israel and things don’t happen the way he thinks they ought to. Notice verse 11. Naaman expected things to happen in a certain way and when they didn’t he was disappointed. In fact, he became angry because things didn’t happen the way he thought they should have. Naaman heard the instructions. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the command. What he couldn’t do was something so demeaning as dipping in a river. Elisha needed to come out and say some magical words. He didn’t need to be told to go dip in the dirty river Jordan. He was too important a man to be treated in such a shabby way. Elisha didn’t come out to talk with him, then he is told to do something demeaning — to go jump in the river. Naaman will not listen because he is a prideful man.

Naaman was a proud man. He was an important man. He didn’t want to admit any weakness. But the truth was a man with leprosy is of no use as a commander, a husband, or a father. Living in isolation doesn’t mean you are strong; it means that there is a physical weakness. Naaman appears thumping his chest, expecting to be treated with royal treatment. Naaman appears unwilling to admit his weakness and such an attitude results in a failure to listen.

In our unwillingness to admit sin, we play the game of spiritual strength. Unwilling to appear weak, we continue to live in such a way that others think we have it all together. Not only are we living a lie, but we are doing nothing about our sin. When we admit our weakness, then we are able to receive God’s strength.

It is our pride, our lack of humility which keeps us from listening to God. “I just don’t think God wants me to be unhappy or I just don’t think God would want me to give that up.” Maybe he does or maybe he doesn’t but only when we humble ourselves before him will we listen. When we can pray “Lord, tell me what to do and I will do it,” then we are ready to listen.

Don’t you know that God has always applauded those who could admit their weaknesses. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” When we look at the cross, surely we understand the paradox of God’s ways. In defeat, God wins. Nail the son of God to a beam of wood and sins are forgiven. Seal the son of God in a tomb and he explodes the rock which holds him. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, it is in my weakness that I am strongest.

When we begin to think that God must do things to please us then we have become God. Naaman came looking for certain actions and certain words. What he got was a lesson in humility—a lesson which he found difficult to swallow.

Second, when we desire what God desires then we will find healing. Naaman is prideful. But in his pride there is no healing. His expectations is that a man of his position should be treated with distinction. But expectations will not bring health. What Naaman had to learn was that this was about God not about him. What Naaman wanted was to be healed but on his own terms. Instead, God tells him to go to an obscure place with no one around in which the only thing he does is submerge himself seven times in a dirty river and let the power of God be seen. But Naaman wants the spotlight. He wants the accolades. He wants the praise. But it all belongs to God.

It wasn’t until Naaman wanted his health more than he wanted his expectations fulfilled that he found his true healing. C.S. Lewis wrote: “Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Only when we want God and his ways more than we want the things of this world, will we find spiritual health. Naaman is angry. Naaman expects better treatment. Naaman is willing to pay a great price for what he wants. But Naaman has leprosy and it isn’t until he seeks to do God’s will is there health and healing.

God wants to give you a wonderful gift. It is the gift of eternal life. It is amazing what temporary things challenge us to ignore God’s offer. Relationships. Prestige. Ambition. Comfort. Pride. Strength. They all fade when compared to God’s wonderful gift.

Look at what Paul says in Philippians 3:4–11. Paul briefly reflects on the accolades of life. But Jesus is more important. Those things which some hold up as important and signs of success are counted as garbage in comparison to knowing Christ. What Paul wanted was to be raised with Christ. Can you say that?

Our lives count best when they are used to exalt God and not ourselves. Keeping our focus on the Lord is vital. There is nothing great you can do to inherit eternal life. God wants to give you that gift. As with any gift the focus is on the one who gives not on the recipient. Will you accept God’s gift? Like Naaman, God wants you to be immersed.

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