Read: 2
Kings 5-6:7
This passage is a continuation of 2 Kings 4,
retelling Elisha’s ministry to individuals. Chapter 5 relays the healing of
Naaman, commander of Aram’s army. When Naaman is struck with leprosy, God
sovereignly moves to bring him to Elisha. Naaman’s wife’s maidservant had been
taken captive from Israel as a little girl. Year later, she still remembers
Elisha and suggests that Naaman visit the prophet. The king of Aram agrees and
sends Naaman to the king of Israel. Here we see the king’s inadequacy as he
cannot help Naaman (v 7). When Elisha hears of the situation, he summons
Naaman. Rather than addressing Naaman personally, Elisha gives directions
through his messengers. Naaman is to bathe in the Jordan River seven times to
receive healing. At first Naaman shows disdain at this directive. However, his
servants wisely compel him to obey. How often do we scoff at God’s directions,
thinking our methods are wiser? One prays to grow in service, expecting his
heart to be immediately filled with tender feelings of goodwill toward others.
Meanwhile, God is asking him to simply pick up a dish towel or a broom. Another
prays for financial provision, expecting immediate blessing. Meanwhile God
wants to first bring her through a period of hardship, that He might provide
different (and more eternal) blessings. We must be willing to lay down our
methods and expectations at God’s altar.
Naaman displays a great turnaround in this story.
First, he lays his prejudices aside to obey God. Second, he returns to thanks
Elisha. He does not take this answered prayer for granted. Naaman offers financial
gifts to Elisha. Elisha politely declines these gifts. While it is not a sin
for believers to receive gifts, or for professional ministers to accept a
salary, God leads Elisha differently here. Elisha practically displays to the
newly converted Naaman that money is not the benefit of following Yahweh.
Yahweh Himself is the greatest gift we can receive. Naaman is now so zealous
for Yahweh that he insists on bringing home soil from Israel on which to build
an altar. In a world where gods were associated with specific countries, it
would seem natural that Yahweh’s altar should be built upon Israeli soil.
Naaman had yet to learn that “the earth if the Lord’s, and everything in it”
(Psalm 24:1 NIV).
After offering thanks, Naaman asks for one
indulgence. He requests permission to kneel in Rimmon’s temple. This will not
be an act of worship to Rimmon, but an act of respect to Naaman’s king. Nimmon
knows that bowing before another god, whether in worship or not, is a sin. We
cannot use this story as license to pretend to serve anyone other than Yahweh.
However, Elisha knows that Naaman in young in his faith. His heart is in the
right place, even if his actions display immaturity. In the next scene, Elisha
punishes his servant Gehazi for sinning. Gehazi sought the financial reward
that Elisha specifically rejected. Since Gehazi lives closely with Elisha we
can assume he has a degree of spiritual maturity. His sin was direct rebellion.
We can see in this story that sin birthed from intentional rebellion must be
treated differently than sin birthed from immaturity. Both dishonour God and
require wholehearted repentance. However, immaturity requires mercy, while
rebellion may require justice.
This section of stories closes with Elisha blessing
one of his fellow prophets. The company of prophets associated with Elisha is
growing. In fact, they have become so large that they require a bigger building
to meet in! What a wonderful problem to have! As the prophets work to build a
new meeting shelter, one loses his axe head in the river. Axe heads were rare
at the time, making them very expensive. Having to buy a new axe head for his
lender would ruin the prophet. Elisha again responds with compassion. He works
a miracle and retrieves the axe head, saving his friend.
Prayer and
Journaling
1. Is there a situation in your life where you are
struggling to submit to God’s methods? Maybe you think your prayers should be
answered differently or you’re having difficulty believing that God can turn a
season of hardship into blessing. Pour your heart out to God. Confess any pride
or lack of trust in your heart. Ask God to affirm to you that He is good and He
“works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called
according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
2. When we sin out of immaturity, God longs to
forgive us and give us grace to sin no more. He does not condemn us if we
repent! Ask God to show you any areas where you walk in false condemnation.
3. Pray for believers in Canada today. Ask God to
grow our spiritual maturity. Pray that we would rejoice in obeying God, even
while His methods are still a mystery to us. Pray that we would repent from our
rebellious natures. Pray that, when we sin out of immaturity, we would quickly
receive God’s forgiveness and reject self-condemnation.
