Namaan was a man whose life seemed all together except for the fact that he had an incurable skin disease. He was a Gentile military leader who had a young Hebrew servant girl. She suggested to Namaan’s wife that he should see the prophet, Elisha. Namaan was at the point where he was willing to try anything to be cured of this dreaded leprosy. So, he filled bags with silver, gold, and expensive clothing to pay for the great prophet’s help. But to his surprise, when he arrived at Elisha’s home, he was greeted by a servant named Gehazi. Namaan never met Elisha. Gehazi tells him Elisha’s instruction. “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan river and your flesh will be restored and cleansed.” Namaan felt insulted and angry. Not only did he feel disrespected, but he also believed the waters of the Jordan were far inferior to the clearer rivers near Damascus. He left in a rage.
Those closest to him knew this was a pride issue. In 2 Kings 5:13, they gently confronted him about his attitude. When Naaman went back and dipped himself in the Jordan, he surfaced the seventh time to find his body free and clear of the leprosy. He was so grateful that he still wanted to shower Elijah with gifts, but the prophet refused them. In verse seventeen, we read that Naaman became a believer in the one true God.
How often are we like Naaman, wanting to experience the spectacular, feeling the need for affirmation, and unwilling to stoop to do the lowly things that God might want us to do. In our walk with God, He gives us greater responsibility and blessing only when we have been faithful in the lesser things He had commanded of us. What blessings might you have missed because of pride and disobedience? Humility, submission, and obedience always lead to cleansing, forgiveness, greater responsibility, and blessing. Read 2 Kings 5 for the whole story, then read Matthew 25:14-30 to see Jesus’ take on this principle.
