Key Verse: “But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:13-14 CSB)
Naaman was a bit of a big deal from a human standpoint. He was the commander of the king’s army. He was important and highly regarded because of his military success. He had the position, power and prestige. But he also had a problem. “The man was a valiant warrior, but he had a skin disease” (v.1). We aren’t told much at all about the nature of this disease. Perhaps it was leprosy. Regardless, it was significant enough that Naaman sought out a cure.
He did so by sending a letter to the king of Israel, and eventually made a trip with his horses and chariots to the house of the man of God Elisha. When Naaman arrived, Elisha sent a message to Naaman with what to do. “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean” (v.10), Elisha told him. Take a bath seven times and you will be cured.
But Naaman didn’t like that answer. In fact, he got angry saying, “I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the disease” (v.11). Naaman was looking to see a flashy and dramatic healing. But instead, he was told to go and bathe seven times in the river. This was not in line with what he was expecting or desiring. However, only when he followed Elisha’s command, by dipping himself seven times in the Jordan, did he experience complete and total healing of his skin disease.
When we come to God with whatever predicament we find ourselves in, it’s important to reflect on how we are expecting God to respond. There can be a temptation to not only bring our problems to God, but then try to dictate to Him the solution as well. Without perhaps even realizing it, we tell God, “Here’s my problem, and here’s how and when I need you to fix it.” We might look for the quick and flashy solution, and end up wrongly placing expectations on the Lord about how He should respond. Have you ever done that?
Instead, what God is looking for is a heart of humility and surrender. It’s the willingness for us to trust and act on whatever He has to say. If God tells us to go and wash seven times in the river, we need to be prepared to do so, even if that is not the answer we expected or even desired. This is where faith is necessary. Faith trusts that God’s answer and His timing is always best, because He is God and we are not.
When Jesus was about to be arrested and crucified, He cried out to God in prayer. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me” (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew that God’s answer for rescuing humanity would require incredible suffering on His part. But Jesus also prayed, “not my will but yours be done.” He humbly surrendered to God’s plan, no matter what it involved.
As we approach God today, let us seek to do so with the same attitude. Ask God today to grant you a humble heart, one that is fully surrendered to His will ahead of your own, and is ready to obediently act on whatever He says.
Prayer: God, I trust that your way and your timing is always best. Forgive me for trying to dictate solutions to you. Today, I choose to humble myself before you and to surrender to your will for me. Help me to obediently act on whatever you tell me to do. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
