Mensa Otabil - Elisha's Instruction
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We're still in 2 Kings chapter 5, looking at the story of Naaman. These are verses 9 and 10. Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean."
Immediately Naaman heard the message from Elisha to the king of Israel. He dashed with his entourage straight to the house of Elisha, and he went with the whole team. The Bible says they got to the house, but they couldn't enter. The story doesn't tell us why Elisha does not come out to meet Naaman. Could it be that Elisha was observing the law regarding lepers? We don't know. Could it be that this was just a prophetic act or merely a test of Naaman's faith? We don't know. What we know for sure is that Elisha did not come out to meet his august visitor.
From a natural point of view, this was a very, very offensive act from Elisha to Naaman because this man is a general of the Syrian army. He has been sent by the king of Syria. He has gone to the palace of the king of Israel. The king of Israel has sent him to Elisha. If you look at it, you would say he deserves some high protocol. Additionally, he has all his team with him, his entourage. How would they take it if the prophet didn't come out to meet him? So Elisha sent a message to Naaman.
The message was straightforward. Three things. First, the message told him where to go. You've come from Syria. You've gone to the palace. You've come to my house. This is not where you have to be; go to the Jordan. He has been sent to the Jordan. If you look at it, it will seem as if he's being given the runaround. He comes from one place and is told to go to another.
The second message tells him what to do: you get to the Jordan, and you wash in the Jordan seven times. That means you're going to dip yourself in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman would probably feel very awkward at this time because he's the general. He's supposed to be giving instructions, and now the messenger of a humble prophet is giving him instructions - not even the king of Israel. He's probably thinking, "Who do you think you are?"
The third thing is that if you obey this instruction, your skin will be clean and your leprosy will be gone because obedience is an act of faith. Naaman came to Israel with eagerness, but eagerness must not be equated with faith. The fact that you are eager for something to happen doesn't mean you have faith for it to happen. The fact that you are enthusiastic doesn't mean you have faith. What Elisha is doing is moving him from enthusiasm and eagerness to faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God and acting on the word of God.
So Elisha's action is shifting the man from his own desire to truly be in a position to receive a miracle from God. That's why he gave all these instructions and why he didn't see him-because we walk by faith and not by sight. Faith is not based on seeing the man of God; faith is based on hearing the word of God. That is the lesson we learn from Elisha and Naaman's encounter. Elisha knew if the man acted by faith, he would be healed. Would he act by faith? We'll find out tomorrow. So God helps us with His word to acquire faith. May the Lord give us faith to receive that miracle that we need.
Let's pray together. Say with me, "Heavenly Father, I know that Your word has the power to change my life. Help me to act on Your word at all times in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen.