There once was a man named “Naaman.” He was captain of the host of the king of Syria. He was a good man who was well-respected and courageous in battle. He had a lot going for him, this guy.
Only problem was he was a leper (2 Kings 5:1).
To make a long story short, word came to Naaman that there was a prophet of God who could save him from this fatal disease. He traveled to the home of this prophet–Elisha–expecting to meet with him and be healed (2 Kings 5:9). Instead…
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
2 Kings 5:10
…Elisha doesn’t even both to put a pair of pants on and go outside to meet Naaman himself. He sends a messenger to deliver the commands to be followed. And what is the command? “to wash seven times in the Jordan river.” Incidentally, the word “wash” implies a total covering (like submersing in a bathtub) in the water (not just washing the hands or sprinkling some water).
What a perplexing command! Why water? Why THAT water? Why seven times?
Couldn’t Elisha just snap his fingers and heal him? Yes he could. And that’s what gets Naaman in such a tizzy…
But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.
Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.2 Kings 5:11-12
Naaman says “I thought there’d be a dog and pony show! I thought there’d be a big spectacle, with hand waving, a loud prayer…something!” Nope. Just go dip in the Jordan seven times.
To which Naaman says “Why not any of these closer rivers? Why do I have to go all the way to the Jordan?! One dip in the water is as good as another, right?”
And technically, Naaman is correct: One body of water is as good as another. But Naaman isn’t being saved by water. He’s being saved by God.
God told Him what to do. It’s not up to the man to question the Will of his God. It’s up to the man to do it.
Thankfully…
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.2 Kings 5:13-14
Naaman comes to his senses and realizes he’s going to die unless he obeys God’s (perplexing) command. So he goes, and he obeys, and he is saved.
Naaman was told to dip seven times and don’t you know he was glad he did!
Fast forward to today…
We’re only told to dip once:
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
We’re not even told where to go; we don’t have to travel to the Jordan river. So long as we believe and are baptized (anywhere) we will be saved.
So why won’t people do it?
“It doesn’t make sense!” they say.
So!? Neither did Naaman’s command, but don’t you know he’s glad he got past his own arrogance and just obeyed God. Only a stubborn, arrogant person would refuse to obey a Divine command just because he doesn’t understand it’s significance.
Newsflash: Maybe you’re not supposed to understand it. Maybe that’s the point. Maybe it’s not about the water. Maybe it’s about your willingness to TRUST God enough to obey His (perplexing) command! Salvation is by faith (but not by faith only–James 2:24). If you understood every little detail about “how” and “why” there’s no room for faith, is there?
Take Naaman’s advice: JUST DO IT AND BE SAVED
Think about it,
have a great day!
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