Naaman was a captain of the king of Syria’s army. Naaman had leprosy, a terrible disease, according to 2 Kings 5.
The maid of Naaman’s wife said unto her mistress, “Would God my lord were with the prophet (Elisha) that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”
The king of Syria then sent Naaman to the king of Israel, but the king of Israel was displeased.
Naaman next went to Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.
But Naaman was angry, 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.” He further complained “Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean?”
Naaman’s servant then pleaded, “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?”
Naaman then went down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to Elisha’s instructions. His flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
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This story provides many lessons. Naaman needed faith, humility and obedience in order to be healed.
Naaman was not healed after dipping himself the first time. Nor was he healed the second time. He was still a leper even after the sixth time,
What if Naaman had become discouraged or impatient and left the river after the sixth time?
But Naaman persisted. Finally, he was healed after the seventh time.
We should all consider ourselves as if we were Naaman. We must be persistent in obeying the Lord and patient while we await promised blessings.
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31).
May the Lord bless you,
Tom Irvine