Failed But Not Finished - 6
A Terrible Rage - 2 Kings 5 Verses 11 to 14
It was one of those strange stories that fiction is made of, but this time it really happened. Syria had come in from the North as they attacked the Israelites, and amongst the many prisoners they had taken, was a little Jewish girl. Thankfully she didn’t fall into wrong hands, as she could so easily have done, but she finished up as the maid-servant of the wife of Captain Naaman, one of the leading Syrian officers. He was an outstanding soldier, with a brilliant military record, but we will soon see that there was something drastically wrong in this man’s life. Our story for this week is found in 2 Kings 5 and we will look at it under four headings, Realisation, Remedy, Reaction and Repentance.
Realisation – Verse 1
Although Naaman was such an outstanding servant of his country, respected by all, from the king down to the soldiers under his command, the Bible account states his problem in three simple words "but he was a leper". He realised that there was one major problem in his life, and he had to do something about it. The leprosy was his first thought when he awoke each morning, and his last thought when he went to bed. At the time, leprosy was a dreaded skin disease, which many people thought to be a direct act of judgement from God. Captain Naaman, as a leading Syrian army officer, must have found it extremely hard to bear such an affliction. It was well known that he would give anything to be rid of the dread disease. And this is what brings us back to the little Jewish maid with whom we started our study. It says a great deal for the way in which she was treated, whilst in enemy hands, that as this little girl attended to the needs of Naaman’s wife, she showed real concern for her master, and expressed this with the words "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy". (verse 3).
The interest of her mistress was instantly aroused, and in next to no time Naaman had an interview with the Syrian king. He proved most helpful, writing a personal letter to the King of Israel introducing Captain Naaman to him, and requesting his aid. Naaman duly arrived at the Israeli palace, complete with the introductory letter, and a suitable present of gold, silver and expensive clothing. The outcome was not what Naaman expected, however, for the king saw the approach as a military mission aimed at commencing hostilities between the two countries.
Thankfully, news of the visit and the king’s reaction reached the ears of Elisha, the man of God, and he quickly sent a message to the king: "Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel". Next we come to …
The Remedy – Verse 10
As Naaman arrived at the prophet’s house, Elisha sent a messenger to tell him to wash seven times in the River Jordan; his flesh would be restored and he would be cleansed. What an opportunity! What an easy remedy to take! Nothing complicated; no hard task to perform; no payment to be made; no formula to follow. It was just a simple instruction to follow "Wash and be clean". There is a sense in which this is a picture of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1 John 1 verse 9 we read "If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and will cleanse us from all unrighteousness". One of the problems is that we sometimes try to make the Gospel too complicated. The Biblical way is by repentance of sin, with a genuine desire to forsake that sin, then a simple faith in Christ who died for our sins upon the cross.
To return to our story. we can imagine Naaman being thrilled with the prospect of simply dipping in the local river seven times and being completely healed, but if so, our imagination has failed us, for next we will see ...
His Reaction – Verses 11 to 13.
Naaman instantly flew into a rage. He used the two words which so many people use when faced with the simple truth of the Gospel: "I thought". He thought the man of God would come out in impressive style, call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure him of his leprosy. Isaiah had to remind the people of his day that "God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are His ways our ways".
We, in our day, cannot decide how we will receive cleansing from sin, and the salvation which we so badly need. God has determined the way, and its the only way in which we can come. Thankfully Naaman had men around him who really cared. They were quick to point out to him that if he failed to take God’s remedy, he was refusing a wonderful opportunity. They challenged him "if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he tells you ‘ wash and be cleansed?" (verse 13). This excellent advice was followed by a genuine ..
Repentance – Verses 14 and 15
This word "repentance" is an interesting one, which is often misunderstood. Basically it means "to change our mind for the better". Here was a man who was faced with a glorious opportunity to obtain the one thing in life which he longed for more than anything else, cleansing from leprosy. All he had to do was dip seven times in the river, and because it seemed too easy, he was prepared to pass it by. How often we react to the claims of Christ in a similar way. We often refuse God’s offer of salvation because we think it sounds "too easy", or we have the idea that God requires us to do our best to earn it, instead of simply receiving the cleansing which Christ has obtained for us upon the cross. Sometimes as Christians we refuse to take the simple step of obedience which God has clearly pointed out to us, preferring to do our own thing. What a good thing it was that Naaman had real friends around him, who were prepared to tell him how foolishly he was reacting to God’s message, for he repented, "changed his mind for the better", dipped in the Jordan seven times, and was instantly healed of his leprosy. The man who had failed to obey God was not finished; he was given another opportunity, and he took it.
There are lessons in this story for each one us. Perhaps I’m speaking to someone today who has repeatedly rejected God’s offer of salvation, thinking it to be too simple. Well, God is giving to you yet another opportunity. Why don’t you follow the good example of Naaman, and receive the cleansing and forgiveness which can be yours today.
It may be that you are a Christian, but you have failed to obey God in some matter which He has made clear to you. You may have failed but you aren’t finished yet. He is graciously giving you another chance to go along the pathway of obedience.
Perhaps you are a preacher of God’s Word, and you are making the message so complicated that those to whom you minister are all confused. May you return to the "simple, plain truth of God’s Word" and be a blessing to many, as the powerful Holy Spirit applies it to their lives. Then, like Naaman, give God the glory!