Naaman had everything, it seems, except one thing: “he was a leper.” Depending on what the text means when it says “leprosy,” Naaman’s condition was at best a disease that marred his appearance and at worst something that devastated his entire life.
But the turning point of this story is what he does when he’s given the opportunity for the leprosy to be taken away. But he refuses to obey.
Was it because he didn’t really believe it would happen? Was it pride? An inflated sense of importance? Did Naaman think he was too good to wade into the Jordan River’s dirty waters?
It seems that way. Regardless, he wouldn’t do it until one of his servants finally talked some sense into him. And then, as you know, his leprosy disappeared.
Lessons for us are abundant. We’re reminded that God is the God of the world, not just the small nation of Israel. He’s working among people who are different from us.
And then there’s this lesson: Sometimes God tells us to do things that don’t make sense to us. He expects us to obey anyway.
When we trust God, though, and when we know he’ll do what he promises, we’ll do what he says. Even when it makes no sense at all.
And God blesses that kind of obedience.
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