Richard Roberts – Second of three parts
The servant girl told Naaman to go to the prophet, but instead he went to the king of Israel and presented him with a letter. When the king read the letter, he said, “Who do you think I am? Do you think I’m God that I can make people alive or dead?” (See 2 Kings 5:7).
The fourth rule of faith is: Put your faith in God, not in man.
When Elisha, the prophet of God, heard what had happened, he sent a messenger to the king to tell Naaman to come to him. Naaman gathered all of his soldiers and chariots and left for Samaria. Elisha had received a special word from God that something had to change in Naaman in order for him to be healed. What happened next would be the deciding factor of whether or not he would be healed.
The fifth rule of faith is: Accept the correction of God.
Naaman went to Elisha’s house, and Elisha sent a messenger out with a message, “Sir, Elisha told me to tell you to go wash seven times in the Jordan River. Your flesh will be restored, and you will be healed.” (v.9)
Naaman got in his chariot and left, shouting angrily, “Does he not know I’m the General of the Army? I won’t bathe in a filthy, muddy river!” (Paraphrased)
One of Naaman’s soldiers approached him, saying, “Sir, you were waiting for the prophet to strike his hand over the place where you needed healing. Instead, he told you to do something absurd. But, Sir, if you go home now, you are going to die. If the prophet had told you to do some great thing, wouldn’t you have done it? Sir, I think you should do what the prophet says.”
Naaman replied, “You’re right. The prophet knew about my arrogance. He knew there had to be some kind of change in me or nothing could happen.”