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WHY IS THE STORY OF NAAMAN IN THE BIBLE?
Ever wonder why God had His prophets write certain stories in the Old Testament?
God never wasted words, so each word is very important and there for our benefit.
Take the story of Naaman found in 2 Kings, Chapter Five.
Naaman had everything going for him. He had fame, power and wealth. He was the supreme commander of the armies of the king of Aram.
God had given Aram the power to invade Israel...because Israel had wandered away from God as they usually did because they thought God should act more quickly for them than He did. God continued to love Israel.
He continued to try to teach them things that would benefit them and their families, but they continued to wander from God and go as far as to worship idols from time-to-time.
In one raid on Israel, Naaman and his armies captured many and used them as slaves in the country of Aram.
Naaman captured a young girl from Israel and had given her to his wife as a maid.
Like many of us.....Naaman had a lot of good things going for him. He needed nothing.
He had it all...but, he also had contracted leprosy along life's journey.
Leprosy – a fatal disease that would bring about a certain death.
Leprosy...would always cause excruciating pain - both physically and emotionally, but as the disease progressed, the lepers began to feel no pain in their extremities. They could touch a hot, burning log and not feel it! This is sort of like sin. The longer you are into it, the less you feel that it is going to bring a lot of pain!
Leprosy would eventually keep Naaman from his master – the king because all lepers eventually had to be placed in solitude – abandoned – shunned by society.
To give you an idea of what LEPROSY was in the days of Naaman, here is a description:
LEPROSY - “a disease of the nervous system because the leprosy bacterium attacks the nerves. Leprosy’s agent M. leprae is a rod-shaped bacterium related to the tuberculosis bacterium. Leprosy is spread by multiple skin contacts, as well as by droplets from the upper respiratory tracts, such as nasal secretions that are transmitted from person to person. Its symptoms start in the skin and peripheral nervous system (outside the brain and spinal cord), then spread to other parts, such as the hands, feet, face, and earlobes. Patients with leprosy experience disfigurement of the skin and bones, twisting of the limbs, and curling of the fingers to form the characteristic claw hand. Facial changes include thickening of the outer ear and collapsing of the nose...Tumor-like growths called lepromas may form on the skin and in the respiratory tract, and the optic nerve may deteriorate. The largest number of deformities develop from loss of pain sensation due to extensive nerve damage. For instance, inattentive patients can pick up a cup of boiling water without flinching. ”
Naaman – with all of the things going for him...had a need...a need to be cleansed of this thing that would kill him.
Lepers were called “UNCLEAN” and had to say those words when approaching anyone. “UNCLEAN – UNCLEAN – UNCLEAN”.
The story of Naaman is in the Bible to remind us that all of us are UNCLEAN before the Lord.
All of us who remain UNCLEAN before the Lord shall die, only the death of an UNCLEAN person will lead to ETERNAL DEATH – eternal separation from our King...Jesus.
So, let's continue to learn about Naaman.
First, someone pointed him toward what would save him!
Someone always points us to where we can find salvation.
Naaman needed to be SAVED. SAVED from sure death.
We need to be SAVED. SAVED from sure death (eternal separation from God into a place where all UNCLEAN people go.....hell.
The girl that Naaman captured from a raid on Israel was his wife's maid.
She saw Naaman's wealth, his power, and his prominence in society...but she also saw his need for God's help.
She knew all about God.
She grew up in Israel and learned first-hand all about God.
Back before Jesus, all people who believed in God and trusted in Him were called “righteous”....like Abraham.
Naaman was UNCLEAN in two ways....He had leprosy and was spiritually unclean.
The Bible equates leprosy with sin.
Both were destructive over time, and both would lead to death.
Both would leave their victims isolated and separated.
God had given the Israelites and their priests specific and detailed instructions about how to handle lepers.
In Leviticus 13:2-3, God said, “If a person contracts leprosy, he or she will have to wear torn clothes (to be distinguished from “normal” people), and they must cover their upper lip and shout “UNCLEAN” when coming within six feet of another person (or 150 feet if with wind was blowing). He or she shall live alone...isolated from others. His dwelling place must be “outside the camp”.
God associates leprosy with sin for the same principles.
UNCLEAN people who do not choose SALVATION will eventually die and live “outside the camp” - outside of the place called heaven. Outside that camp is another place – called The Lake of Fire.
The young girl suggested to Naaman's wife, “Have him go to Samaria where he will be healed of his leprosy.”
We need to be like that little girl, and tell others who have the disease (of sin) that they can be healed, too.
All they have to do is meet with Jesus – the Great Physician.
Naaman heard this message from his wife....just like we hear what can save us from someone else.
Once we are saved, we need to be the little girl.
We need to tell others where they can find salvation.
So, Naaman believed that salvation could be found in Israel.
The spirit of God had directed the messenger (the girl) to Naaman, so this is why he believed a little girl.
Naaman approached his king to ask if he could go to Israel to find this healing.
His king told him to go.
Our King (Jesus's Holy Spirit) prompts us to go – to find salvation.
The king wrote a letter of introduction to the king of Israel. “Surely, my letter recommending my commander will get the job done”, he and Naaman figured.
In addition, Naaman figured he could simply pay a lot of money for this “salvation” or cure for his deadly disease.
What is a “death sentence” worth these days?
He brought with him 750 pounds of silver (750 pounds is 9,000 troy ounces – 12 troy ounces per pound – like it is for gold). 9,000 ounces of silver today – at $15.79 an ounce is $142,110.00. He also brought with him 150 pound of gold. At $1,180.70 per troy ounce, that adds up to 1800 ounces of gold or $2,125,260....MILLIONS.
He also brought with him ten sets of clothing.
We don't know if this was a gift for the king...or for him to wear if he was expecting to spend a lot of time with the king....wining, dining and schmoozing! The ten sets of clothing would have been very expensive so as to dazzle all who would see him in them. Does that remind us of people today who seek salvation by buying it?
Naaman approached the king of Israel (who has been attacked by Naaman before, so the king would be subservient to his wishes).
The king – fearing that this was a trap, read the letter from the king of Aram which said, “This is my servant, Naaman. I want you to heal him of leprosy.”
When the king of Israel read the letter, and saw all of the wealth that Naaman wanted to give him to cure him of this death sentence, he tore his clothes in total dismay and said, “Am I God? He is the only one who can give life and take it away.”
I pause here to remind you that God chose those words from the king of Israel carefully.
God is the only one who can take or give life!
The king of Israel figured that the king of Aram was just trying to pick a reason to attack Israel again because he gave him an impossible task.
Nobody can take or give a life but God. Nobody can heal diseases but Christ – the Great physician.
Yet, there are many on TV who ask you to send $1,000 to them as “seed money” so that you can be healed...or get rich! Suckers send money!
But – and here is an important announcement for you to gather from this Old Testament story of Naaman - He did seek salvation.
He did believe he could be saved.
He did take that first step toward finding out how he could be saved from a sure death.
When we step out by faith, having heard the Word of God through someone else, or by attending a church (not by accident), or hearing a TV sermon, we don't have to have all the answers up front. We just need to take that first step toward finding the truth – the answer.
When we hear the Word, and take that first step, Jesus – the Greatest Prophet, hears your words of trust and sees your first step toward Him.
Jesus tells us in John 14:6, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life, and no man or woman comes to the Father (receives salvation) unless they come through me first.”
Like Jesus does now, Elisha the prophet of Naamans' day, heard that Naaman was in town and looking for “salvation” from a sure death.
He sent a message to the king of Israel saying, “Send Naaman to me and he will learn that there is a TRUE PROPHET IN ISRAEL.”
God tells us the same thing in Acts 4:12 - “Salvation is found in no one else (but Jesus), for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind (but Jesus) whereby we must be saved.”
The king sent Naaman to his prophet, Elisha. God's Holy Spirit directs us to Jesus.
So, Naaman went with all of his horses and chariots - and soldiers...and all of his might, power and splendor to where Elisha was living, which was in an upper room of a woman's home....nothing fancy.
He expected a personal visit from Elisha and an immediate healing because of his authority, his power, his wealth and his grand entrance to Elisha's home.
God is not impressed when we try to approach Him from any angle other than humility.
God doesn't care how rich or how powerful or famous we are when we come to Him.
If we come in arrogance, He will not hear us.
God demonstrates that by this story because – instead of Elisha rushing out to this powerful, rich and famous man...he sent his servant out with a message.
It read, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”
That's it! Short and sweet. “Go and do this, and you shall be healed and saved from a sure death.”
To Naaman, this was stupid!
He was angry and left saying to himself, “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me! - I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the LORD his God and heal me! - Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?”
So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.
Sometimes we (or those we know) walk away from how easy it is to simply obey God's Words. “Do this – and thou shalt be saved”.
Instead, like Naaman, we expect to buy our way into heaven...or work our way in – or be good enough to get in.
That's not how God does Salvation!
No, God simply tells us, “Whosoever shall (by faith) come to the Lord Jesus in repentance and humility, and ask for salvation....to them it will be given.” - Romans 10:13.
And, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
Salvation is that simple...yet few believe it.
Salvation for Naaman was simple....”Go and dunk in the muddy waters of the Jordan River seven times, and you will be healed and saved from sure death”.
I'm pretty sure that Naaman was disappointed....I know he was angry.
Even his own companions who loved him as a friend and as their leader suggested, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!”
This story is so perfect because it tells us the same thing. “If God said that entry into heaven (SALVATION) was a difficult thing where you had to jump through hoops, give thousands of dollars, do good works.....or other difficult things, wouldn't you have done it?”
Jesus tells us, “Call upon me, repent, and find SALVATION”....
Naaman's friends told him the same thing I am repeating for you or your loved ones' benefit, “So you should certainly obey Him when He says simply, “Go and do as I have told you.”
Finally, through either desperation knowing that his destiny was a sure death with all sorts of worsening of his disease setting in over time, Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!
And his leprosy became clean...as the skin of a young child.
His leprosy was gone (sins forgiven), and he was “born again”...given a chance to live physically for years to come.
Just as we are given that opportunity, by faith, to receive ETERNAL LIFE.
Ah, but the story doesn't end there because God wants to show us more good stuff!
“Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God.
They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”
Naaman did what we should do. Go back to the one who saved us and thank Him.
“For with the heart one believes, and with the mouth one confesses (and repents) and is saved.” Romans 10:10.
But Jesus, like Elisha - says, We cannot accept a gift for it is by God's grace that we are saved and not anything we can do...or pay for.” Ephesians 2:8-9.
Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord."
God wants you and I to realize what Naaman realized.
Naaman wanted to take a reminder of what saved him back to his people.
In his case, it was some dirt from the land of Israel.
To him, it reminded him of his salvation from death back to life.
Our reminders should be of what Jesus did on the cross...when He exchanged our nasty sins for His righteousness.
Take that back to your people and tell them about your salvation.
Naaman also asked something very peculiar. He said, “May the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.”
What he was saying is, "Okay, I am saved now. I believe. I exercised my faith, but now I smoke or drink or will still commit sins....will you pardon me when I do these sinful things?”
Jesus knows how we are. He became human to see and feel how we see and feel.
He knows that when we become “SAVED”...CLEAN.....before the Lord, we are not going to immediately stop thinking the way we did...or stop sinning immediately.
But, over time, we will want to become more and more conformed to the image of Jesus, and do what He wants us to do.
Jesus also said, in 1 John 1:9, "If we come to Him and confess those sins, He is fair and just and will forgive those sins"
I caution you to KNOW THIS: If we continue to sin after we are saved, THERE WILL BE CONSEQUENCES", so be careful because we don't simply get away with sins after we are saved by God's grace. "Where sin abounds, God's grace abounds more."
But, God's justice also abounds when we continue in sin, so we have to pay the consequences. If we smoke (not that it is a sin), the consequences become a stroke, heart attack, cancer or some COPD disease. If we commit adultery, once we are saved, there are many consequences...like the loss of an entire family life as you know it...loss of the children sometimes, or their loyalty at the least....no more birthdays that will be the same. Christmas and holidays or vacations will never be the same again....a host of "consequences".
Elisha said to Naaman what Jesus says to us upon SALVATION - “Go in peace,”
So Naaman started home again.
“Go in peace after SALVATION....and learn my ways.” This is what Jesus passes on to you and me.
I have a “Prayer of Salvation” located online at www.johntyler.com/Salvation.htm in case you or a loved one wishes to avail themselves of it.
I also have a Book Store online where I have Nine (9) books written.
All of the books that are bible-based are always FREE for you or a loved one to read and learn from. www.RelationshipBooks.com
John Tyler, Author
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