DEVOTION – DAY 198

2 Kings 5:10-12 “Obeying God At His Word”

 

2 Kings 5:10-12 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord, his God, wave his hands over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the rivers of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So, he turned and went off in a rage.

 

The account of the healing of Naaman’s leprosy is given for us in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was a commander in the army of the King of Aram. Naaman had leprosy, an incurable disease at that time. But Naaman was told that there was a prophet in Israel who could help cure him of his disease. So, Naaman obtained permission from the King of Aram to go to Israel to be cured. He found Elisha, the prophet. In the above verses, Elisha sent his messenger to tell Naaman to wash himself in the River Jordan seven times, and his flesh would be restored. Naaman felt insulted that Elisha did not see him in person. Also, Elisha’s remedy was not what he had expected. He questioned why he should be asked to wash himself in the River Jordan when there were better rivers in his own country. But in the end, he was persuaded to follow Elisha’s instructions and he washed in the River Jordan seven times. His leprosy was cured and he praised God.

 

Naaman’s initial reaction is common amongst many people. When God does not seem to conform to our understanding or expectations, our first response is to reject His commands, or water down His commands to suit us. For example, a woman came to our church recently to enquire if she could have her marriage registered in our church. We found out that although she was a Christian, she was planning to marry a non-Christian. We had to gently tell her that we could not register her marriage because that would mean we would be condoning a marriage that was unequally yoked which was against God’s plan for His people. She was offended and told us that God was loving and compassionate and she was disappointed that we lacked compassion and love by declining to register her marriage. She was an example of someone who was selective in how she wanted to follow God’s Word. In the same way, Naaman would not have been cured of his leprosy if he had insisted on washing in the rivers of his country and not the River Jordan. If we do not follow God and His Word as He says in the Bible, we will be in danger of following the God of our own imagination.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that your Word should never be compromised. Please help us to have the will, persistence and fervor to apply it all the days of our lives for your glory. In the wonderful name of the Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. How do people twist God’s Word to suit themselves today? Share and Discuss.
  2. What are the possible dangers that people face when they twist God’s Word to suit their own purposes?
  3. How can you safeguard yourself against attempts to water down or tamper with God’s Word?
  4. How are people selective in the way they apply God’s Word? Discuss.