Naaman, the scripture tells us was a great man and in high favor with the king of Syria. He was a mighty man of valor.
This man not only has echoes of being akin to those great men who followed King David, but also to Jesus, who grew in favor with both man and God.
That scripture introduces him in such a manner, is to make us sit up and take notice of this man and what God is going to reveal through his narrative. The inspiration of scripture has this commander of the army appear during the era of the kings, a long time after the Lord has promised the land to the descendants of Abraham.
Therefore, we are faced with a paradox. How can a commander of the army of Syria who has been successful in giving victory to Syria, the arch enemy of Israel, how can their be echoes in him of that which God ascribed as good in those who followed David and in that great principle that brought growth in the life of the Immanuel as he was obedient to his parents.
This opens are understanding to consider many things. The purpose and calling of Israel & whether their are universal principles that govern all things.
These two questions are imperative and they are also being directly addressed by the announcement of Naaman upon the text of scripture. Israel was chosen by God to be a demonstration to every other nation of the universal principles that apply to all.
Naaman was essentially a faithful man to his master. He was obedient to that structure that had been placed over him. Naaman was not a usurper, rather he was a man of order who valued principles over and above any personal advancement. Naaman did not command for his own name sake – he was subject to commandments. This principle of service and submission are universal values that reflect the very image and nature of God, in whose image man has been made.
The Lord had given victory to Syria through this man. This is a very pertinent point. Despite, any natural ability or numerical superiority, that this man had been victorious was because the Lord had aided him. This brings a harmony between order and spirituality, true spirituality is never devoid of order but it has the added component of humility, the frank confession that without the Spirit of the Lord we are nothing.
Now, did this great and mighty man know that the Lord had given victory to Syria. This commander had been accustomed to offering sacrifice in the house of Rimmon without the knowledge of true worship, hence, it is fair to suggest that Naaman did not know that it had been the Lord who had given him victory.
Thus, Naaman’s introduction while giving testimony to that which was right also introduces the Spiritual component of order that is absent from Naaman’s life.
Naaman is also defined as a leper. This is a great mystery. This man is given a unique and glorious introduction, but is classified as a leper. Naaman did not allow his disease to prevent him from being a leader. Something within Naaman, would not live in the shadows and accept his plight as a victim or as one cursed of the Gods. This makes Naaman an intriguing figure, as his leprosy is in no sense linked to his valor upon the surface of things. Naaman’s disease was akin to sin, as sin is spiritually defined as making one unclean.
Naaman’s valor and greatness was coated with the outer decay of sin. All who followed Naaman, like all who were to follow Nebuchadnezzar, Alexander, Nelson and Napoleon, knew that the victories were not eternal, they were all cloaked in mortality.
Naaman was a leader whom all his men may have aspired to be like, but whom all did not want his leprosy. Therefore, Naaman is brought into the text of scripture at this juncture as a type even of the crucified Saviour of the whole world! None of the disciples who had left all to follow Jesus, wanted or were able to carry their personal cross to Calvary. And it is only a crucified Saviour who is able to deliver Israel and fulfill the promise covenanted to Abraham.
And why did and does it require the preaching of the cross, are all men not cloaked in sin, born sinners.
Naaman is a dichotomy, the very same one that Paul expounds in Romans Ch 7. Universal man, needs a savior. New birth, a second Adam, the Spiritual man.
Word comes to Naaman of a cure for his leprosy, through his wife and that through a little girl taken hostage by the Syrians during a raid.
This little girl shared with her hosts that which she knew was life. She gave what she herself had been freely given. The very first introduction to Naaman of the ‘Good News’, was clothed in the principles of the beautiful mountain man: Matthew Ch 10 v8 which follows the healing of a leper upon his descent from his inheritance: Meekness is to share your victory with all those who deserted you in your hour of trial.
This little girl does not sound oppressed nor bitter at her plight. This speaks well of the family she had been placed into. Naaman’s household like Cornelius’s was not one that sought to exterminate another race. What a word this servant girl spoke in her captivity. It was a word of prophesy, and it carried with it the authority of a prophet. Here we have a great principle, that a Prophet is not endowed with valor and greatness and high favor with the Lord so that he is revered. Rather his office is to impart life into others, especially little girls who are called into a life of service and sacrifice. This little girl speaks the word that brings healing to a key man in the kingdom neighboring her own. She spoke it before Elisha knew it.
This girl had ownership over the nature of God. How profound, that Almighty ‘Allah’ would impart into the heart of a little captive servant girl ownership over his will and purposes. She was in a foreign land, but she had an inheritance and knew that the only ministry that could heal this man was that of Jesus: Revelation Ch 19 v10.
How did she know that the prophet would heal this man. Had she learned by route that God would heal gentiles. This girl had a living faith in the word of God that knows no borders. We must also conclude that it was indeed the will of God to heal this man of his sin, and so God put it into this obedient girls heart to speak the word in season.
Had this girl been told of the three and a half year famine? And of the pots of oil. Perhaps, the greatest thing to this girl was the birth of a baby and it’s later rising from the dead. Had she ever played with this young boy, and heard the miracle first hand. What was it that gave her such affirmative conviction. It was assured within her heart because unto such is the kingdom of God.
Did the letter from the king of Syria have a cynical and sarcastic edge as the king of Israel presumed. The king of Syria desperately wanted his commander to be healed, and so the letter was written with sincerity and in full support of an unexplored and unconventional avenue. All parties in direct service too and unto wanted this man healed. The only man to misinterpret events is the king of Israel, the very figurehead of the nation and one unto whom should have had a heart after Gods own.
The king of Israel tore his clothes.
Elisha sends to the king a message affirming that the answer to his troubles and the remedy for sin have an antidote.
Now Elisha had torn his own clothes when his master Elijah had departures into heaven, horses and chariots having parted them. Yet, with his masters mantle he had parted and crossed over the Jordan. Elisha had gone back and stood on the bank of the Jordan! He had crossed over with Elijah, and the waters had parted for them. It is the same place spiritually where Joshua stood & where Jesus later came to be baptized.
Elisha went back to the bank of the Jordan. The event was not merely historical. It was a Spiritual event founded upon reality, engaged with the primary focus of life and the purpose of all mens journey upon earth.
‘Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?’, it was his first statement after digesting that his mentor had departed. This is a question that God himself has inspired and which God himself always answers. ‘Adam, where are you’. And as we read on in the narrative of Elisha the answer is comprehensively, ‘everywhere he is found, for in Him we live and move and have are being’.
Elisha crossed the river Jordan with one singular question in his heart, to seek God. To follow in the same mold as his mentor. Elisha did not want a foreign God, he wanted the same one Elijah had walked with. True discipleship produces this fruit, the need for God, but not just any God the God through whom you have been mentored.
God answered his question immediately. And it affirmed to Elisha, as it had to Joshua that the Lord does not remove a mentor to leave you alone and without confidence. Elisha knew as those waters parted, that the Lord would guide and lead him as he had lead and guided those who had gone before him.
The greatest security in all the world is the knowledge that God is GOD and he reigns within his universe. Submission through discipleship will lead to this goal. No man whatever his station will ever supersede the Sovereignty of God nor usurp his unique role. Their can only be one true and living God through whom all things are made. Abraham was the friend of God as he enabled God to reveal his sovereignty and sacrifice simultaneously, God has befriended man that is the truth of it. And to know that the highest authority that governs all things is your friend, that is a heel click that makes children happy. The little girl in captivity knew that God had not abandoned her, she must have known of Joseph and how he rose to prominence in Egypt. She knew the answer, and she knew in a sense before time that God was her Father, as Paul later wrote: When it pleased God.
The king of Israel has torn his clothes and Naaman is at Elisha’s door with horses and chariots. ‘What I have written I have written, ‘King of the Jews’: Matt Ch 28 v18-20.
Naaman responds to the messenger with anger. Had Elisha come out to him personally, perhaps to much dialogue would have occurred, and when it comes to the root of the issue God is quite apt to conserve his word.
Naaman had come to the only place of his healing, he had come knowing this already, a new hope had been breathed into him from a faithful servant girl. But he had a very specific notion as to how his healing would occur. Without knowing the original Hebrew, Naaman almost appears to have had two people who had come to Elisha! One was the commander of the armies of Syria, a man respected by his men and his master, a man cared for by his family and a man of many a warrior and teenage camp fire wonder at his exploits. This person could be summarized as ‘me’, are best side are successes as those traits we consider commendable.
The leper was almost another man, a man to whom he was fighting to distance himself from, but to whom deep down he knew held him captive. Naaman was every bit a Roman Ch 7 Jew as Paul, who had also been angry at a creed that set his learned estate at nought! Those things I counted dear, being born of the tribe of Benjamin.
‘Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? And he went away in a rage.
Had not this great man been humbled in his life, carrying the disease of leprosy. Around every camp fire was the adage ‘you know he is a leper’? Had not a spring of hope been born by a servant girl happy in his home, had he not shown great meekness to receive her word passed on by his wife. And had he not followed correct order in going to his master and getting a leave of absence to visit this man and make his request, bringing his gifts.
Naaman had not requested a letter of the King of Syria, but in many respects it hindered him. And so such letters concerning are human rights can hinder all from the vital personal responsibility concerning are own healing! ‘Lord, I have no man when the waters are stirred to place me in’, ‘If I may but touch the hem of his garment’, ‘Jesus Son of David have Mercy on me’ & ‘the dogs do eat the crumbs from off the children table’.
God deals with us as individuals and he deals with us directly, and for God to manifest his liberty of life within us he must needs break the pride that prohibits its expression.
Naaman had no notion of the heritage of Israel, nor of the significance of the place he was being called to wash in. God himself coming later unto the Prophet who was calling men to be baptized so that their sins would be washed away.
Naaman reaped what he had sown. His attitude to his servants was not frigid rather as a servant he respected them. Naaman lead by example and here it served him well. His servants refer to him as ‘My Father’ , he had fostered this type of relationship and his heart as a leader was to impart to other men. But his subordinates knew his weakness, they also knew that the anger and rage where flaws in his leadership. It was perhaps only ever manifested here, but nevertheless they immediately recognized it for what it was, sullen pride.
And they are proportionately conservative with their words ‘will you not do it’? They removed all the pride from the instruction and showed the light at the end of the Cross! Blessed are all who are not offended by me! It is a great thing are eternal procured inheritance: to have boldness at his returning.
And does this not get down to the roots of every mans disease: ‘Will you not do it’, humble yourself and God will exalt you in due time. The remedy is directed at the individuals will.
These servants ministered to their master the essence of it. ‘Oh’ how the tables can be turned, from the king of Israel being the only one to misinterpret the events due to his own position and lack to Naaman. And how oft in life when are own root issues are addressed are we the only ones unable to see that pride is the plank blinding are own line of sight unto the cry of Calvary: Father into your hands I commit my Spirit’.
Naaman’s healing is a beautiful event in the passage of time. No doubt the angels rejoiced and trumpets were blown, as Naaman went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan.
And as the years passed by, Naaman would look in the mirror and all he would see is the child of Bethlehem, one born king of the Jews, a second man of grace who being found in fashion as a man, humbled himself.
Naaman struggled with the lack of religious ceremony, he struggled with the truth that he had to take ownership over his sins and go and be baptized. No one else could put him into that river. He struggled with the simplicity and his deliverance came through the simplicity of becoming a child.
Naaman understood the importance of following orders his whole military success was dependent on it. So when his servants put their finger on this great contradiction he humbled himself.
Notice how conservative Naaman is with his words as he went to the Jordan. He did not speak. When it gets to the roots and heart of it, we must obey; are excuses, procrastination, flatteries, adages or rebellion will only hinder are restoration and wonder at the light that is life.
The real miracle is found here, a wonder of wonders. When we obey God we are liberated. The words he speaks are always for are good and never are ill. The gift of God to Naaman, it could not be more wonderful.
Can you image him as he bathed and realized he was healed. There was no room for pride only a fullness of Joy. God doesn’t take anything away from us without replacing it with something exceedingly better.
Wonderful symmetry in this narrative, no position or post but brought to a level playing field, Commanders, Kings, Prophet, Servants, Israelites, Syrians – all need to wash in the Jordan.
Such was the simplicity of his healing that it provided an irrevocable remedy. Every time pride raised its ugly head, Naaman only had to smile and laugh of washing in the Jordan and the miracle wrought there. Gods word is not just in the commandment prior nor from the Heaven speaking as a Father unto another new born Son, NO God is also speaking intricately in the miraculous and instantaneous renewal. Had he not promised eternal life unto his creation. We see the nature of God in the instantaneous making of all things new.
What a harmony in his household for his servants and his wife and neighbors.
Naaman answers the question Elisha proclaimed: Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah? He asked for two mule loads of earth to take back with him to sacrifice unto the Lord upon. And he incredible asks for forgiveness in his duties beside the king of Syria in the house of Rimmon.
The answer is that he is everywhere, even if you are in a foreign land and inside an idolatrous temple. You can find the true and living God, where ever you end up.
Elisha knew that what had been done in the Jordan, was a complete and finished work in this mans life. We do not know how it all panned out for Naaman, but perhaps he was excused from this task, upon his report and the impact it had shacking the foundations of that building every time he entered as all eyes from the camp fires looked upon his face.
The Lord pardon your servant in this matter. Elisha knew that Naaman at least knew that no real and true spirituality was going to ever be found in those temples.
Elisha goes out to reveal that God is at work and Sovereign over all things, even enemy armies. And we are to derive faith, truth and courage from these words: there are more for us than against us. Especially, as God is even using are enemies for are good.
In a world of change, edicts and political turmoil around the world God is more than able to show himself as Lord of all and King of all Kings, his position as God has never been under threat
eternalrays 