(Continued from page 146.)
Fortunately Elisha hears of what is going on in the palace. He sends a message to Joram. “Let him now come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” And shortly after Naaman stands in front of Elisha’s house. Hoping and fearing! Now the moment has come. Now he will know what is in store for him. Shall he be cured? It seems almost too good to be true.
Then the door opens and Gehazi, Elisha’s servant, domes out saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean.”
Nothing more is said. For Naaman it is too little, and at the same time too much. He had thought it would be quite different. He thought that the prophet would come to him, would look at the diseased part, call on the name of his God, and go through all sorts of performances. And now he had not even seen the man of God. And no notice was taken of him.
And then such a silly remedy! Nothing but to wash in the Jordan! To wash? Why, he had washed himself hundreds of times in all sorts of healing waters. In the Jordan? Were there not rivers near Damascus with much clearer and fresher water? Well, yes; he will go and wash in the Jordan! And make a fool of himself! He is angry, terribly angry, short and threatening are his orders to turn back home! Foolish Naaman! But let us not judge him too harshly. He knew not the God of Israel. He was considering the remedy only, and not the Physician. He wanted to be cleansed but—in his own way. The more trouble it cost, the better.
And at this present time there are still such people. Alas! so many! They want to be saved, but in their own way. Not in the way that God shows us in His Word, by simply believing in the Lord Jesus, who died for us on the cross.
That is too simple a remedy, that is not enough. One must do something one’s self, in one’s own strength. But that is all wrong. Read John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). There you find the way. There is no other. One look at the cross is life and salvation.
“Home” was the order Naaman gave, and pretty soon he is again outside Saria: on the way home. But fortunately, Naaman has sensible servants, and they point out to him how foolishly he was acting. They say: “If the man had told you to do something very difficult, would you not have done it? Why not try then this simple remedy?” And certainly Naaman would have tried even the impossible, and so he thought his servants were right. He listens to their wise councils and goes to the Jordan. There he undresses. Lays aside his sumptuous raiment, takes off the bandages. But the one who steps down into the waters of the Jordan, does not resemble the rich and mighty lord. It is a poor, sick and unhappy person, nothing more. The beautiful exterior has disappeared, and the miserable reality is revealed.
Thus, we must come to God, if we would be cleansed from the leprosy of sin. Just as we are: as lost sinners. It is not agreeable, but it is necessary. And when we come thus we are healed, just as Naaman.
“Wash yourself seven times,” the man of God had said, and Naaman does it. Again and again he dips himself in Jordan’s waters. And when he has done it seven times, he is cured. “His flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child.” And how beautifully fresh and healthy a little child can look! So Naaman looked when he came up out of the water. He felt quite young again. There was no trace left of his disease. God never works by halves.
Is it to be wondered at, that Naaman felt that he must go back to Elisha? In galloping speed they return to Samaria, and soon he stands cleansed before Elisha to give utterance to his gratitude. This time he is permitted to see the man of God. His treasures are brought out, gold and silver and costly array. Naaman will give it all joyfully to Elisha. But Elisha refuses politely, but decidedly, to accept anything. Naaman has yet to learn that God does not sell His favors, but gives them in grace to whoever will, with a believing heart, take them from His hand. Naaman is beyond measure indebted to God, but not with gold or other treasures can he prove his gratitude. God has given him life: well then, that life must from henceforth be dedicated to God.
And is Naaman prepared for that? He surely is! No more will he kneel down to Rimmon; no more offer up on Rimmon’s altar. A load of earth he takes with him, to serve Israel’s God on Israel’s ground, although in Damascus.
God gives more than we ask. Naaman came to get health for his body. He got that, but a much greater blessing he received besides. He was turned from idols to serve the only true God. And that was not only Naaman’s experience: it is ours also. Let us ask much of God and expect much of Him: we shall always receive more than we ask. But let our hearts and lives be dedicated to Him! Naaman knew very little about God. We know much more. We know that God loved us so, that He gave His Son for us that we should have eternal life. How should we not love Him then, He, who has done so much for us?
And now, one would think that many lepers would come to Elisha to be healed. Alas, not one came. They heard of the miracle. It was much talked of. But—there it remained. How sad! All could have been cured and no one came.
Is it not strange? Yes: but it is still just so. Hundreds and thousands in our days know that they are not saved. They hear every day that Jesus can and is willing to save them. But they do not come to Him—and they are lost. O, reader, if you are not saved, do not wait a moment longer, but go now to Jesus and you will find that He can cleanse you.
ML-01/11/1920