Scripture: 2 Kings 5:9-27 (NKJV)
9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of
Elisha’s house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in
the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall
be clean.” 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I
said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name
of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’
12 Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all
the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and
went away in a rage.
13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, “My father, if the
prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How
much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down
and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of
God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was
clean. 15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and
stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all
the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your
servant.” 16 But he said, “As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will
receive nothing.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 So Naaman
said, “Then, if not, please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth;
for your servant will no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to
other gods, but to the LORD. 18 Yet in this thing may the LORD pardon your
servant: when my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he
leans on my hand, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon—when I bow down in the
temple of Rimmon, may the LORD please pardon your servant in this thing.” 19
Then he said to him, “Go in peace.” So he departed from him a short distance.
20 But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “Look, my master has
spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought;
but as the LORD lives, I will run after him and take something from him.” 21 So
Gehazi pursued Naaman. When Naaman saw him running after him, he got down from
the chariot to meet him, and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well.
My master has sent me, saying, ‘Indeed, just now two young men of the sons of
the prophets have come to me from the mountains of Ephraim. Please give them a
talent of silver and two changes of garments.’” 23 So Naaman said, “Please,
take two talents.” And he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two
bags, with two changes of garments, and handed them to two of his servants; and
they carried them on ahead of him. 24 When he came to the citadel, he took them
from their hand, and stored them away in the house; then he let the men go, and
they departed.
25 Now he went in and stood before his master. Elisha said to him, “Where did
you go, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant did not go anywhere.” 26 Then he
said to him, “Did not my heart go with you when the man turned back from his
chariot to meet you? Is it time to receive money and to receive clothing, olive
groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male and female servants? 27 Therefore
the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and your descendants forever.” And he
went out from his presence leprous, as white as snow.
Devotion
There is a tourist attraction along the banks of the Jordan River, just south
of Tiberias, where the river flows south from the Sea of Galilee. It is
purported to be the site of the Baptism of Jesus, but that more likely took
place somewhat to the south, near where the modern Allenby Bridge crosses
between the West Bank and Jordan. There in Tiberias tourists purchase small
flasks of water from the Jordan River, as well as other souvenirs. Some people
instead fill empty soft drink bottles directly from the river to carry home for
the scheduled baptism of a young family member.
The Syrian warrior Naaman disdained the Jordan, preferring the cleaner water of
the rivers flowing through Damascus. Naaman did not have faith in the Lord, but
he apparently had a wary trust in the power of Elisha to heal his leprosy.
Reluctantly he obeyed the prophet’s instructions and was cured. He then
declared that “there is no God on earth except in Israel.” The grace of God
created faith in Naaman’s heart.
The grace of God preceded us as we were washed, not in any local watercourse,
but in simple tap water comprehended together with God’s Word and promise. We
were baptized into Christ’s death and became heirs of the kingdom of God. And
not our ears but our hearts were opened by God, Who indeed does all things
well. Faith was created by the life-giving water and Word of Holy Baptism, for
which we will bless the Lord at all times, His praise being continually in our
mouths.
The Lutheran Herald is a publication of the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of
North America. The authors of these daily devotions comprise the bishop,
pastors, and deacons of the diocese. Daily posts are provided by The Reverend
Jeffrey A. Ahonen.
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