Word of Encouragement (07/04/2024)

Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, "Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant." ¹⁶ But he said, "As the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none." And he urged him to take it, but he refused. ¹⁷ Then Naaman said, "If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the LORD. ¹⁸ In this matter may the LORD pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon your servant in this matter." ¹⁹ He said to him, "Go in peace." (2 Kings 5:15-19)

Filled with awe by the miraculous healing of his leprosy, Naaman returned to the house of Elisha to express his gratitude with a gift. Gratitude accompanied by a gift is only a proper response to an act of grace and generosity. Naaman might have thought that he deserved to be healed. But when he was actually healed by a powerful miracle, he was greatly humbled. Having become aware of something far greater than his understanding of the pagan gods he had worshipped (who could not heal him, by the way), he saw how small and insignificant he was. If our knowledge of God does not fill our hearts with awe and gratitude, can we say that we know Him rightly or well enough?

It is interesting to note that Elisha, who refused to meet Naaman when we first came (with an arrogant attitude) now received him: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6, 1 Pet. 5:5). This was especially so because Naaman’s gratitude and gifts were accompanied by his confession of faith in YHWH as the one and only true God: “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” This was to Israel’s shame. Here was a Gentile, who confessed his faith in YHWH, while the Israelites, who were in a covenant relationship with YHWH, served and worshipped pagan gods and goddesses. God showed how gracious and merciful He was by healing a Gentile. But it was also an indictment against Israel’s idolatry.

While Elisha accepted his profession of faith, he did not accept his gift. Elisha did not want Naaman to think that he had anything to do with his healing; it was all YHWH, the God of Israel: he was just a messenger. Also, as many commentators point out, Elisha wanted Naaman to know that the God of Israel was the God of free grace: His favor cannot be bought with money or any other bride. This was why Gahazi’s sin of taking silver and clothing from Naaman was so heinous.

His gift refused, Naaman proceeded to tell Elisha what he planned to do with this newfound faith: He would take two mule loads of dirt from Israel and offer his sacrifices only to the LORD (v. 17). Again, his resolve showed what Israel was supposed to do but miserably failed to do. This showed that there was nothing special about the Israelites themselves that God entered into a covenant relationship with them (Deut. 7:7). If God so desired, He could make a believer out of a commander of Israel’s enemy nation! The privilege Israel enjoyed was by God’s grace, not by its merit or goodness. This is especially true of us, who were once Gentiles in the flesh, saved by the costly sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If anything, God’s grace should make us humble before God and men. Our lives should be a constant, living testimony to the glory of God’s grace. Is this at the forefront of your mind and heart as you begin this day?

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