2 Kings 5

Naaman was the general of the army under Aram.  Scripture tells us he was “a truly great man” yet was afflicted with a “grevious skin disease”.  He has a blemish – likely a pretty darn bad one.  One of the girls captured during a previous battle worked for Naaman’s wife.  She knew of Elisha and suggested that Naaman go to him to be healed.  The king Aram says go and Naaman does.  When he arrives in Israel, Naaman first goes to the king there and delivers a letter and brings some goodies (750 lbs of silver and 150 lbs of gold among other things) to gain access to the country.  The king of Israel doesn’t quite get it and gets upset that someone would come to him to be healed.  But Elisha hears about it and jumps in.  He asks that Naaman be sent to him and Naaman “arrived in style….at Elisha’s door”.  Catch this: “Elisha sent a servant out to meet him with this message….go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times”.  Elisha didn’t even come to the door to greet Naaman.   He was an army general.  Naaman gets irritated and scripture tells us he “lost his temper….stomped off mad as a hornet”.  After all – he deserved better than this.  Why would he want to wash himself in the dirty River Jordan?  Luckily his servants caught up and challenged his foolishness.  Why not obey this simple directive to “wash and be clean”?  “SO HE DID IT” and his “skin was healed….he was as good as new”.  When – it all happens when he did it.  Obedience to God’s direction yields results.