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What causes a person to obey men rather than God? For some it may be their religious heritage
which holds them back. For others it may be the beliefs of their friends, family and neighbors
which they have absorbed. While for many it may be their opinions, prejudices, fears and doubts
which they have collected in their life. Yet what causes a person to put those things aside and
have faith in God?
Let us reach back in time to ancient Israel in the 8th century B.C. for the answer. Ancient Israel was a divided people: the northern kingdom, also known as Samaria or Israel, and the southern kingdom, known as Judah. The northern kingdom was sinking into an abyss of apostasy and idolatry. Their king, Joram, like his father Ahab and his mother Jezebel, was not a fit monarch of God's people (2 Kings 3:2-3). True prophets of God like Elisha were ridiculed and persecuted. God was punishing the kingdom by sending the pagan Syrians under King Ben-hadad of Damascus to harass Samaria. The commander of Ben-Hadad's army was a remarkable man named Naaman. In Second Kings 5 is recorded the story of this man's journey to faith in the one true, living God. Naaman (the name means "pleasantness") had it "made in the shade". He was "captain of the host" and "a mighty man of valor" or warrior and a leader of thousands of men in battle. He had been used by God to deliver Syria from foreign oppression (perhaps the Assyrians). He was considered a "great man" by his master, Ben-hadad, who, along with others considered him "honourable". In addition to that, he had a household with many servants (slaves) who respected him as well. In the midst of this scene the Scriptures inform us of Naaman, "but he was a leper." You can read of the physical manifestations of leprosy in the Old Testament — a horribly disfiguring disease. In ancient Israel the Law of Moses said anyone with leprosy was considered "unclean" and made to stay away from others. This was not the case in ancient Syria but his condition was still a stigma and probably hindered the life of Naaman considerably. No doubt Naaman had tried every supposed "cure" for leprosy and prayed to his "gods" fervently for healing. Yet he was still a leper. Today many have a spiritual disease called "sin". There may be no physical manifestations of this disease or there may be many. The spiritual manifestation of this spiritual disease is separation from God (Isaiah 59:1-2) or spiritual death (Romans 6:23; 7:11, 24). The person afflicted may try many things to find a cure for their malady: hedonism, false religion, philosophy, self-satisfaction, etc. Nothing seems to be able to heal them of that spiritual condition. All their attributes and good deeds cannot save them from sin. Into this mixture God injects a "young maid" or slave girl. She had been captured by a Syrian raiding party sent into Israel. The providence of God had placed her in the household of Naaman to serve his wife. In spite of being separated from her family, she still maintained her faith in God. She felt pity for her master's condition. "And she said unto her mistress, Would God my Lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! For he would recover him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3). She had helped to plant the seed of hope in the heart of her master. Dear reader, perhaps God has placed you in this moment of time to allow the "seed of the kingdom" — the gospel — to be planted in your heart so it might grow and bear fruit (Luke 8:11). Ben-hadad hears of this slim hope and seizes the opportunity. He gives Naaman leave to go to the king of Israel with a letter requesting that he be healed. With high hopes Naaman and his entourage of horses, mules, chariots, and servants traveled more than 110 miles to Samaria. Along with him he took 750 lbs. of silver, 150 lbs. of gold and 10 changes of garments perhaps as a gift. But Naaman did not go to the prophet Elisha. He went to the weakling king Joram, instead. After reading the letter from Ben-hadad, Joram concludes that Syria is trying to provoke him into war. He knew he could not heal Naaman. Like Naaman, people initially go to all the wrong places seeking healing from the spiritual disease of sin. Some go to the dry well of denominational teachings regarding salvation. They run the gamut from "faith only" salvation to "works only" salvation. Neither false doctrine can save a proverbial field mouse! Only obedience to God's plan of salvation can accomplish that, by the blood of Christ (Matthew 7:21). Other people go to human philosophy and Eastern religion. This is also a "dry well" of human wisdom. "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Colossians 2:8). When word reached the ears of the prophet Elisha concerning king Joram's panic over Ben-hadad's request to have Naaman healed he sent word to Joram to send Naaman to him. Naaman and his entourage went to Elisha's home. He expected Elisha to meet him and perform some grand ceremony of healing. Instead, without fear, Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman saying, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean"(2 Kgs. 5:10). Elisha's command might be called a simple plan of healing. Yet it was conditional. It implied that if Naaman did what he asked he would be healed. But if he didn't, he would not be healed. God's plan of salvation is also simple and conditional: Hear the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 10:17); Believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (John 8:24); Repent of sins (Acts 17:30); and be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). If one fails to obey they will not be saved (Mark 16:16). Elisha's request did not satisfy Naaman. "But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper" (2 Kings 5:11). He did not want to wash himself in the Jordan River. But his anger and rage did not change the plan of cleansing, nor did Elisha change his request of Naaman. Some today become angry with God's word and want to substitute something else for what God has commanded. For example, some want to diminish the necessity of baptism for remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16). Others want to substitute pouring and sprinkling for New Testament baptism which is immersion or burial in water (Romans 6:4; Col. 2:12). But God wants simple "doers" of His word rather than self serving individuals (James 2:22-25). There was a wrestling match within Naaman over what to do. He was a man who was used to being in charge. His choice essentially was either to obey God (Elisha's command) or to obey himself. Thankfully, he had servants who loved him enough to tell him the truth (2 Kings 5:13). They explained to him that it would be foolish to not obey Elisha and remain a leper. In a sense, a similar wrestling match goes on inside hearers of the Gospel. They must resolve a spiritual dilemma. Shall they put aside their pride and obey the Gospel in order to gain forgiveness of sins or shall they obey self and not gain forgiveness of sins? "Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28). "And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doeth hinder me to be baptized?" (Acts 8:36). Naaman and his entourage traveled a descent of 1,000 feet in elevation and 32 miles to the Jordan River. It was actually a spiritual journey for Naaman that had begun with the utterance of a young maid in far off Syria. But the moment he dipped himself that seventh time in the Jordan River his journey to faith was complete. If he had not gone to the Jordan River he would not have been healed. If he had dipped in the river less than seven times he would not have been healed. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yes, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works" (James 2:17,18). Likewise, by faith, when the sinner does what God says to do regarding salvation, he is cleansed of sin and guilt. One is not cleansed of sin before he is baptized for remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 22:16; I Peter 3:21). Naaman returned to Elisha's house a renewed, healed man. No longer was he a worshipper of idols. With joy in his heart he told Elisha, "Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel" (2 Kings 5:15). In essence he was saying, "Look at me! I am proof of the one true, living God". He had finished his journey to faith. Now he proceeded on a journey of faith. No doubt this miracle and Naaman's resulting faith would reverberate throughout his world affecting many lives. Dear reader, you too can know that God exists. You can know that Jesus exists, and what you must do to be saved (John 8:31-32). By faith your heart can be cleansed of the sickness of sin. And like Naaman you can complete your journey to faith and begin a journey of faith through this life. Have you obeyed God's plan of salvation? |