Recognizing God's Delivery

“Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:10

This story is both easy to relate to and applicable to our lives. Naaman was a man who suffered with leprosy and was at the end of his rope. He sent a message to the king of Israel to heal him and put him out of his misery. The king deferred to Elisha, God’s prophet, who immediately sent for Naaman for healing. What follows is a remarkable story of not recognizing God’s deliverance. Elisha instructed Naaman to go to the River Jordan, wash himself seven times in the river and he would be healed. Naaman became outraged as he had already determined that this was a ridiculous answer to his problem. He went on to tell Elisha a better way for God’s healing to come.

How many times do we get to the point of frustration and pain calling upon God to save us, deliver us and heal us only to scoff at God’s path for us? We ask for direction which we do not take. We are told much like Naaman to ‘Go, do and be restored’ but we cannot seem to accept the passage of delivery.

In the Bible, the number seven symbolizes completion and in this case it could possible mean complete obedience. We must be in complete trust and obedience when asking for God to intervene on our behalf. He does not take our petitions lightly and will not steer us wrong. By following His will and His timing we will receive the cleansing of the flesh and renew the joy of our spirit.

One of the reasons Naaman refused the Jordan was that he felt it was too dirty and the rivers near his home were much cleaner. Little did he realize the very river from which he would receive healing was the same body of water in which our precious Jesus was baptized and indwelled with the Holy Spirit years later. Thankfully, Naaman listened to the encouragement of godly counsel who redirected him back to God’s mouthpiece, Elisha. Naaman surrendered his preconceived notion of the passage for restoration and eventually trusted God’s way. ‘So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as a man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.’ 2 Kings 5:14.