The Secret of Enjoying God’s Blessing

Naaman, commander of the army of Aram, had leprosy. On the word of a young Israelite girl who had been carried off as a captive, he went to Elisha. Yet Elisha did not even come out to meet him, and only sent word that he should wash himself seven times in the Jordan.

Naaman’s pride lay in wanting to be answered while keeping his own righteousness and dignity intact. Six times he washed, and the disease remained. Only when he went down into the water the seventh and last time was his leprosy made clean. God held back his answer until Naaman had stripped off every garment of the world and obeyed.

It was only after he was healed, and his gifts were refused, that Naaman came to understand who God is. Elisha’s servant Gehazi, by contrast, went secretly after those same gifts, told a lie, and in the end took upon himself the very leprosy that had afflicted Naaman. Miracles come only to those who lay aside their shame and greed, stand before God with nothing to cover them, and obey.