NAAMAN: THE LESSON IN HUMILITY AND OBEDIENCE
There was a man, honored and powerful, a commander of armies, yet burdened by a disease no sword could heal, no strategy could conquer. Naaman, leper of renown, stood at the edge of despair, hoping for relief, yet trapped in the pride of his own greatness (2 Kings 5:1). How often do we, too, come to the edge of God’s promise, proud of our knowledge, our abilities, our accomplishments, yet blind to the simplicity of His provision?
When the prophet Elisha spoke, instructing Naaman to wash seven times in the Jordan, the man’s heart stumbled. “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel?” he murmured (2 Kings 5:12). Pride and expectation clouded the clarity of obedience. How often do we, like Naaman, hesitate to trust God’s simple ways, seeking spectacular signs or grand gestures, forgetting that His power is not measured by spectacle but by the quiet command of His Word?
Yet in humility, Naaman dipped seven times—and the scales of disease fell from his flesh. Healing flowed not from his strength, nor from human wisdom, but from complete surrender to God’s instruction (2 Kings 5:14). He returned to Elisha, confessing, “Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15). This is the glory of God’s work: it humbles, it teaches, it transforms, and it draws the heart to worship the One who alone can deliver.
Naaman’s story is ours. It whispers to us through the ages. It tells us gently—and firmly—that obedience is not a small thing. The door to God’s blessing swings on humble hinges. The gospel itself begins at the riverbank of surrender. And every one of us, in some measure, must come to the place where Naaman stood: where our pride breaks, our excuses fall silent, and we step into the water simply because the Lord has spoken.
Lord Jesus, teach me the beauty of humble obedience. Deliver me from pride, from self-reliance, and from the fear of simple things. Help me to trust Your Word even when it challenges my expectations. Wash me, cleanse me, renew me—and lead me into the fullness of Your healing grace. Amen.
BDD
