Written
by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
General
Naaman was obviously stuck to tradition. That explains why he took the
bilateral diplomatic approach to seeing the Prophet Elisha. Rather than go to
Elisha directly as advised by the Israelite servant girl to his wife; Naaman
went to see the King of Syria. Also rather than send for Elisha or instruct
Naaman to go see Elisha directly; the King of Syria sent a diplomatic letter to
the King of Israel asking him to cure Naaman of his leprosy. Unfortunately,
that letter caused quite a stir in the court of the King of Israel after the
letter was read.
The
Bible records that the King of Israel tore his robe and lamented as to why the
King of Syria chose to take advantage of the issue of Naaman’s leprosy to pick
a quarrel with him. To start with, the King of Israel was not God who can
always heal, kill or make alive. Why then would the King of Syria saddle the
King of Israel with the responsibility and task of curing Naaman? Fortunately for
the King of Israel, Prophet Elisha heard about the travails of the King and
quickly sent a message to the King to send Naaman to him.
Naaman
immediately proceeded to Elisha’s house expecting Elisha to come out in the anticipated
manner of prophets and call on the name of the Lord, wave his hands over the spot
so that Naaman would be cured of his leprosy. A different welcome was what
Naaman received. Elisha did not even show up to acknowledge the presence of
highly esteemed but leprous General Naaman. Rather, Elisha sent a messenger to
Naaman instructing Naaman to go wash in the River Jordan seven times. Naaman
was furious. Did the Syrians not have better rivers to wash in and be cleansed?
He made a u-turn.
But
one of his servants prevailed on him to the simple bidding of the prophet as he
was quite sure that Naaman would have gladly consented to a weightier task in
order to be cleansed. Fortunately, Naaman was not a very proud person. He still
had a good measure of humility in him. He listened to his servant and carried
out the instructions of Elisha. The Bible records that his flesh was restored
and became clean like that of a young boy. Thereafter, Naaman went to see the
man of God, acknowledging the Lordship of the God of Israel in all the world.
Naaman broke with tradition and not only became cleansed of leprosy; he became
a believer and worshipper of Jehovah God.
The
Apostle Peter also broke with tradition by not giving the lame man at the Beautiful
Gate of the Temple alms. Rather, Peter prophesied total healing and the man who
had been lame from birth received divine strength to walk and leap; praising
God. And because Peter chose to break with the tradition of giving alms, the
man also regained the dignity of not being carried about begging for alms; dependent
on the mercy or generosity of people. He could now walk and take on a more
dignifying profession other than begging. Please see Acts Chapter 3 verses 1 to
10.
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