David Bahn – Reflections

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These devotions are part of the Follow the Word Bible reading program at St. John Lutheran Church in Cypress, Texas. This year we are reading through the Scriptures together, listening for how God speaks through his Word day by day. I hope you will join me on this journey.

Today’s readings are 2 Kings 4-6, Psalm 11.

2 Kings 5:9-14

Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” ¹¹ But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” ¹⁴ So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

I am struck by these chapters. Miracle after miracle unfolds through Elisha’s ministry. A widow’s desperate need is met through a miraculous provision of oil. What appeared to be a tiny reserve becomes enough to fill vessel after vessel, providing for her family’s needs. Then Elisha raises the Shunammite woman’s son, purifies deadly stew, heals Naaman of leprosy, causes a lost axehead to float, opens his servant’s eyes to see the fiery chariots protecting them, and blinds the eyes of their enemies.

But you have to love Naaman.

He first goes to the king of Israel for healing – the wrong place to seek God’s help – despite being directed there by his own king. Redirected to Elisha, he arrives with gifts in hand, ready to pay for what cannot be bought. Then comes disappointment. Elisha does not even come out to greet him. No dramatic gesture. No waving of hands. No incantation. No impressive display of power. Just a simple instruction: wash seven times in the Jordan River.

Naaman is furious. He turns toward home angry and offended.

Thankfully, his servants speak wisdom. If the prophet had asked you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? Why not simply do what he says? Reason prevails. Naaman washes. And Naaman is cleansed.

Sadly, however, greed soon intrudes. After Elisha refuses payment, his servant Gehazi secretly pursues Naaman and deceitfully asks for the gifts after all, grasping for reward for what God had freely given.

Several false hopes are exposed in this account. Help is not found in halls of power. God’s grace does not come through spectacle, dramatic displays, or mystical performance. Money cannot purchase the favor of God. Yet the king of Syria, Naaman himself, and even Gehazi are tempted to believe otherwise.

Instead, wisdom comes through humble servants. Truth comes through the word spoken by God’s prophet. Healing comes through obedient faith. Even the unnamed Israelite servant girl displays remarkable courage, compassion, and conviction. There is a prophet in Israel, she says. She knows where true help is found.

Naaman is changed in more ways than one.

And this account inevitably makes me think of baptism. God joins his word to ordinary water and does something extraordinary. We might prefer dramatic signs, spectacular experiences, or visible demonstrations of power. We often look for something impressive – something we can see, measure, or understand. But God works through simple means.

Plain water is connected with the powerful words and promises of God – that’s how God works..

In baptism, forgiveness is given, life is renewed, and salvation is offered. Like Naaman, we are cleansed not by spectacle, but by simple means of God’s grace, and faith which trusts God’s word of promise.