Sometimes it is hard when you hear someone say, “turn to the Old Testament,” to not think ‘oh, boy.’ It seems harder to understand, because it is not in New Testament form where it just gives you what you want. Old Testament reading, to me, takes some focus. But, one thing is for sure, He always gives you something.
Always before starting to read, simply ask the Father to give you guidance and understanding while studying His word. Tell Him what you want. He wants to hear from us. He wants to help.
2 Kings 5 is the story of Naaman and his miraculous healing. Naaman was an honorable captain who was a “great man.” There was only one problem, he was a leper. Leprosy is an infectious disease, as we know leaving the horrid skin lesions and nerve damage. Leprosy is something we refer to today as someone who is an outcast. They don’t belong. Naaman’s wife had a maid who told him of there being a prophet who could heal him in the land of Israel. Naaman sought after for something that could heal him. For something that could save him. For something that could bring him peace and comfort.
Elisha, the prophet, was brought to Naaman by the king and sent a messenger to tell him to wash in the Jordan seven times and be healed. A simple command, but one Naaman did not think he was supposed to hear. Naaman spoke, “...He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.” (V. 11) Naaman eventually gave in. He desired to be washed, to be clean and whole.
“...And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.” (V. 27)
The Miracle of the Healing of Naaman is a perfect example of Christ and the lost. We are outcasts. We are broken. We are unclean. We need the blood of a sinless precious Lamb to cleanse us and make us whole. Christ is that propitiation; when He was sent to the cross of Calvary to shed His blood just for you. We try to come up with ideas of how we think things should go. We try to run the show. He’s an all-powerful, all-knowing God and this is His show. When we come to Him, seeking His forgiveness, when we give in, and allis Him to rule our hearts, He makes us clean. He rids us of the dirt and sin in our lives. He washes us. So we are walking away lepers, as white as snow.
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