Naaman, a powerful general from a hostile neighbor, traveled to Israel seeking a cure for his chronic skin disease. In his desperation he sought out Elisha, the prophet he heard of from the mouth of a slave girl.

Not even coming to the door, Elisha sent instructions for Naaman to go wash in the river. Naaman, incredulous over the simplicity of the cure, turned away in rage. But wiser heads prevailed. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he tells you, “Wash and be cleansed!”

Naaman cooled off, dipped seven times in the river, and emerged with the healthy skin of a young boy.

Why did Naaman balk at the initial prescription? The plain nature of the cure irked Naaman. He expected a mighty quest, sacrifices and fire, lightning bolts and incantations. Naaman expected magic. Instead, take a bath—all so blasé.

Earlier the Lord spoke to Elijah in a whisper, not a tornado or fire or earthquake. Now God healed the rotting skin of Naaman through a river baptism, without even a preacher to do the dunking. In most cases the Lord works imperceptibly, plainly, with no flash or magic.

Drying off after the Jordan, Naaman resolved to worship the Lord, and only the Lord, for the rest of his life. His need for magic and flash washed downstream. Like the good general, I often wish for more magic when I actually need more God.

2 Kings 5 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jong Marshes