Lake Eufaula Christian Church
God sometimes uses physical problems to force us to face our deeper problem—the problem of sin and the need of God’s cleansing. The Bible story of Naaman clearly illustrates this truth, teaching us exactly what we need to do when we’re spiritually lost.
Naaman was commander of the Syrian army, second in command to the King of Aram, a pagan country that captured and enslaved some Israelites who worshipped the one and only true God. Naaman had a prestigious position, but he also had leprosy—a dreaded, contagious, and incurable disease that killed nerve endings and caused flesh to die on the bones.
A young Israeli girl who served Naaman’s wife told her mistress, “‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’” (2 Kings 5:3) Naaman had to decide whether to heed this servant girl or just stay there and slowly die. His king said to go, “so Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing.” (2 Kings 5-5) He pulled up to the Prophet Elisha’s house well prepared to pay the prophet’s God whatever he demanded for the miracle of curing his leprosy. But Elisha asked for nothing, sending out a messenger who said to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (1 Kings 5:10).
Naaman exploded with anger at such impersonal treatment and went off in a rage. He was ready to go home. Naaman’s reasoning was: “If God wants me to wash in a river, why not do it at home? The rivers there run fast and clear. But the Jordan is a muddy stream not much wider than a camel path!”
“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’!” (2 Kings 5:13) To receive his miraculous blessing, Naaman had to swallow his pride, humble himself, and conform to God’s directions. “So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.” (2 Kings 5:14}. He then proclaimed, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:15).
At last he had an attitude of gratitude—the attitude we emphasize at LECC when we worship at 415987 Highway 9, Eufaula, during Sunday school at 10 a.m., worship at 11 a.m., and Wednesday all-age activities at 6:30 p.m. Come join us, and don’t let pride keep you from seeking and following divine direction.
God Bless You!
Jeremy Little, Minister
