2 Kings 5:9–10

At last he has come to the right man; but he has come in the wrong way. He is not yet in the right condition to receive the blessing. He comes with his horses and chariots and stands at the door of the house of Elisha. Horses and chariots speak of the pomp and pride of man. Naaman has found that the might of kings can achieve nothing, and that money and gifts are of no use. Now he must learn that his own greatness and importance will not win him the slightest notice from God. With God there is no respect of persons.

This great man knew nothing as yet. He comes to the prophet "with his horses and chariots," witnesses to the power of man. He stands "at the door of Elisha's house," expecting the signs of respect the world said he was owed. But his power, his dignity and his merits have no value when it comes to entering into relationship with God. That is the first lesson he must learn.

He had already humbled himself a great deal to be blessed. He was following the advice of a mere servant girl. He was asking a favour in the land of a beaten enemy. And he was now waiting with all his equipment at the humble lodging of Elisha. Surely no one could expect him to come down any lower! But he had to come down much lower before God could meet him. Human nature in every age resents this coming down. A hard pilgrimage, a heavy pledge, or a huge fee would suit us today better than God's simple terms. Those terms are salvation by grace alone, through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

But he has come to the door of Elisha. Whatever the state of his soul, the message of salvation cannot be kept from him. He was a seeking soul, and such are never turned away.

The prophet could not go out to Naaman. That would have put both of them in a false position. Instead he sends out to him this gracious announcement of the means of healing and cure.

The whole scene seems to be a foreshadowing of the present age. In this age Israel is set aside, and governmental power is given to the Gentiles. The times of the Gentiles are pictured here. The Lord had given deliverance to the Syrians — the open enemy of Israel — and the Syrians had taken captives from Israel. The power had passed to the Gentile, and an Israelite woman is in captivity. During this time the Lord shows grace to the Gentile.

Instead of coming in person, the prophet sent a messenger to him; it is the same today with the written Word. This message alone is enough to heal the leper. The Word reveals all the thoughts of God, so it contains a thousand other things besides this message. But this message, addressed to sinful man, contains only one thing. It is the most basic thing of all — the remedy for sin — and there is no other… The prophet does not need to come in person; his word has the same value as himself, for it is the Word of God. And much more, the remedy is not to be sought; it already exists… Naaman thought, "The prophet will do"; Elisha sends to tell him, "God has done." He appeals to nothing but faith. Naaman must believe what God has told him — not because the cure makes sense, and not because it looks possible, but because God has said it.

Horses and chariots speak of the pomp and pride of man. Naaman has found that the might of kings can achieve nothing, and that money and gifts are of no use. He must now learn that his own greatness and importance will not gain him the slightest notice from God, who shows no favouritism. So he hears the message that will bring salvation to him if he receives and obeys it. Yet his greatness counts for nothing. Elisha does not look at him as a great man, or honourable, or brave. He sees in him only a leper who needs cleansing… He just sends a message.

The Jordan River is the river of death. It flows into the Dead Sea, which has no outlet. So the command in effect told Naaman to wash in the death of Christ, which is the only way of salvation. The seven times was a test of his submission. Seven is the number of completeness, so Naaman had to submit completely to the Lord in self-judgment.

The rivers of his own country represent the sources of earth. So they teach us that Naaman was willing to be cured in a human way rather than a divine one. In other words, like many a poor sinner since, he would rather be reformed than born again. How many fall into this trap! They will accept the need of a moral change, but not of the new birth. The first makes everything of man, while the last makes everything of God.

Let us not misunderstand this picture. Not blood, but water was the element in which Naaman dipped himself. Cleansing by blood has to do with what a man has done, for nothing but atoning blood can put away sins. Cleansing by water has to do with what a man is, as one born into a ruined family line. In God's great plan, the sinner must be got rid of as well as his sins… "His flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child." So to speak, he made a new start with God.

What is the plain, simple message sent to Naaman? "Go and wash in the Jordan … and you shall be clean." And what is the message, just as plain and simple, to you? "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The preacher may have often repeated the simple way of salvation in your ears. It is too much for your pride to bear… Naaman said, "Behold I THOUGHT." His brain was busy, and it only put his thoughts in front of God's.