Daily Devotionals

Dead End Desperation Week 5: Friday

But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: "Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy." 2 Kings 5:10

If you have kids in your life, you are undoubtedly familiar with the question, “Why?” This question particularly comes around when we ask them to do something. Kids ask this question when they want to understand the reason behind what they are asked to do. When a kid asks us this question, we often have to respond, “Trust me, I know what I am talking about.” Even as adults, we want to know “Why,” too, especially when we do not understand. We want to know why we need to do something before we know the “why” behind what we are asked to do. I imagine that when we do not understand and ask God, “Why?” He responds to our questions similarly: “Trust me, I know what I am doing.”

Naaman had an opportunity to practice trusting God when things did not make sense in 2 Kings 5. Naaman was the commander of the Armenian army when he became sick with leprosy. His wife’s maid, who had been brought to them from Israel, told Naaman that a prophet in Samaria, Elisha, could help. When he went to Elisha’s home, Elisha did not come to the door. Instead, he sent a messenger to meet him, saying, “go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy” (verse 10). Naaman did not understand this instruction. He did not know why Elisha did not meet him, and he believed that the rivers surrounding him were better than the Jordan River. He started to walk away angrily. His pride would keep him from getting the healing he needed. Finally, his officers with him talked him into following this instruction. He dipped himself in the Jordan River 7 times and was completely healed. After He did this, he said to Elisha, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (verse 16). He believed in God after this miracle that had been done for him. He learned that God could be trusted even when things did not make sense. 

Still, today, God can be trusted when things do not make sense. He can be trusted because, simply put, He is trustworthy. Is He calling you to do something that does not make sense right now? Will you take a step of faith toward Him today? Then, you can trust Him, He knows what He is doing, and He will always work for our good and His glory.

Moving toward action

Your challenge today is to trust God and take a step of faith even when things do not make sense. What is He calling you to do that you do not understand? Will you follow Naaman’s example and obey? Commit today to do one thing to wade into uncharted territory today. 

Going Deeper

 2 Kings 5:11-19 (NLT)

"But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

13 But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” 14 So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed!

15 Then Naaman and his entire party went back to find the man of God. They stood before him, and Naaman said, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.”

16 But Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord lives, whom I serve, I will not accept any gifts.” And though Naaman urged him to take the gift, Elisha refused.

17 Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the Lord. 18 However, may the Lord pardon me in this one thing: When my master the king goes into the temple of the god Rimmon to worship there and leans on my arm, may the Lord pardon me when I bow, too.”

19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said. So Naaman started home again."