The government can’t save you. This was true in the days of the Kings of Israel and is also true today. Naaman was a great commander of the army of Aram, but he had leprosy. Although the King of Aram greatly admired Naaman, he could not cure him.
In God’s divine mercy, a young girl who believed in God was taken from Israel and given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. She lived out her faith as she told her mistress about the prophet Elisha, who could heal her husband.
With the King of Aram’s approval and a letter to the King of Israel, Naaman left with much gold, silver, and ten sets of clothing. 2 Kings 5:7 When the King of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.” [1]
In good faith, Naaman may have thought the prophet Elisha would have been part of the government. The King of Israel knew he had no power to heal Naaman and thought the King of Aram was trying to start a war. With the King of Israel tearing his clothes in dismay, Naaman may have thought he was at a dead end. But God was not done with him yet.
Only God Can Save Us
Today, the world’s problems are beyond any person or nation’s ability to resolve. While nations struggle to preserve their empires, they often give false hope that they have the answers. From the days of Rome until today, people usually fall for the same rhetoric that the government can save you, only to be disappointed.
Naaman must have been disappointed with the King of Israel. But there was hope. 2 Kings 5: 8 But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.” [2]
Did Naaman wonder who the God of Israel was? What would a true prophet look like? Naaman knew his circumstances but didn’t know God. Perhaps your circumstances are overwhelming you right now. But know God will walk with you.
As we cry out to the Lord, He calls us to look up to Him where we can find help. Psalm 121:1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! [3]
Look Up to God
Do you hear God calling you to look up to Him? Like Elisha, God is calling us to come to Him. Come to the cross with your burdens, sins, and circumstances. At the cross, we find forgiveness and healing. Our sins are great, and no government can heal us except our Savior Jesus. The burden of sin makes us look down, but the call of Jesus is to look up and come to Him. When we take our burdens at the cross, our entire countenance changes as we rest in the Lord’s love, mercy, and grace.
The government can’t save us, but God can. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/naaman
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.