Instructions for Healing

“Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” 2 Kings 5:1; 10Sounds like a wonderful story of healing and restoration doesn’t it? But before we jump to the happy ending it’s important to understand the steps Naaman had to take to obtain his healing.Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram and had experienced great success; however Naaman had leprosy (contagious disease that affects the skin, leprosy was disfiguring causing severe discomfort). Unfortunately success on the battlefield could not cure Naaman condition but there was a cure. To obtain that cure Naaman had to be willing to follow instructions, go into enemy territory (the Aramaens and the Israelites were enemies), and decide to do whatever necessary to be healed.Instead of hopefulness and appreciation Naaman’s initial response was anger and prideful indignation (“Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage (2 Kings 5:10-12).” There are many lessons to be gained from this story (Read 2 Kings 5:1-19).Just because you have experienced success in other areas of your life it does not exempt you from challenges or for the need for help from time to time. Naaman let his pride get in the way of his healing. It took the urging of his servants for Naaman to do what was necessary to be healed “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’!” 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 5:13-14).”God doesn’t always use conventional nor comfortable methods to accomplish His plans but whatever methods He uses you can trust He can and will get it done. If you really want to accomplish His will it starts with dying to self and living for Him.