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. Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!”
How often do we identify with Naaman? We read this story and wonder how he could be so stubborn and prideful. He no doubt expected Elisha to treat him in an honorable way because of who he was. And yet the treatment was so very simple. It is true that the water he was to dip into was not his first choice; however they would cleanse him of his leprosy. How about you? What is God doing for you, methods in which he is blessing you, that is not that way you would choose? You may want something bigger, more profound, or through a different person – or even something easier. The truth is we ask God to bless us or give us wisdom and we dishonor him with our pride. “I don’t want it that way!”… we say to God. We learn from Naaman that obedience comes out of humility. Without humility we cannot obey God. Today, are you allowing pride to get in the way of obedience?