2 Kings 5:15-19 ESV

15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”

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15 Pagkatapos, siya at ang buong pulutong niya ay bumalik sa tao ng Diyos. Siya'y dumating, tumayo sa harapan niya, at kanyang sinabi, “Ngayo'y nalalaman ko na walang Diyos sa buong daigdig maliban sa Israel; kaya't tanggapin mo ang kaloob ng iyong lingkod.” 16 Ngunit kanyang sinabi, “Habang buháy ang PANGINOON, na aking pinaglilingkuran, hindi ako tatanggap ng anuman.” At ipinilit niya na ito'y kanyang kunin, ngunit siya'y tumanggi. 17 At sinabi ni Naaman, “Kung hindi, hayaan mong bigyan ang iyong lingkod ng lupang kasindami ng mapapasan ng dalawang mola; sapagkat buhat ngayon ang iyong lingkod ay hindi na maghahandog ng handog na susunugin o alay man sa ibang mga diyos, kundi sa PANGINOON. 18 Sa bagay na ito'y patawarin nawa ng PANGINOON ang iyong lingkod: kapag ang aking panginoon ay pumasok sa bahay ni Rimon upang sumamba roon, at siya'y humilig sa aking kamay, at ako'y yumukod sa bahay ni Rimon. Pagyukod ko sa bahay ni Rimon, patawarin nawa ng PANGINOON ang iyong lingkod sa isang bagay na ito.” 19 Sinabi niya sa kanya, “Humayo kang payapa.” Kaya't siya ay lumayo sa kanya sa di-kalayuan.

A 360 DEGREE TURN.

Clearly, Naaman had faith that he could be healed by the prophet Elisha. Otherwise, he should not have travelled miles with gifts to see the prophet. The problem was that he had a preconceived idea how he should be healed. Having not able to meet Elisha personally and was asked to dip at the Jordan River seven times were far from what he thought about. He felt insulted. But, a simple word from one of his servants had convinced him to just do it. He got healed.


In deep gratitude, he returned to Elisha to thank and present him his presents. This time Elisha met him in person but not to accept his presents. By doing so, he strongly made an impression that God must take the center stage and not him.

Through this miracle, Naaman’s eyes were opened to know God personally. It was not Elisha but God who healed him. It was necessary for him to go to Jordan river to experience the power of God. Indeed, the truth that God heals using a murky river without the presence of the prophet is quite a scene. Simply put, God weaned Naaman from trusting the prophet inorder to know and trust God directly.

His change was 360 degrees. He went back to Syria never again to make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any god. [v.17] Instead, he will worship the Lord upon an altar made of earth taken from the land. This has an allusion to Deut 20:24, “An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.” However, Naaman apologetically recognized an unavoidable occasions when he is found in the temple of Rimmon in the course of his official duties.[v.18] He went off with the blessing of Elisha.

Like Naaman, we could be enamored by our successes. And, God allowed some reversals to make us humble and broken inorder to encounter God. And, when we sought Him we found Him, healing our soul from hoplessness to joy.

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