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Leprosy and Grace


Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.

2 Kings 5:14-15

            There is much back story to this healing, starting in 2 Kings 5:1. Naaman was captain of the host of the King of Syria, and he was also a leper. No matter how many battles he won or how much treasure that he took as spoil, he was still a leper. He suffered the pain and the shame that went with it. In his desperation, he went to the prophet Elisha who instructed him to dip in the Jordan River seven times. It seems rather simple but the diseased man at first would not do so. He reasons that the waters in Syria are better. It is not until his servants point out that this is what the prophet said and he should do it. And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? How much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13). Let those words sink in. Can you relate to that? The truth is that we all can. While we may not know what it is like to suffer from an infectious physical disease, we all have suffered or are currently suffering from the spiritual disease, which has a 100% fatality rate unless cured. We can be the most successful, we can have great power in this world, and we can be leaders of men, however, if sin is not taken care of, we will die in it and stand condemned. Naaman had a choice in the matter, and this is truly a great sign of the grace of God, even in the Jewish dispensation: God was willing to heal a foreigner and enemy.

            God does the same for us. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8. Yet, we, like Naaman, must understand that God's grace is offered, but it requires obedience. If Naaman would have refused to dip seven times, he would not have been cured. If a man only believes and does not repent and be baptized, he will not be saved (see Mark 16:16; Acts 2:37-38; Rom 6:3-6; Gal 3:26-27, et al.). The healing is available, but obedience to the Gospel is required before one can be cleansed.

Grace and Peace,

Ryan

 


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