God’s purposes will be fulfilled regardless of what we deem possible or impossible. This is the lesson we learn from the story of Naaman’s healing and the Revelation of God through his prophet Elisha.
Naaman was a great man—a renowned soldier who had gained victories for his nation. But he also suffered from leprosy, a terrible skin disease that left him feeling unclean and isolated. Through unlikely circumstances involving a slave girl and the prophet Elisha, Naaman came to the Revelation that the God of Israel had power over even his demeaning illness.
At first, Naaman resisted the simplicity of Elisha’s instructions to wash seven times in the Jordan River. As a proud man of status, Naaman struggled to set aside his preconceived notions of how such a miraculous healing should occur. But in humbling himself and following God’s surprising guidance through Elisha, Naaman discovered the sovereign hand of Yahweh at work. His flesh was restored, clean and whole. Naaman then acknowledged that the Lord alone is God—not just for the Israelites, but for all people and nations.
Naaman’s story demonstrates that God accomplishes his redemptive plans through people and circumstances outside of what we imagine. He used an unnamed slave girl, a foreign commander, and a basic act of washing to bring about healing. God is not restricted by human barriers of ethnicity, social standing, or expectations of how healing comes. As Naaman discovered, we must have open and flexible faith that leaves room for God to work through anyone or anything to fulfill his good purposes. When we come to God without preconceived limits, we too may experience his miraculous power in ways we never thought possible. The revelation of God’s power and love is for all, as prophesied in Revelation 21:4. This prefigures the ultimate Revelation of Jesus Christ that brings healing and restoration to all nations.
