Is There Power in the Water?

The question has been asked many times: If we are not under the Old Testament, why bother with studying the Old Testament?

I believe both covenants were preserved by the providence of God and handed down to all generations for several reasons—for our admonition (1 Corinthians 10:11) also for our learning (Romans 15:4).

It is exciting for me to read the Old testament and learn about God and man from the beginning. We see for ourselves how God dealt with man—especially how God blessed the faithful and how God dealt with those who did not follow His word exactly.

Sometimes in just one short chapter of the Old Testament, we find a number of lessons. If you would like to take advantage of God’s providence, turn to 2 Kings 5. It is a short chapter and takes just a few minutes to read. Keep your Bible open and let’s really analyze it for our admonition and learning.

Verse 1: Naaman was a great man—maybe the king’s favorite. He was brave, honorable, victorious in battle—but he was a leper, evidently early stages, but in time he would lose that battle!

Verse 2: A little maid, a captive, saw the situation and spoke out. Naaman could be cured. Naaman told his king. The king thinking like some men think decided to send Naaman to the top guy in Israel, the king!

Verses 6-7: When the King of Israel got the letter, he was dumbfounded! He knew he didn’t have the power to heal Naaman and tore his clothes. When Elisha, God’s man of the day, heard what his king had done, he sent him word. “Send him to me.” The prophet intended to show that there was a God and that He had a prophet in Israel.

Verse 9: Naaman brings all his expensive gifts and stands at the prophets door. Now, Naaman really gets a surprise! Remember Naaman was a very important man. He is accustomed to receiving the highest honors and special treatment. But Elisha doesn’t even come out to greet him. Instead he sends one of his servants to tell him “go wash in the Jordan River seven times”.

Do you suppose that Naaman thought that was beneath his dignity? Why he just told me to “go jump in the river”—insult!

Verse 11-12: Whatever Naaman’s thoughts, he was leaving in a rage!

I still think it’s a wonderful thing when someone in a crowd can use “common sense”. This time Naaman’s servants were the ones with sound judgment and asked (verse 13) “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?

Verse 14: After using a little common sense, Naaman changed his mind and dipped 7 times in the Jordan river, and his flesh was like that of a little child. When Naaman came up the 7th time, he knew there was only one God, and Elisha was a true prophet.

There are other lessons in the rest of this chapter, but Naaman’s miracle was all I intended to cover today.

Questions some have asked: Was there any power in the water? Absolutely not! It was simply a matter of humble obedience to God’s word. Had the Prophet said “drink 7 glasses of buttermilk” and Naaman would have obeyed—the results would have been the same. When people obey in faith God’s word, God will always prevail.

Let’s consider the word of Christ recorded in Luke 4:27: “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.”

Common sense: When word “got out” (and believe me it did) concerning Naaman’s cleansing, every leper jumped in the Jordan River, but none was cleansed except Naaman.

Thanks for reading and God bless!