I’ve shared in other posts that I’ve been reading the Bible through yearly for some time.
No one told me to do this.
It isn’t a rule or obligation.
Instead, it is a simple act of personal obedience to make sure I am staying connected to the Lord God I say I worship.
When I first began this habit, I struggled with understanding who God truly is.
Before I share more about this, join me in a study of a Syrian commander who also struggled to understand God.
The Power of Simple Obedience to Transform a Heart
A Study of 2 Kings 5:1-19
Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.[1]
What are Naaman’s strengths?
How is the Lord involved with Naaman, a non-Israelite, at this point in our narrative?
What is surprising about Naaman?
2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.”[2]
What do these verses reveal about how Naaman felt about his leprosy?
How does God work in these verses?
5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.”
So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.”[3]
What is missing from the letter to the king of Israel?
How do the gifts Naaman brought with him reveal how seriously he desired to be healed from his leprosy?
7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” [4]
What does the king of Israel’s response reveal about God?
8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.[5]
Who is Elisha according to this verse?
What does Elisha say is the purpose of Naaman’s visit?
10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” [6]
11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. [7]
What is happening in Naaman’s heart in reaction to Elisha’s instructions via a messenger? Why?
13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. [8]
Who convinced Naaman to obey Elisha’s simple instructions?
What does this reveal about Naaman’s character?
Why did the instructions work?
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. [9]
How was Naaman’s heart transformed?
What does Naaman still not understand?
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.”[10]
Explain the symbolism behind Naaman’s request for two mule loads of earth from the land of Israel and how it connects to his profession of allegiance to the God of Israel.
What else do you notice about Naaman’s heart transformation in these verses?
19 He said to him, “Go in peace.” [11]
Explain the significance of Elisha’s response to Naaman’s heart transformation.
The Power of Simple Obedience to Transform a Heart
Application Questions
Who has God used in your life to influence your understanding of Him?
What simple act of obedience has God asked of you that helped you understand His power and generous love for you?
How will you use this study to encourage another person to seek the Lord God?
The Power of Simple Obedience to Transform a Heart
My Story
When I first started reading through the Bible in the one-year format, I struggled with what I thought was a harsh God. Especially within the Old Testament passages.
It wasn’t until I started counseling for the childhood abuse I experienced that a different understanding revealed itself through my daily scripture reading.
Instead of a harsh God, I saw God is amazingly tender and generous with His creation.
He is also holy, just, and righteous.
Thus, at times when I read a passage that at first blush sounds harsh, I now slow down my reading and pray for the Holy Spirit to guide my understanding of the passage within its context.
Often, when I take the time to do this, I will discover a phrase in the passage that reveals that God had waited an incredible length of time before issuing His judgment on a matter.
I know that my simple obedience to reading scripture daily has great power in helping me “go in peace” with God as the transformer of my heart.
What simple obedience habit do you have that empowers you to “go in peace” with God as the transformer of your heart?
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:1.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:2–4.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:5–6.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:7.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:8–9.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:10.
[7] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:11–12.
[8] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:13–14.
[9] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:15–16.
[10] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:17–18.
[11] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Ki 5:19.