‘If you will not,’ said Naaman, ‘please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD.’ ” (2 Kings 5:17)
Notice two amazing things from today’s passage. First, Naaman asks for some Israeli dirt on which to set up an altar back home for making sacrifices to the God of Israel. He vows never again to sacrifice to another god. Seems like a rational response to his miracle healing, but it had the potential to be risky for Naaman. His boss the king worshipped another god.
The bigger deal to me, though, is what this story says about God. He did not require Naaman to vow to worship Him before He healed him. His only demand was that Naaman trust Him enough to follow the instructions to wash in the humble river. God healed Naaman with few strings attached — and Naaman’s worship followed.
God did the same for us, but in a much bigger way. In Romans 5, we’re told that “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God gave the gift first — the gift of His only Son’s life for our sin. Our conversion and worship of Him followed once we understood His sacrifice and power and love.
Think: Is it risky for God to give away such amazing gifts without asking us to sign on the dotted line first?
Pray: Thank God for sacrificing Jesus before you knew to want to be saved. Ask Him to help you to worship Him in the best possible way.
Do: Read the last 10 verses of chapter 5 to catch the surprising ending to the story of Naaman and Elisha.