Wounded Warrior: Naamanنموونە

The Converted Warrior 

Naaman, completely healed and restored, offered his gifts to Elisha. Elisha, in turn, rejected them. Seven dips in the Jordan earlier, the old Naaman might have interpreted this rejection as a personal insult. What follows reveals Naaman’s change of heart.  

Since he could not give, he chose to receive.

In those days, polytheists believed they needed to worship a god on its own land. Because of Naaman’s conversion to worship only the God of Israel, he asked to receive enough dirt to build a personal altar to God. This was unheard of for an Israelite, and blasphemous according to the Law. Elisha chose not to cast pearls before swine and graciously permitted this gentile convert to worship God the best way he knew how. Instead of demanding Naaman follow Israelite Law, Elisha told him to “go in peace,” trusting God with the details.

Elisha knew, and Jesus later taught the woman who asked what dirt God should be worshiped on, that “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Challenge:

• Move your quiet time in a new location today, worship God somewhere different.