Naaman
Naaman was a commander in the army of the king of Aram (Syria). He was a great man in the sight of his master, highly regarded and victorious on the battle field. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.

He was a great man but he was also a dead man. Leprosy would eventually eat him alive and he knew it. The story reminds me of a modern day CEO or business owner or mega-church pastor who is suddenly stricken with cancer. Suddenly your status doesn't really matter. Your income or net worth don't really matter. Your importance and status don't matter. Cancer doesn't care "who" you are. It just kills.

Naaman had "cancer" but God sent him hope. A servant girl that worked for his wife told her, "send my master to see the prophet who is in Samaria. He would cure him of his leprosy." Naaman asks the king for permission to go and it is granted. Naaman heads off with silver and gold to seek his cure.

When Naaman approaches Elisha's home, Elisha sends a messenger out to greet him. Now remember, Naaman was a powerful general and a renowned warrior. Suddenly, a flunkie is being sent out to tell him what to do. The messenger says, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."

Naaman was angry - "Surely he would have come out and waved his hand over my leprosy and called out the name of his God and cure me. The rivers in Damascus are better than any waters of Israel. Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?"

Modern day - the status as the CEO doesn't matter any more. You show up at the clinic and rather than the leading oncologist consulting with you, an intern greets you and tells you in detail how you will be treated - "we will wash you seven times in chemo..." Cold. Impersonal. Lonely. Your status doesn't matter. You're just a number.

Naaman's servants plead with him to follow the instructions and finally, he consents and dips himself in the Jordan seven times. He finally lets go of his "status" and follows the pleading of his lowly servants and he strips and enters the waters of Israel to be healed.

This is a great picture of God's grace. Naaman had a problem. He was sick but he was also prideful. God used the illness and the subsequent treatment to go after Naaman's sin and pride. The picture of Naaman submitting to God's grace and entering the redemptive, healing waters is a remarkable picture of Christ's liberation. Naaman came as a general with all the trappings of that position but he had to be humbled before he could see his sin. Once he realized that in order to be healed, he would first have to submit, he was saved.

The same is true for us. Once we realize it really isn't all "about me" and once we realize we can't fake it anymore and "do life" on our own...once we realize we have to submit to Him, we are saved. We strip ourselves of all our status and prestige, we strip ourselves of our title and possessions and we enter into the river of life and we are saved!

Soar!