#112: The Simple Call of the Gospel, Part 1: The Expectation

Published by Ben Stahl on September 29, 2020September 29, 2020

Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed I said to myself, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.”

II Kings 5:9-11 NKJV

Several years ago a friend from work visited my church. When we talked afterwards he said he expected to see a large worship team up front, perhaps video screens, and more of what he had seen on TV and in other churches. He expected the church to put on a good show. Naaman expected something similar from the prophet who would heal him of his leprosy. He expected a good show of his healing.

Up until this point we have focused on the sovereign call of the Gospel. By His own power, will, and decree God ordains all His creatures and all their actions so that in the fullness of time each of His own might hear the Word of God and be saved. God used Israel’s sin and idolatry over many years to give its enemies victory in battle. On one such occasion a little Israelite girl was taken captive and put in the house of General Naaman where she testified to Naaman’s wife of the power of the living and true God. God allowed Naaman to be stricken with leprosy that he might seek healing from the land of his enemy. Naaman heard the word of the little girl and went to Israel with a letter that caused unbelieving King Jehoram great distress before Elisha called for Naaman. Through all of these events of history foreordained by God the great general and leper of Syria arrived at the door of Elisha’s house. He did not arrive alone or without expectation for what might come to pass.

Naaman went to Israel with a small military force. The Syrians were raiding Israel at will, so Naaman traveled with a large contingent of cavalry and with his chariot. In a time of famine, few horses would have been available to Israel for military use, so the Syrian cavalry detachment would have been very formidable and Naaman knew it.

Naaman expected a dramatic performance from the famed prophet. It is likely that the journey from Syria to Elisha’s house took a week or more even on horseback when traveling with many horses through a land ravaged by famine. Naaman would have been sleeping in tents in the wilderness. He had all the pains of leprosy and was getting worse. This was not a comfortable or pleasant journey. For all his efforts Naaman expected a dramatic presentation from the prophet of Israel. He expected a show (vs. 11).

The world and its temples of idolatry put on shows and provide great enticement for their followers to distract them from the truth of the death that lies within. Pharaoh’s sorcerers and magicians did tricks and wonders in his sight to make him believe (Ex. 7-8). The Philistines held massive feasts and celebrations for Dagon their god, including entertainment from the humiliation of their enemies (Judges 16:23-31). The strange, immoral, flattering, evil woman of Proverbs has honey dripping from her lips and her mouth is smoother than oil (Proverbs 2-7). Nearly every nation had sexual perversion as part of their idol worship. Feasts of food, feasts for the eyes, feasts of entertainment – these were the hallmarks of the world’s religious displays. So Naaman expected the one who would heal him of his leprosy to at least wave his hand a little bit, call on the name of his God, and dramatically heal his leprosy. The world expects that the way to Christ and salvation must be with great show and flash or great deeds and works that a sinner must do to gain entrance. Elisha did none of the things that the world does. In fact, Elisha did not even come to the door to speak to the great general himself. He sent a messenger.

What is your expectation for healing and salvation from your sin and misery? Do you expect a great show like the world and many churches give and Naaman expected for his leprosy? What do you expect from hearing and reading the Word of God? Do you expect God to blind you with light and speak to you from Heaven as He did on just one occasion in the Bible? Or are you ready to hear Him as He speaks to you from the pages of His book, the Bible, as He has for countless numbers in history? The Lord is calling sinners to repent of their sins and believe in Him alone for salvation, but He is not doing so according to man’s expectation, but according to His holy will, by His Word and Spirit.

What is your expectation for the Lord’s call to you?

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