So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, ‘Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.’” (II Kings 5:9-10)
Naaman went to the door of Elisha’s house with some degree of pomp and splendor. He must have thought that one doesn’t get a second chance to make a good first impression. Surely the prophet of Israel would be impressed with such a dignitary as he at Elisha’s door.
However, Elisha seemed to snub Naaman. First, he never came out of his house to meet Naaman. Second, he sent a messenger with a message. Third, the message was not the word he anticipated. The message was too simple: “Wash in Jordan River seven times.” So much for good impressions. (Don’t confuse this message of dipping in the Jordan River with Christian baptism.)
God’s message to us in His word is not hard to understand if we take it as it is. Even a six year old child can understand John 3:16. A fifty year old who has formed his/her personal ideas of eternal life and salvation is the one who misunderstands the plain, simple word of God.
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