Drew Boswell

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“The Passover and the Sacrificial Lamb” Exodus 12

“Into the Wilderness”

A Sermon Series in the Book of Exodus

“The Passover and the Sacrificial Lamb”

Exodus 12

 Introduction

In the plagues of Egypt the Hebrew God showed Himself more powerful than the gods of the Nile (water to blood), more powerful than the gods of the land and harvest (locusts) and the air (darkness, gnats, flies) all the false gods were defeated. During this time God’s people were untouched by the plagues (watching from the land of Goshen). But with the final plague (the death of the first born), God’s people were given specific instructions for what to do so that they would be safe from the last plague – and they had to follow God’s instructions very carefully or they too would experience the same plague as the Egyptians.

Wrath was coming and He would come to the door of every household, Egyptian or Hebrew. It would look upon the door and would at that point choose to enter or move on to the next house. God would provide them a way of salvation. The truth is that the Hebrews deserved God’s wrath just as the Egyptians their oppressor. Just because they were slaves and their lives were incredibly difficult did not mean they were not sinners and deserving of God’s wrath.

Two examples: They didn’t believe God’s prophet and when things became harder with straw and bricks they said, “The LORD look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.” Later we see Joshua 24:14 “Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.” Even though God would show himself more powerful than all the Egyptian gods, they would still hold on to them. They, like all people were descendants of Adam, and the consequences of the fall of mankind (Romans 3:23).

Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” “The tenth plague was a sign of God’s judgement against all humanity.”[1] Like the Egyptians, the Israelites deserved divine judgement; but unlike the Egyptians, they would be saved by grace through faith.

Prayer

God’s People Needed A Way to Cover Their Sin – Atonement

The Qualifications for the Substitute (vv. 1-6)

The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 2 “This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you. 3 Tell all the congregation of Israel that on the tenth day of this month every man shall take a lamb according to their fathers’ houses, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his nearest neighbor shall take according to the number of persons; according to what each can eat you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats, 6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of this month, when the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill their lambs at twilight.

God provided a way for a way for their son to be covered (atoned for) in the form of a lamb. The lamb had to be “without blemish, a male a year old,” This lamb would be a substitute for them to cover their sin, and it had to be perfect. It had to be their best (not blind, or diseased, or injured.)

1 Peter 1:18-19 “knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” The perfect lamb given in sacrifice was to point them to a Savior who would never sin.

Instructions About The Substitute (vv. 7-11)

7 “Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. 8 They shall eat the flesh that night, roasted on the fire; with unleavened bread and bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat any of it raw or boiled in water, but roasted, its head with its legs and its inner parts. 10 And you shall let none of it remain until the morning; anything that remains until the morning you shall burn. 11 In this manner you shall eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. And you shall eat it in haste. It is the LORD’s Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt that night, and I will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and on all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am the LORD. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

The blood from the lamb and its’ slaughter was to be brushed on the doorposts of the home. They were to go into the home and not come out again. The lamb was to slaughtered, butchered, and prepared to eat. It was to be roasted, not boiled, or eaten raw. The entire animal was to be consumed (if it was too much for your family, then get some people to join you).

The meal would be a reminder of the people’s slavery (bitter herbs to remind them of their bitter lives). The unleavened bread was to remind them of the haste they had to leave (there was no time to wait for the yeast to rise). The ate standing up, with their staffs in their hand, and outer garments tucked into their belts so that they could move quickly at a moment’s notice. “This night was the night of their deliverance, their liberation, their redemption, their salvation!”[2]

And when God saw the blood on the doorpost, death would pass over, and the firstborn in the family would be saved. God provides a lamb as the means of forgiveness of sin. A blood substitute was always required, and God always provided the lamb. God provides what is required.

Genesis 4:3-5 “In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.” Abel brought the lamb and his offering was accepted; God required a lamb.

In Genesis 22:7 God tests Abraham by telling him to take his son Isaac to the mountain and sacrifice him there. Isaac knows what is required for a proper sacrifice to God “And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.” Isaac knew a lamb was required. God went on to provide a lamb as a substitute for Isaac. Later in Leviticus 16 a lamb was required for the Day of Atonement.

On this day, one lamb atoned for the entire nation of Israel. So the consistent message of the Bible is that anyone who wants to meet God must come on the basis of the lamb that he has provided. Later John the Baptist would say of Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” His blood and sacrifice would cover our sin, and by faith in Him would save us from the wrath of God. 1 Corinthians 5:7b “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”

 “It is theologically significant that Jesus was crucified right at the time of the Passover feast (see John 13:1; 18:28). It helps us see the connection between the first Passover and the final Passover – the Passion of Christ. The day Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem was the very day the Passover lambs were driven into the city, and when Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples, he was celebrating the Passover (Matthew 26:17).

He said, “This is my body . . . this is my blood” (Matthew 26:26-28). His disciples didn’t understand it at the time, but Jesus was really saying, “The Passover is all about me. I am the sacrificial lamb.”[3] While Jesus hung on the cross, at 3pm is the very time when all the lambs in the city were to be slaughtered.[4]

 (v. 13) “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood,” The blood was shed when they slaughtered the animal, they wiped in on the doorposts, and it meant something had died – a lamb died in their place.[5] By placing it on the door was an act of faith – this blood will save me.

So imagine you are the firstborn, and the lamb is selected four days before the Passover meal. It is brought inside the home and cared for. They would have fed it, watered it, cared for it, played with it. All the time thinking, “this is our Passover lamb.” The lamb they would grow to care for would be slaughtered, gutted, butchered and then eaten (completely) all in a matter of a few hours. Why would God give instructions for the lamb to be brought into the home? Why did Jesus not just die for the sins of mankind? Why did He live amongst us first? Children would ask “Why do we have to do this daddy?” Why do we have to kill the lamb we love?” Dad would then have to explain – so that our sin can be passed over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Npv2Mpbd3w  :55 to 1:24

The Details Are Important to Remember (vv. 14-20, 28)

14 “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast. 15 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall remove leaven out of your houses, for if anyone eats what is leavened, from the first day until the seventh day, that person shall be cut off from Israel. 16 On the first day you shall hold a holy assembly, and on the seventh day a holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. 17 And you shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. Therefore you shall observe this day, throughout your generations, as a statute forever. 18 In the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening. 19 For seven days no leaven is to be found in your houses. If anyone eats what is leavened, that person will be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he is a sojourner or a native of the land. 20 You shall eat nothing leavened; in all your dwelling places you shall eat unleavened bread.”

The Passover meal was to serve as a memorial of the shed blood of a sacrificial lamb. They were to remember how God led them to freedom. God gives very specific instructions about how the memorial day was to be carried out – and to ignore these instructions would lead to a person being “cut off from the congregation of Israel.” To fail to observe the day, change the details of the day, or to be casual about how you celebrate the day – would lead to the next generation failing to understand the significance of the Exodus.

We who have the blessing of the New Testament are also given a memorial meal. With the Last Supper we are told to remember that Jesus’ sacrifice was made during the Passover festival in Jerusalem – and it happened this way for a reason. Just like the Passover was to remind God’s people of the Exodus, The Last Supper is to remind Christians what God has done for us, “do this in remembrance of me.”

To change to details, to fail to do the festival the way it is described is very serious – the consequences are severe. All of these details are there for a reason and point to a Savior who sacrificed himself for the salvation of the world. Each detail of the Exodus is pointing to an eventual Savior who not only gives freedom but eternal life – the way of having a relationship with God.

28 Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

(v. 21) Moses calls the elders together and walks them through what God has said about the Passover, how this was a meal that would be repeated in the years to come, and how to instruct the future generations. And look how the people responded in v. 28 “Then the people of Israel went and did so; as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.”

They showed their faith in God by putting the blood in the door, going inside and not coming out, and celebrating the meal as described. They believed and followed God’s Word and they were saved. V. 50 says, “50 All the people of Israel did just as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 And on that very day the LORD brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts.”

The Consequences of Belief and Disbelief (vv. 29-32)

29 At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he and all his servants and all the Egyptians. And there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where someone was not dead. 31 Then he summoned Moses and Aaron by night and said, “Up, go out from among my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said. 32 Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone, and bless me also!”

The Exodus of the Israelites and the death and destruction of Egypt is a picture of salvation. “If you are not a Christian, God is calling you to trust him, to believe that One has been sacrificed to pay your penalty, to bear your burden, to save you from God’s judgement for your sins. That’s the message that his Passover account has for us.

We all deserve God’s judgement even as God judged the Egyptians – we have all rebelled against God. But God in his great love caused this punishment to fall on Christ. The Son of God voluntarily laid down His life for us if we would trust him and repent (or turn from) our sins. Jesus Christ is the Passover lamb sacrificed for all who will be his people.

The Lamb without defect became our substutionary sacrifice, if we will repent and believe. There are many images in the Bible about God and how He relates to humanity – but the Lamb of God, and His substitution for us is the foundation of them all. “Jesus paid it, all to Him I owe, Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

The Israelites took a lamb slaughtered it, and wiped its’ blood in their homes – what do we do today to be saved? Years later Jesus would go to the cross, voluntarily lay down his life and would rise again three days later – what must we do to be saved? Believe on the blood of Jesus – rest in His promise that you will be saved by believing in Him.

If you wish to be saved, you say a prayer something like this, “Dear Jesus, please forgive me for my sin, I turn from my sin. I believe that you died as my substitute, and I place my faith in You alone. I want to follow you, the rest of my life. Amen.”

_____________________

[1] Philip Graham Ryken, Preaching the Word, Exodus (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2015) 297.

[2] Mark Dever and Michael Lawrence, It Is Well, Expositions on Substitutionary Atonement (Wheaton, Illinois; Crossway Publishing, 2010) 20.

[3] Ryken, 300.

[4] See Luke 43:44-46.

[5] The theological term for a substitute for one’s sin is or penal substitution and it is the means to be made right with God, or expiation.

“Holding On to the World” 2 Kings 5:14-27

The Gospel B.C.

“Discovering God’s Redemptive Plan”

Naaman Part 2 of 2

“Holding On to the World”

2 Kings 5:14-27

Introduction

Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ring-tailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it’s simple. They’ve been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can’t get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.

In our faith, there are some things that we must let go of.  We have to let go of our plan for our lives, and trust in God’s plan. We have to let go of our understanding of how things are supposed to work, and trust in His wisdom and His understanding. This morning we will look at a man who saw many miracles and worked right beside a great prophet, but could not let go of greed in his life, and it greatly affected his life.

Prayer – Lord, show us this morning where we are holding on to things that we need to let go of, and give us the wisdom to cling even tighter to your promises found in your word.

A Repentant Man’s Faith Displayed (vv. 14-19a )

“14 So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. 15 Then he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and he came and stood before him. And he said, “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel; so accept now a present from your servant.” 16 But he said, “As the Lord lives, before whom I stand, I will receive none.” And he urged him to take it, but he refused. 17 Then Naaman said, “If not, please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord. 18 In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” 19 He said to him, “Go in peace.”

Notice Naaman’s process and display of faith; First, Naaman goes down to the Jordan and dips seven times.  He follows the instructions that were given to him.  If you dip seven times, you will be healed – so he does and he is.

The same process is true for us today, how are we to be ultimately and completely healed?  Romans 10:9 “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Second is a confession of faith “Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.”  He believes this because it was only the Lord that could heal him. Jesus begins his public ministry and it is the mention of Naaman and this declaration that causes the Israelites to try and throw him off a cliff.

Jesus said; Luke 4:23-30 “And he said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” 24 And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. 25 But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, 26 and Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29 And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. 30 But passing through their midst, he went away.”

When Jesus is speaking to the crowds they understand that he is rebuking them, because of their lack of faith in Him.  Others on the outside were experiencing being fed, while they starved. God’s own people were not living a life of faith that pleased God, so others (from the outside) were being healed.

When God’s people stop living a life based on faith, and begin to live in their own strength based upon what they can see, they become powerless and lack the one things that makes them different. God’s people were embracing other gods that could not heal. But God, will show His glory.

Third, upon experiencing healing (which was free), His heart’s desire is to commit himself to God in new ways.  He tries to give Elisha a gift as a way of saying thank you, which indicates his gratitude for the human instrument of healing.  He no longer desires to purchase his healing through someone else’s God, he wants to worship his God by giving gifts to Him, because of a cheerful heart.

Luke 17:11-19 “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,6 who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Fourth, Naaman says this, “please let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on your servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any god but the Lord.”  He is desiring to take dirt home, in order to build an alter for his home, so that he can worship God where he lives.

Where Naaman lives, there is no place for him to worship God.  All the temples in his homeland are to foreign and false gods, who do not heal. He wants to sacrifice and worship God the right way, and to be able to present proper sacrifices. We know that Naaman’s faith is genuine because he desires to worship regularly.

Fifth, there is conviction of sin and a need to figure out actions in his life, that he needs to seek permission and advice regarding, “In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.”[1]

Naaman has already announced his belief in God, as the one and only God – he believes that there are no other gods and that he will never worship another god.  So Namaan is not worshipping Rimmon. But he finds himself in a career, in which he has to be apart of assisting his king, in helping him up and down, during worship.  Part of this assisting requires that he bow before a statue, and rise again.

When a person makes a genuine commitment to follow God, through Jesus, he immediately begins to become convicted of sin in his life. An example would Zacchaeus in the New Testament. Jesus had pointed him out of a crowd, gone to share a meal in his home.  While the crows calls him a sinner, Jesus saves him.   Luke 19:8 “And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

Sixth, Naaman has peace in his life.  The peace that Naaman receives is not just because of the physical healing, it is also because of the restored relationship between man and God. Jesus says in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

“This text contains one of the great Gentile conversion accounts in the Old Testament. Like Rahab (Josh. 2:9-13), Ruth (Ruth 1:16-18), and the sailors and Ninevites in Jonah (Jonah 1:16; 3:6-10), Naaman believes in the Lord. From Genesis 12:2-3 onward, God desires to bless all nations through Israel.”[2]

Naaman placed his trust in God,

followed His plan for His healing, and leaves having peace in his life.

A Man’s Unguarded Heart Is Compromised (vv. 19b-24)

But when Naaman had gone from him a short distance, 20 Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, “See, my master has spared this Naaman the Syrian, in not accepting from his hand what he brought. As the Lord lives, I will run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi followed Naaman. And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him and said, “Is all well?” 22 And he said, “All is well. My master has sent me to say, ‘There have just now come to me from the hill country of Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothing.’” 23 And Naaman said, “Be pleased to accept two talents.” And he urged him and tied up two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothing, and laid them on two of his servants. And they carried them before Gehazi. 24 And when he came to the hill, he took them from their hand and put them in the house, and he sent the men away, and they departed.

If there should be anyone in the story other than Elisha whose heart should be at peace, it should have been Gehazi. He worked, ministered to and with, and served the Lord beside a prophet.  He had every need taken care of, and he saw regularly the miraculous hand of God.

But, there is a lack of peace that we see in the heart of Gehazi. He gets to be apart of healings, and miracles as Elisha’s assistant, but he is not gracious over this – for him it is a job, and believes he should get paid every time he is “working.”  He should “get something.” What he doesn’t realize is that he is getting something, he is getting to be apart of God’s work.

There was a lack of peace in Gehazi also because he has allowed his heart to become compromised.  He undermines Elisha’s desire that they not receive payment. Gehazi, didn’t agree, so he waits until a good time, and then lies to Naaman. Then he hides what he has done, by placing the goods in the house, and sends the men away. One sin, leads to another, and then another, and then another.

Gehazi’s character is described to us as being, greedy, not respectful of authority, he is a liar, and deceptive. Working in ministry and even seeing and being in the group where God’s Spirit is moving – doesn’t mean that you are where you need to be spiritually, or that your character cannot become contaminated and diseased. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.”

This whole process began with a thought, and I believe it began when Naaman appeared at the door the first time – “wow, look at all those chariots full of stuff.” Clothes, silver and gold – we have hit paydirt.”  “we are going to be rich!” But instead of dealing with the greedy thoughts, he allows it fester within him. One sin leads to another, and he finds himself running after the chariots.

(v. 21) “And when Naaman saw someone running after him, he got down from the chariot to meet him.” Earlier in the chapter when Naaman went to prophet’s door and a servant appeared before him he was angry, but now when a servant comes after him, he stops, and gets down from his chariot[3] – showing again Naaman’s heart change – contrasted with the heart of a person who should be forever changed.

Gehazi allows his own greed to potentially

compromise Elisha’s teaching of healing ministry.

A Selfish Man’s Reward Is Given (vv. 25-27)

“He went in and stood before his master, and Elisha said to him, “Where have you been, Gehazi?” And he said, “Your servant went nowhere.” 26 But he said to him, “Did not my heart go when the man turned from his chariot to meet you? Was it a time to accept money and garments, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, male servants and female servants? 27 Therefore the leprosy of Naaman shall cling to you and to your descendants forever.” So he went out from his presence a leper, like snow[4].”

After all that he has done, he then goes and “stood before his master Elisha,” as though he has done nothing wrong.  Elisha asks, “Where have you been, Gehazi?”  He gives him one last chance to confess his sin. – but he lies again.  “Your servant didn’t go anywhere.”

If God is going to punish Gehazi for his greed, why did He give him leprosy? “. . . the leprosy taken from Naaman on account of his faith in the living God, should pass to Gehazi on account of his departure from the true God. For it was not his avarice only that was to be punished, but the abuse of the prophet’s name for the purpose of carrying out his selfish purpose, and his misrepresentation of the prophet.”[5]

Naaman was supposed to learn that “there was truly a prophet of the One true God in Israel.” Gehazi threatened that realization, and stood do discredit the name of the Lord. How many people have not placed their trust in the one true God, because someone has discredited the gospel by greed and deception. The message becomes contaminated by how those that are supposed to be healed live are though they are not.

Naaman comes as an unbeliever who has leprosy, and leaves a believer being healed of leprosy – he goes home in peace. Gehazi begins as a believer, but he leaves the story having inherited the leprosy and disease – a lack of peace.  The love of money becomes a corruption in his heart.  Gehazi inherits Naaman’s leprosy, and Naaman seems to inherit Gehazi’s faith.[6]

It is possible to be a believer in Jesus, and still live an absolutely miserable life, because you refuse (like the monkey’s fist in the melon) to let go of sin in your life.

2 Kings 5 shows us that Gehazi remains Elisha’s assistant in ministry.  He is able to continue to do ministry, but the consequence of his sin (leprosy) remains.  When we don’t guard our hearts, and sin, we can seek the Lord’s forgiveness, but the Lord does not take away the consequences. Gehazi’s reward for his greed is that he has the problems that the unhealed world has – and it controls his life.

________________________  

[1] “Rimmon is another name for Hadad, the storm god and the national god of Aram. He wants to avoid any appearance of unfaithfulness to the God to whom he just committed himself.” David T. Lamb, The Story of God Bible Commentary, 1-2 Kings (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Academic, 2021) 329.

[2] Paul R. House, The New American Commentary, 1, 2 Kings (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995) 273.

[3] John Gray, The Old Testament Library, 1 & 2 Kings (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Westminster Press, 1963) 458.

[4] Exodus 4:6-7 “Again, the Lord said to him, “Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. 7 Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh.” God used leprosy as a sign to show his prophet to be authentic.

[5] C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary om the Old Testament in Ten Volumes, Volume III (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1983) 323.

[6] House, 274.

“The Way of Healing” 2 Kings 5:1-13

The Gospel B.C.

“Discovering God’s Redemptive Plan”

Naaman Part 1 of 2

“The Way of Healing”

2 Kings 5:1-13

 Introduction

About four times a year, when I kids were infants, would have to get various shots for various reasons.  They go to the doctor about twenty times a year. So, on the days when we take them to the doctor, and they are scheduled to get a shot – we don’t tell them until as close to the time that the shots come out as possible. No amount of discussion, bribing, or planning is going to change the fact that I was going to have to physically restrain Joshua by tucking his head into my chest, wrapping my legs around his feet, and hugging him tightly for about 10 seconds. And when it’s all over, he usually is still screaming, “I don’t want to get a shot!” Joshua, it’s over, — “it is – well that wasn’t that bad.” The shot never hurts that bad, but he never remembers.

Many times, the answer to life’s problems, are rather simple, but we want to make life so difficult.  We have a preconceived notion of how our world operates, how God should do things, and even how we should be or live. These preconceived notions, often times get in the way of experiencing healing in our lives.

Prayer – Lord, thank you for sending Jesus to be our example. He showed us how to properly understand your Word. And in your Word, he described himself as the Great Physician. Jesus, you have healed us of our sin problem, and I pray that you may do that for another here today. Amen.

A Hopeless Disease (vv. 1)

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.”

Naaman is introduced to us a man who was a very successful and courageous soldier.  He did his work faithfully and achieved the rank of commander of the army.  But he had one problem, he had leprosy.

Leprosy is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.  Prior to the discovery that the disease was caused by bacteria, people had thought that it was hereditary or even caused by sin. Leprosy multiplies very slowly and the incubation period. Leprosy is not highly infectious.  So, it was hard to determine how it was transferred. Leprosy is often referred to as “the living death”, since it can ravage the body and leave its victims deformed. It is a disease that attacks the central nervous system, allowing it to impact nearly all areas of the body indirectly. Once the bacterium enters the body, it begins destroying the nerve endings, leading to a loss of feeling and pain. This loss of sensation causes the victim to endure injuries since they have no way of knowing that their tissues or bones are being damaged until it is too late.

The victims of this disease also, were forced to wear specific clothing, to yell out when they came near the non-infected, to ring bells, and to live in separate leper colonies.

Naaman’s condition would have been in the early stages because he was still able to perform his duties, and perhaps even able to hide his condition from others.  Naaman knew that his time was limited, and he knew what was in his future.  It was not more successful military campaigns, or leading men.

He knew that he would eventually become disfigured and handicapped, numb to the world around him, and pushed to isolation from the fear of others.  This disease would take everything he held dear away from him.

But what if there were a cure?  What if he didn’t have to live this way?  What would you give to be healed of this disease?  Can you imagine taking a bath one day, and discovering a spot?  You say, no it can’t be that.  For Naaman, there was no cure – you simply went away to die.

Sin, as described in the Bible, is exactly like this.  It corrupts us completely.  Every day, if not dealt with rots away at our soul, and causes us to lose parts of ourselves.  Our sin drives us into isolation, and so we wait for the inevitable end.  But what if there were a way to change that?

A Hapless People (vv. 2-5)

“Now the Syrians on one of their raids had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel, and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “Would that my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord, “Thus and so spoke the girl from the land of Israel.” 5 And the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing.”

During this time, there was no distinction between Israel (i.e. God’s People) and the nations that surrounded them. They worshipped the same gods, they performed the same ceremonies, they even abandoned worship of the One True God. The nation of Israel had forgotten it’s calling and purpose for existence.

Genesis 12:1-3 “Now the Lord said1 to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Abraham, was given a promise that he would be the father of a great nation, as countless as the stars and sand on the sea shore.  The blessing was the gift of faith and knowing the one true God – this blessing would spread over the entire world.

It would be through the nation of Israel that the Messiah would come, Jesus Christ.  The Savior who would take away the sin of the world.  This blessing of salvation would be for all people – The people had forgotten all that.

So God sent in raiding parties, to carry off missionaries.  If they were not going to go themselves, then He would pick them up and send them to people that He desired to hear the truth.

We are all called to be missionaries; did you know that you are on a mission to share the best blessing of all, the good news of Jesus with other people?  Those verses were written for us “and in you all peoples on earth shall be blessed.” It was this hapless missionary who knew how Naaman could be healed.  She knew of somebody who could heal him.  There are people all around us who need healing, and we know the person who can heal them.

A High Price Expected (vv. 6-9)

“And he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you Naaman my servant, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 And when the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Only consider, and see how he is seeking a quarrel with me.” 8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, that he may know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.”

“So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing” and “With this letter [from the king], and as “commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man” in the sight of others – Naaman was bringing all he had at his disposal to fix this problem in his life.  How much would the cure cost?

So Naaman arrives in his general’s regalia, chariots, servants, soldiers, wagons full of money and clothes to purchase his cure.  To pay the prophet for the remedy. Do you know how much Elisha demands?  What is Elisha’s price for healing of leprosy for this foreign man, whose people had stolen his people and carried them away in raiding parties?  What amount would be required to satisfy Elisha’s God?  Elisha would heal this man for free.

God recognized that we had or have a sin disease that was inoperable, and we were destined to die in our sin and eternally be separated in isolation from God.  So God made a plan – Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” He provided a way for us to be saved, the cure to our sin disease, and gave it as a gift – free.

A Helpful Patient (vv. 10-13)

And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman was angry and went away, saying, “Behold, I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call upon the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”

Naaman really needed to be healed of something far deeper than surface level leprosy.  His problem went much deeper.  He had a prideful heart.  The leprosy and the dipping, were the means to get him to admit and see some things about himself.

Go through the events of the day with me; He hears word from a servant girl in his household.  Then Naaman went higher to his master, then we find him talking and corresponding with a king, then to peak the day off Naaman would appear before the Prophet Elisha himself.  But when he arrives what is there to meet him – a messenger.

There is a building up of expectation; at the end of all these very exciting things God had done in his life on that day, surly there would be an even greater “sign and wonder.”  But the solution was simple, and the cure for his disease was delivered by simple means.

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” John 4:48 “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you3 see signs and wonders you will not believe.”

 “I thought that he would surely come out to me” (I am Naaman, the commander of an army, a great man) – When we approach God, we are simply a sinner who is in need of forgiveness and healing.  It doesn’t matter who you think you are, before God you are simply a sinner. But a sinner who God loved enough to send His one and only son as a means to heal you of your sin disease.

“and stand” (I am going to stand here, and you are going to stand there) – in other words we are equals. When I stand before God, I am not going to bow, if anything he should bow to me. When we approach God, we must do it with a humble heart.

James 4:7-10 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” To be forgiven of our sin, we must humble ourselves before God, broken over our sin, and to experience peace with Him we must submit to His ways.

“and call on the name of the LORD his God,” – by calling upon the name of the LORD, it seems that Naaman wanted this to be a grand affair. He was all decked out with his entourage – “Come and see the healing of the great and valiant Naaman, the commander of the Army.” Come and watch the magic show, as this prophet of whatever god, takes the leprosy away.

This is Elisha’s God, one of many gods that could be found in the land. What Naaman did not know, is that there is but one true God, and every person either chooses to believe and have faith in the one true God, or to reject Him.  Is he mom’s, God, or dad’s God – Is he your God this morning?

“wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.” – This is how I think it would work better.  God you have said to do this and I will be healed, but “I’ve been thinking, why don’t we do it this way . . .”  “Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?”

Pride really is the root of all sin. “I know how to do things better then God.” This is the first temptation man failed, and whenever we sin we make the same decision as Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:6 “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,2 she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.”

In order to have faith in the one true God, a person has to lay down his expectations of how God should be, and receive Him and His forgiveness and healing as outlined by His word.

Conclusion

How is a person cured of His Sin Disease?  Call on the name of Jesus, and ask him to forgive you of your sin.  Repent or turn from your sin, and follow Him as a disciple and obey His teachings. You can say a prayer something like this, “ . . .”

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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