“Behold, I Thought”

David A. Cox

“But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought…” — (2 Kings 5:11)

Naaman came to Elisha with a serious problem—he was a leper. He wanted to be cleansed, but when God’s prophet told him to “Go and wash in Jordan seven times” (2 Kings 5:10), Naaman became angry.

His response revealed the problem: “Behold, I thought…” Naaman had already decided how he believed his cleansing should take place. He expected Elisha to come out, call upon God, and perform some dramatic act. He even questioned why the rivers of Damascus were not better than the Jordan.

Naaman wanted the blessing, but he questioned God’s instructions. His servants wisely reasoned with him, and Naaman finally humbled himself. He went down to the Jordan and dipped seven times “according to the saying of the man of God” (2 Kings 5:14). Then he was cleansed. The power was not in the Jordan River. The power was with God. Naaman had to trust God enough to do what He commanded.

We may not always understand why God commands what He does. Another way makes more sense to us. But genuine faith trusts God even when we do not understand everything.

Faith trusts God enough to do what He says. Naaman’s cleansing came when he stopped relying upon “I thought” and submitted to what God said.