Let's look at the story of Naaman
II Kings 5:1 Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman's wife. 3 She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy." 4 Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. 5 "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. 6 The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy." 7 As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!" 8 When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." 9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha's house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed." 11 But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 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?" So he turned and went off in a rage. 13 Naaman's servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, `Wash and be cleansed'!" 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
So what can we learn about baptism from this? Are there any similarities?
First, we can see that he was used by God. Was he still sick? Oh yes. God can work through anyone.
Second, he had to believe in someone that was WAY below his status. A slave girl.
Third, he had to act on faith just to see if he could be helped. He travelled a long way to get to Elisha.
Fourth, he came with preconceptions.
a) He thought he could buy salvation.
b) He expected a MIGHTY miracle
c) He even had a better plan (and cleaner water!)
d) That he was more important than God's servant.
e) We don't like simple. We want things to be COMPLICATED.
Fifth, not all of those who are supposed to believe do. The King of Israel was in a tizzy over this. But Elisha KNEW the power of God and was way cool with the whole thing.
Sixth listen to God's servants. Even the servants of his servants. Even little slave girls. Truth is truth and no person can add to or subtract from it.
Humility begets obedience. Do you think Naaman was clean after the 6th dip in the river? Nope, if he had slipped and drowned after that sixth dip, he would have died a leper! But what do the exceptions do for us? They merely give us an "out" for our disobedience. Somehow, I don't think God would let the guy driving across town to get baptised, to be killed.
A preacher was asked once what ! Peter 3:21 really meant.
"Peanut Butter!" was his reply?
"How in the world do you get "Peanut Butter" out of that???"
"Does it matter? If I had said water, would you have believed me any more?"
Kind of reminds me of that sign: "My mind is made up, please don't confuse me with the facts (scriptures)."
