Dear Class,
Today we read more of the ministry of Elisha and a very well known example of Naaman in 2Kings 5.
As the account goes, Naaman was a great warrior in Syria. When we think of Naaman, we think of people like Joab, under David.
Unfortunately, he had one of the most dreaded disease of that time - leprosy.
The account of Naaman is interesting as it seem to challenge our notion of what is generally viewed as "faith".
"You've got to have faith"; "You do not have enough faith" "Just have faith and all is well" and some commonly heard statements and some even alluded to in the bible.
Jesus himself rebuked the disciples for not having "enough" faith (Mat 17:19:21). In several other accounts, for example the woman who had an issue of blood for 12 years (Mat 9:20-22) and the centurion with the sick servant (Mat 8:5-10), were all accorded with having faith.
So what is faith?
In the case of Naaman: How much "faith" do you think Naaman had when he "reluctantly" dipped himself in river Jordan. Notice his great indignation in 2Ki 5:11,12.
He would have stomped away and died as a leper, had not his servants stopped him. Yet in spite of his disbelief (perhaps more bewilderment), he OBEYED the instructions from Elisha and was healed COMPLETELY.
So just what is faith?
The bible makes it plain and simple.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Some people insist that this sort of argument is disjointed and taking things out of context. Yet, this was the same method that Jesus himself employed in his defense against the devil (Mat 4) The truth of the matter is, the bible contains the whole word of God and to understand it's precepts, we have to study the verses and make the connections.
Thus, faith is simply the substance (works) of things hoped for and the evidence (hearing the word of God) of things not seen.
One would notice that in all the examples listed in the "Hall of Fame" of the faithful men and women in Heb 11, the resultant action was used to describe the faith.
Going back to the 3 examples with Jesus above. The answer is found in v. 22 - The disciples were not following instructions because they thought too lightly of them! A Naaman initial attitude! The woman with the issue of blood - She TOUCHED Jesus' hem didn't she? What about the centurion. He didn't do anything, did he? Oh yes he did - He beseeched Jesus. Just imagine - A Gentile, A ROMAN, A well-respected Roman, beseeching a lowly Jew and not just any Jew but one who was despised and rejected by his own fellow countrymen! (c.f. Mat 11:23)
Oh yes, what he did was something big time! And he did it PERSONALLY, not merely sending a servant.
By this definition, Naaman had faith! He had hoped for a cure. Based on the evidence of the (presented in part first by his wife's servant and then his own, and in part from Elisha) healing that was to come, he showed the substance of that hope by dipping into the water as instructed. No more, no less.
Brethren, do not be deceived. Faith is not a fuzzy, wuzzy feeling in our hearts. Faith is not, "I don't know, I just do". Faith is not doing "God's will" in our own way.
Faith is DOING what GOD SAYS. We may not understand, but we do it because we know it pleases God.
Let us continue to develop and build up our faith that we too may lay hold of the crown of righteousness in the day of His appearing. (2Ti 4:8)
The Lord bless our day ahead.
in Him
Paul
PS: In Greek, there is no difference between faith and belief - it's the same word pisteo (verb) or pistis (noun). In our attempt to twist and fit the English language, we have unwittingly opened up many cracks for misinterpretation. For example Luk 8:50 - But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole. Would be the same as ...have faith only, and she shall be made whole. And of course we know that meant the action of allowing Jesus in! (c.f. v. 49)
[Further note: would the parents be astonished if the result was expected? Does being astonished mean they were not faithful? NO! Go back to the definition of faith: ...substance of things HOPED for.... Then read Rom 8:24,25. Being astonished simply means they had hope and the hope was fulfilled. The substance of hope was that they allowed Jesus in, nevertheless.]
