We read in 2 Kings 5 Verse 1 to 27: About Naaman a commander of the Syrian army. Naaman was highly respected and esteemed by the King of Syria.
Hold on a minute, where is this story going telling about a highly respected Syrian army officer. The Syrians were the enemies, and they won.
Intriguing, as we read on about Naaman the Lord had given a great victory to the enemy, by forces Naaman had led.
Let us go back to 1 Kings 22: to explain this, "Then it came to pass, in the third year, that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to visit the king of Israel, Ahab.
Virtually a story, of self-importance, overridden by fear, of saying the wrong thing. Ahab and Jehoshaphat came together, surrounded by unfaithful prophets {such as Zedekiah} who was prophesying in the Name of the Lord, but not faithfully.
Perhaps these were true followers of Yahweh who were seduced by Ahab's sincere but shallow repentance three years before. After that they began to align with Ahab uncritically. They were willing to prophesy lies to Ahab if that is what he wanted to hear.
Into this dramatic scene comes Micaiah, the faithful prophet, in rags and chains straight out of prison. Micaiah was told to repeat what the other prophets had said, but he said he would repeat only what God tells him to say.
Jehoshaphat and Ahab, only listened to what they wanted to hear, and not about what would happen to them if they were not right with God. God allowed them to be defeated.
Fear of telling what is right and wrong should never be a part of our lives.
Now another part of this story. In one of the raids against Israel, the Syrians carried off a little Israelite girl, who became the servant of Naaman's wife. Naaman was suffering from a dreaded skin disease.
You would think the little girl would have more fear about telling the truth than those prophets, but she spoke up. One day she told her mistress, 'I wish that my master could go to the prophet who lived in Samaria! He could cure him of the disease.
The little girl not scared to speak up, eventually led to Naaman being healed, after Naaman himself had to overcome self-righteousness.
Fear of tell the truth, and fear of telling the truth, can stop anyone, from truly being blessed by God.
God Bless
OFJ
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