February 3 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Naaman gives evidence of a changed and cleansed life by his request for dirt. He confirms that change with a second request. According to most translations his request runs like this, “In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and I, leaning on his arm, bow myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” This would mean that when Naaman returns to Damascus he will be obliged to bow down before the god of his master. Naaman will have to bow; otherwise he will be considered a traitor. It could cost him his job.

Think about it. If this is what Naaman is requesting, do you think Elisha would have answered him, “Go in peace” (which means, “Your sins are forgiven”)? Isn’t this a double standard? Is Naaman allowed to compromise when he returns to his own land? Is he given a certain amount of religious freedom and flexibility because he is a recent convert and doesn't fully understand the implications of conversion? Not really! What we need to understand is that the Hebrew language does not always make clear whether the past or present tense is used. Translators need to carefully note the context. That’s why it makes more sense to translate verse 18 using the past tense: “In this matter may the Lord pardon your servant: when my master went into the house of Rimmon to worship there, leaning on my arm, and I bowed myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bowed myself in the house of Rimmon, the Lord pardon your servant in this matter.” Naaman is not asking to be excused of sin he will commit but he asks to be forgiven of a sin he has committed. He asks to be pardoned for relying on a false god. In the name of the Lord, Elisha may proclaim “Go in peace.” In other words, the sin you committed is forgiven. The Lord will not hold this sin against you. Go and sin no more.

Naaman’s conscience bothers him. He has been disobedient and, for a long time, did not recognize the true worship of the Lord God. Naaman does not pass off old sins as if they do not really matter. Today we may see the grace of God all the more clearly. Let us never cheapen grace by making light of sin. We all need to repent of our sins and seek forgiveness with the Lord. That is the only way we can go in peace.