2Kin 5:1-19, 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed, I said to myself, ‘He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.’
It is sad when the gospel is presented in such a way that it appears that God needs man and could not do without him. The “ME” gospel puts man in God’s center plan when God puts Jesus at the center of His plan. The regenerated man is the beneficiary of Christ’s obedience.
Naaman as well thought he deserved the respect of a prophet, expecting to be healed his way. In his arrogance, he came as a lord to demand or purchase his healing rather than come as a beggar in need of the free gift of healing. Jesus said, “… whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted”, Matt 23:12. Elisha did not need Naaman and his gifts, Naaman needed Elisha for his healing. Elisha in this chapter is the type of Christ who has the free gift, but he who is sought must be convinced of a prophet that can cure him of sin leprosy, and come in Elisha (God is salvation)/Jesus’ TERMS. This serves to remind us that the gospel is not about how worthy man is, Jesus is. God does not need men, men need God. A sinner that recognizes how worthy Christ is must come broken and humble in need of a Savior. “I have a great need for Christ: I have a great Christ for my need.”, Charles H. Spurgeon.