Go in Peace: Hope for AdventSýnishorn

In the Old Testament, we read a story about a powerful military man named Naaman, who was afflicted with a skin disease.

Here was a guy who was used to getting his way, who had vast power at his disposal, and yet still had to deal with this terrible health condition. But hope arises in the form of a slave girl in his household, who tells him of a prophet—Elisha—in Israel who can heal him.

Naaman and his entourage head out to Israel with a ton of money hoping to buy a cure, but eventually they’re turned away at Elisha’s house when a messenger tells him just to wash himself in the Jordan River seven times.

Easy enough, but Naaman wasn’t wanting anything easy. He’s used to wielding power to get what he wants, and he thinks this situation requires that kind of power, so he chafes at the notion and his anger rises to the surface.

Cooler heads eventually prevail, Naaman follows Elisha’s instructions, and God heals him. So of course, Naaman decides he needs to earn his healing and tries to give Elisha a gift, which Elisha refuses.

Nevertheless, Naaman is now all-in on the God of Israel, even to the point where he tells Elisha, basically, “Look, I’m gonna go back to my home country and they’re gonna expect me to bow before our gods there, but just know that when I do that, in my heart I’m bowing to God.”

That’s when Elisha tells Naaman, “Go in peace.”

Think of all that Naaman has experienced, the way his worldview has been completely upended. He was used to power and might, used to false gods and respect, used to winning his rewards through difficult battle and using the spoils to pay debts or curry favor. And yet, God gave him a simple action, healed him, and wanted nothing in return.

God’s healing is unconditional. He’s just looking for people who want to turn their face to him—that’s the only payment he asks. He just wants all of you.

Jesus is coming soon, and his healing will be unconditional as well, available not just to a powerful military man but also to the whole world. It’s the reason he’s coming. He wants to heal us all.

We can go in peace.