The major and predominant cause of misinterpreting and
misunderstanding God’s Word the Bible is taking its portions out of their
context, using them in bits and pieces, and extrapolating them to suit one’s
fancy. To properly understand and make use of the teachings of any part of
God’s Word, it always has to be seen and understood in its context.
Here, to understand the meaning and application of Naaman’s
statement that has been quoted, please also refer to verse 17, which provides
the key to the answer: “So Naaman said, "Then, if not,
please let your servant be given two mule-loads of earth; for your servant will
no longer offer either burnt offering or sacrifice to other gods, but to the
Lord.”
Naaman, having being miraculously healed of his leprosy, by
following Elisha’s instructions – albeit quite reluctantly, to his own surprise
gets completely healed, and returns to Elisha absolutely convinced that there
is no god other than the God of Israel (vs. 15), and it is that God alone who is
worthy of all worship and offering sacrifices to. Naaman is so convinced about
and dedicated to the God of Israel, that to offer his sacrifices to Him he does
not want to build an altar for his sacrifices to the Lord God from the earth of
the pagan land that he resides and works in; he wants to carry “two
mule-loads” of earth to his home to be able to build that altar for offering
sacrifices (see in context of Exodus 20:23-26). This speaks volumes about the
sincerity and depth of his commitment to the Lord God, whom he has come to
believe in and accept as the one true God, the only God worthy or worship and
sacrificing to.
Keeping this sincerity and commitment in mind, now let us
evaluate 2 Kings 5:18-19. Implied in Naaman’s statement are important truths
that need to be taken in consideration while drawing any conclusions from it:
·
Naaman was steadfast in his faith and commitment
to the Lord God, openly, not shying away from openly stating his new-found faith
and his decision to henceforth serve only the God of Israel, and no other deity.
·
Naaman would not go to the house of Rimmon voluntarily,
but under compulsion to his duties to the King.
·
Naaman was not the one bowing to Rimmon, it was
the King; Naaman was going to move into that posture of bowing only if the King
required his support to do so.
·
Naaman’s presence there in the house of Rimmon
was neither for worship nor to appease the King, but only as a “supporting
appendage” for the King.
·
Naaman was neither willing, not at peace within
himself at all about having to carry out this possibility.
·
He openly expresses his reluctance about it,
knowing full well that there were other people from his country present there
with him as he was expressing himself about this to Elsiha, and was well aware
of the potential consequences if the thing were reported to the King, and yet
he was not hesitant to express his reservations about it, or speak about his
faith commitment in their presence.
It is to this faith and commitment that Elisha responds by
saying “Go in peace”, in other words – “don’t worry, God knows about your
faith, about the state of your commitment to Him, and the feelings in your
heart about it, and God evaluates you according to what is in your heart (see
in context of 1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs
16:2; Jeremiah 17:10; Jeremiah 20:12; Luke 16:15), so don’t worry about your
compulsions and circumstances, and just do what is right for you to do.”
Hence, Elisha is not giving Naaman a casually expressed
immunity from something that goes against what God has repeatedly and
forcefully stated to His people – stay absolutely away from idols and idolatry.
See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 for a New Testament version of this often repeated
truth of the Old Testament. God will never contradict His Word, for anyone or
anything; don’t forget, that the Word incarnate is the Lord Jesus Christ
Himself (John 1:1-4, 14) – God Himself in human form, and any contradiction of
the anything in the Bible is contradicting God Himself – an absolute
impossibility for God to do!
Moreover, at no place in the Bible, whether in the Old
Testament or the New Testament, has this incidence ever been used to provide
any justification of any sort for God’s people associating themselves with
idols or idolatry in any manner, whereas it could have well been used in this
manner, if it were the right conclusion to draw from this incidence.
Hence it should be quite evident that God does not allow
Believers to be a part of worship with the unbelievers, and Naaman’s example is
no excuse for seeking a way to bypass God’s instructions, just to appease
unbelievers we are working with.
I know this from my own life and example. I too have been
working with and under non-Christian idolaters and unbelievers for a long time,
and in different jobs, at different places. At every job interview and selection,
I have made it openly clear to the interview board and my employer that I will
never participate in any worship, offerings or any religious activity of any
sort; and by God’s grace, to date I have stuck to it, and this has never come
in the way of either my being selected, or promoted, or considered worthy of
greater responsibilities than others. I unhesitatingly do not accept anything
offered to idols, politely refusing it, with folded hands, not giving any
offense in any manner to the one offering it to me, yet firm in my decision of
not accepting things offered to idols, and I never participate in any religious
functions or gatherings or occasions organized by them to commemorate their
deities or their deceased. God has remained at my side, and kept me safe from
any potential harm that Satan tries to frighten people about when they take
such resolute steps.
Therefore take God at His Word (Hebrews 13:5-6) and see
for yourself the faithfulness of God.
“Know Jesus, Know Peace; No Jesus, No
Peace!”
P.S. All Bible quotes are from the New King James Version
unless stated otherwise.
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