We finish our series on King by looking at the ways Hezekiah and Josiah pursued devotion to God.

The history of the northern kingdom of Israel in 1 & 2 Kings is a long line of unfaithful leaders. Kings who did not trust God for provision, protection or salvation, but instead turned to other nations and other gods to assuage their fears and deal with their biggest concerns. Many centuries later, we do the same thing–we struggle to trust that God alone is sufficient.

Naaman, the Commander of the Army of Syria is the ultimate insider in his own country. But in Israel he is the ultimate outsider – an enemy who has leprosy. But he comes seeking the healing of the God of Israel’s prophet Elisha. What must he do to elicit the favor of this God? Nothing? Just go and wash in the Jordan–a symbolic act of humility and faith that anyone could have done, great or small, even a little girl–like the one who told him about Elisha. The God of Israel offers his generous healing by grace and he wants to heal completely–as Naaman finds out.