Who Led Him To The River?

1
Who Led Him To The River?

• 2 Kings 51-3 A Jewish handmaid began
• This girl had been removed from her home and
  family by a Syrian raid.
• She had good reasons to not help Naaman (Love)
• She had faith in the power of Elisha
• The majority of people who visit us come because
  they were invited by a member
• How many Christians can supply a name

2
Who Led Him To The River?

• 2 Kings 54 Naamans Wife
• And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus
  and thus said the maid that is of the land of
  Israel.
• Appears a third party heard the maid and told
  Naaman (no credit to the wife)
• Other versions translate the one as telling the
  king (which connects to verses 5-6)
• This would suggest the wife told Naaman, and
  Naaman told the one who told the king

3
Who Led Him To The River?

• The influence of the family can be the biggest
  deterrent to obedience
• Any gospel sermon can be undercut by the
  hypocrisy of the home (teens, spouse)
• 1 Peter 31-6 converted by conduct of wife
• Do we distract from Christ when visitors enter
  the building?
• Friendly or cold, superior, aloof

4
Who Led Him To The River?

• 7 Israels King least faithful (maid, wife,
  Naaman, one, Syrian King)
• Protocol, Permission, Detour?
• 8-10 a messenger
• He could have given inaccurate instructions
• He could have refused to help this Syrian deeming
  him unworthy of the healing

5
Who Led Him To The River?

• 2 Kings 511-12 (Pride) 13-14 the servants
• Members need to reaffirm the message (dont
  apologize for the sermon)
• Some will leave the building in doubt (excuses,
  preconceptions, pride)
• The servants made a logical argument
• How many sins are never cleansed by baptism
  because no one will reaffirm the message to the
  disenchanted visitor?

6
Who Led Him To The River?

• Jewish Handmaid, Naamans Wife, Messenger of
  Elisha, Servants of Naaman
• All appear to be insignificant (no names)
• Some are likely forgotten when we recall the
  narrative of Naaman
• The failure of any one of them would have
  resulted in Naaman staying a leper