Text: 2 Kings 5: 1 - 14
Naaman's washing in the River Jordan may be seen as a "type" of baptism in today's kingdom of God. I'd like to find out whether such washing was already a common practice in those ancient days, perhaps not unlike the practice of "mikveh" (baptism) among the Jews.
In 5:11, we read of Naaman's anger at not being treated with more dramatic actions but merely being told to go immerse himself in the River Jordan. This aspect of Naaman's washing can be a type of today's cleansing from sin by mikveh or baptism in water.
Going on to 5:12, Naaman's criticism of the inferiority of the River Jordan compared to "better" rivers like Abanah and Pharpar back home in Damascus typifies today's simple act of calling on the name of Yeshua the Messiah during baptism, without any sensational or dramatic rituals, and without need for any grand building, elaborate vestments nor sacred instruments.
The conclusion to this brief observation amy be seen in 5:13, when Naaman's servants approached him and asked him something like,
"Can't you just wash yourself and be cured?"
Note that Naaman had to immerse himself. Nobody could do it for him. Certainly not Elisha the prophet. Also he had to immerse himself in a seemingly humble river called the Jordan. And furthermore Naaman had to immerse himself no less than seven times. Just a single immersion won't do.
Finally, note the significance of the prophet's name: Elisha. It means My God (Eli) saves (sha). This is typological of the name of our Messiah, Ye - shua or Yeho-sha (Yehovah saves).
Brothers and sisters in the Messiah. Have we washed ourselves in the Name of our Messiah "Yehovah saves"?
