In the Body of Christ, we often talk about how Noah found grace in the sight of God, but we hardly ever mention what the Bible says about him in Genesis 6:22:
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
Noah was an obedient instrument in the hands of the Most High God, and God cherished him for that. To show the extent to which God cherishes obedience, Prophet Samuel in 1st Samuel 15:22 said:
“…Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”

Naaman’s story teaches that only complete obedience to divine instructions is rewarded. Prophet Elijah had instructed Naaman to go and wash in River Jordan seven times in order to receive healing from his leprosy. When he first heard this, he felt insulted for not being given a dignified reception, as Elisha, did not even grant him face to face audience. He also felt insulted at the simplicity of what he was asked to do and where he was asked to do it. He was instructed to wash seven times in “dirty” River Jordan. His initial response to God’s instructions is captured in 2nd Kings 5:12 as follows:
“Are not Abana and Pharpa, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.”
Thank God he had servants who persuaded him to do what the prophet had said. After his servants succeeded in persuading him, the result that followed shows that the pains of complete obedience pale in comparison to its benefits. 2nd Kings 5:14 says,
“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.”

Beloved, only after Naaman’s obedience was complete did he receive his miracle. The loss would have been great if Naaman had stopped dipping his body in the river after the fifth or sixth attempt, since nothing about his situation had changed. I pray that your obedience to the word of God will be complete, and you will receive your miracle thereafter in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.