2 Kings 5:17 NLT – “Then Naaman said, “All right, but please allow me to load two of my mules with earth from this place, and I will take it back home with me. From now on I will never again offer burnt offerings or sacrifices to any other god except the LORD.”

When I first read this passage of scripture, I was perplexed. The first thing I pondered is why did he want to take mounds of dirt back with him. After looking it up, it jogged my memory how in the Old Testament, in ancient east, the belief among the pagans was that gods are territorial. The gods were over specific regions/lands or had certain jurisdictions. This gives light to why they worshipped so many different gods.

Another example of this is in the book of 1 Kings, chapter 20. Pagan ruler Ben-Hadad had just been defeated by the army of King Ahab, and so they went for a second attack. Here, Ben-Hadad’s officers say:‭

1 Kings 20:23-24 NLT‬- “After their defeat, Ben-hadad’s officers said to him, “The Israelite gods are gods of the hills; that is why they won. But we can beat them easily on the plains. Only this time replace the kings with field commander God’s.

His officers were saying in a nut shell that the only reason King Ahab and his army won is because “their God, is the God of the hills.” If they fought in another location, then they would defeat them. Naaman, as the reflection read, knew this God of Israel had victory in the land of Israel, but he was not certain if this same God, would be present when he traveled back to Syria.

It is truly a blessing as children of God today, He dwells in our temples. In our bodies of clay (dirt), God is with us, wherever we go. 💜