In a way, I can relate to Naaman.
Here is a general, albeit of the enemy, who is afflicted with some skin
disease. Perhaps it was eczema like I have, which makes working with the hands
problematic. Perhaps is was psoriasis. Maybe something else. It distressed him
to the point that a girl whom he captured from Israel, told him where he could
find hope. This hope easily grabs his king’s attention to the point that there
is a small processional going with him. I wonder if the king thought, “If
Naaman is this good handicapped, how formidable would he become healed?”
Leading this small parade, he
arrived in Israel, appearing to the king, then only to be directed to where the
prophet Elisha lived, who in turned used one of his butlers as his emissary to
the general. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy. What did he come to see?
That is the question that he
wanted answered. He was expecting something great. He expected a few events.
1. He
expected a grand welcoming. The Prophet
didn’t bother to greet him. Naaman was too proud.
Yet what Naaman
learned was something of what faith is. Though he came in pomp, he was to come
to God. Too often we can begin to think more of ourselves than we ought. God is
not lucky to have us. Rather, we are blessed that He welcomes us, just as we
are. Perhaps the reason that the servant met Naaman instead of the prophet was
that Naaman was unclean with his skin disease. It may not have been a matter of
arrogance.
Don’t dismiss
how we come before God. Pride always comes before the fall is what the Proverbs
teach us. Paul taught the church in Corinth that love is not proud. Jesus said
blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. When we first accepted
Christ, wasn’t it from the point of our realization of our needs, our
brokenness before the Lord?
2. He
expected a grand showing. God doesn’t
serve us. We are to serve and honor Him.
Naaman expected
the prophet to come out, to command the healing. He didn’t understand the nature of God. God is
not some genie. God is great, holy being. In previous chapters we saw Elisha’s
predecessor, Elijah, have a battle of the gods, if you will. The prophets of
Baal and Asherah called on them to consume the offering. Yet nothing happened.
For all that great show, not even an ember appeared. Yet for Elijah, a small
prayer and God showed His glory, because Elijah’s prayer wasn’t for his
benefit. It wasn’t so people would revere him but would turn back to God.
People today say
that if God is God, then let him continue to prove it. Stop the wars. Stop the
natural disasters. Yet we missed it. How did Elijah hear God? It wasn’t in
power, but in the small whisper. God’s miracles often come through quiet
prayers and are only seen when people look for them. Today, God uses His
children to be instruments of healing and grace.
3. He
expected a grand feat. Yet his task was simple. Dip in the Jordan River 7
times. Again, we can look back at how religions tend to work, through feats of
prayer, through posturing, through offering. They tend to be done because the
worshipper is seeking his god’s favor. Yet our God doesn’t ask us to make a
showing. Jesus tells us to pray in our closets if that is needed to keep our
prayers focused on God and not ourselves. He dismissed the offerings of the
wealthy and honored the mites of the poor woman. He condemned the babbling
prayer of the righteous man and honored the prayer of the penitent man. It is
the attitude and obedience in the simple that God honors.
4. But
then God did something grand. When Naaman realized what was being required,
doing things in God’s way, his flesh was like that of a boy, strong and supple.
His joy was great when he realized the mercy and grace of our Heavenly Father.
He tried to gift the prophet who refused.
It is the same for
us this morning. So often we seek the great things to happen, that we forget
about obeying the simple. Love God. Will the decision I make bring honor to
God? Am I seeking His will in what I am
about to do, in what I am asking to have happen? Love your neighbor as
yourself. Do you give of yourself not only to your family, but also to
strangers? Even when they raise your ire, or have a completely different faith
set, do you look for ways that you can show them God’s love?
Another take home comes from not
only Naaman but also his servant girl. Her prayer was likely to be restored, to
be able to go home to her family. Yet that prayer didn’t get answered. Yet
despite being where she didn’t want to be, she still honored God and proclaimed
him by telling her master of the prophet in Israel.
From Naaman, he knew where he was
returning. Sometimes there will be a situation not in our control, such as when
the king wants to worship his idol and have his fiercest warrior kneeling next
to him. Even in that moment, his heart is pure before God.
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