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- Apr 25, 2006
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Naaman (3)
'... though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.' 2 Kings 5:1
Sometimes God uses our circumstances to let us know He's in charge; not us. Naaman was used to hanging out with royalty, used to flashing the cash to get what he wants. So he goes confidently, not to Elisha but to the king of Israel, overloaded with expensive pressies and a letter from his king saying, '"With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy."' Naaman's thinking, 'Get in! It's not what you know it's who you know!'
Naaman believes he can buy what he wants. But only God could help Naaman and we can't buy God's power. We have to accept it. He chooses to help us for free, because He loves us. Naaman is used to his grand status, used to mixing with the 'big-wigs' while others ran around after him; because he was, 'a mighty man'. So he's a bit put out when: first, he has to make the trip to Elisha's house.
Second, Elisha won't even speak to him directly; he tells his servant to speak to Naaman on his behalf. And third, he's asked to make himself look foolish, '"Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy."' 'Of all the rivers', Naaman is thinking, 'why that one? It's minging!' But Naaman needed to get over himself here and recognise that without God he was nothing. He simply needed God.
written by Bob Gass
'... though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.' 2 Kings 5:1
Sometimes God uses our circumstances to let us know He's in charge; not us. Naaman was used to hanging out with royalty, used to flashing the cash to get what he wants. So he goes confidently, not to Elisha but to the king of Israel, overloaded with expensive pressies and a letter from his king saying, '"With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy."' Naaman's thinking, 'Get in! It's not what you know it's who you know!'
Naaman believes he can buy what he wants. But only God could help Naaman and we can't buy God's power. We have to accept it. He chooses to help us for free, because He loves us. Naaman is used to his grand status, used to mixing with the 'big-wigs' while others ran around after him; because he was, 'a mighty man'. So he's a bit put out when: first, he has to make the trip to Elisha's house.
Second, Elisha won't even speak to him directly; he tells his servant to speak to Naaman on his behalf. And third, he's asked to make himself look foolish, '"Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy."' 'Of all the rivers', Naaman is thinking, 'why that one? It's minging!' But Naaman needed to get over himself here and recognise that without God he was nothing. He simply needed God.
written by Bob Gass
