But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash and be clean’? So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. 2 Kings 5: 11-14, NRSV.
Thank You God, for dealing with us according to Your will. Please teach us how to submit, as we study Your Word. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
I am almost certain that this title rings a bell in many minds. As human beings, it is not second nature, but our nature, to want to do things, and have things go, our way. We have tried living by “our rules,” and sometimes, we are successful. Though I would venture to say, that behind every true success story, is always God. That is, holistic success. Success that blesses mind, body, and our emotions, our inner-most being. Behind this complete success, is always, God.
Success is manifold. That is, there are different components to it. Your project, may bring you lots of money, but no satisfaction. You may be acclaimed by the multitudes, yet you are not at peace with yourself. You may gain the admiration of outsiders, yet lose your own family. But I believe that the greatest tragedy of all; is if we should gain the whole world, and yet, lose our souls (Matthew 16: 26).
Perhaps, that is why some of the things that the Savior allows to come into our lives do not make any sense whatsoever, to us. Maybe that is why some of the prayers that we were sure should have been answered, were never answered. Who knows why that friendship did not work out; it was so perfect! Maybe all the LORD is trying to do is save us, His way; which is not compatible with our way!
Naaman’s words reveal a thing or two, about himself, “[By all means], I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! Certainly, that is the way you treat a man who is the “commander of the army of the king of Aram. [One who is] “a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram . . .” (1). Perhaps, that is the reason, that after all of these accolades, comes the statement, “but he was a leper” (1, KJV).
I say this to myself, very emphatically: God’s goal, is to save you, period! Whatever it takes! He is Savior! That is what He does – He saves! Because His ways are not our ways, His methods may not be readily accepted; or even recognized, as an instrument of salvation! “Some of us may need thorns in the flesh in order to be saved.” It is going to be okay, if we can just remember; if we can only believe, that “His grace is sufficient!”
I am sure that when Naaman saw the muddy waters of the Jordan river, he must have thought to himself, “What is this man thinking, doesn’t he know that my leprosy could become infected, by dipping in this dirty river?” Remember one thing my friend, God made the Jordan, as well as the Abana, and the Pharpar. He knows what your leprosy needs to be healed. Perhaps He also knows that it is not your leprosy that is the problem. Maybe it is your pride, or something else. But He knows what you need. And if you give Him an opportunity, He will supply it!
We will continue with this conversation tomorrow.