February 13, 2021 (Saturday)
Young children can be a puzzle, wrapped in a mystery, and
boxed in an enigma. While being childish is not recommended, there is a certain
strength in being child-like. Jesus insisted, “Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless
you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get
into the Kingdom of Heaven.” [Matthew
18:3 NLT]
The problem with adults is we are like concrete; all mixed
up and permanent set. Our maturity has given us all sorts of past experience
which directs or clouds our judgement. The fresh perspective of a child is void
of any malice or bias. Let’s open todays story, with a child and see where it
leads.
Naaman was a general for the king of Aram. They had invaded
Israel and taken a young girl into captivity. This girl became the slave of
Naaman’s wife. About Naaman, “He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.” [2
Kings 5:1c ESV] Apparently, the Arameans did not have the same problems with leprosy
that Israel did. Or it might have been a different skin disease then leprosy.
(Leprosy was the common Old Testament term for any skin disease.)
Enter the faith of a small girl, “One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish
my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his
leprosy.” [2 Kings 5:3 NLT] We see
two things. First, the girl loves in a practical way her owner. I wonder if she
had become more of an adopted daughter than a slave. Second, she knew were
Naaman could find an answer to his disease.
Naaman must have been at the point of desperation. After all,
who listens to a little girl? He went to his king relayed the information. The king
sends Naaman with his blessings and a letter. “So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750
pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing.” [2 Kings 5:5b NLT] His intent is to pay for the
services that would heal him.
This event becomes a witness to a godless king, “When the king of
Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes in dismay and said, “Am I God, that
I can give life and take it away? Why is this man asking me to heal someone
with leprosy? I can see that he’s just trying to pick a fight with me.” [2 Kings 5:7 NLT] The king of Israel takes the letter
personally. He panics.
Elisha sends Israel’s king a “backhanded” message, “When Elisha the man
of God heard that Israel’s king had ripped his clothes, he sent word to the
king: “Why did you rip your clothes? Let the man come to me. Then he’ll know
that there’s a prophet in Israel.” [2
Kings 5:8 CEB] While mentioning this heathen general, the point… I think… is
for the king of Israel to know “there is a prophet in Israel.
In other words, a nonbeliever is more likely to believe than
someone who born into the faith. Naaman travels to Elisha’s house, with his
army. “Elisha
sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River.
Then your skin will be restored and become clean.” [2 Kings 5:10 CEB] This chips away Naaman’s pride. He
becomes furious and storms away. Not personally coming out to see him, insult!
Telling him to wash in the dirty Jordan, ridiculous!
Naaman’s servants talk some sense into him. This shows his character and possibly why he was a great general. He is willing to listen to others, no matter the source. “So Naaman went down and bathed in the Jordan
seven times, just as the man of God had said. His skin was restored like that
of a young boy, and he became clean.” [2
Kings 5:14 CEB] Completely humbled, Naaman returned to Elisha. This time Elisha
received him. We see a stunning, non-ethnocentric, slap in the face. God was
not just for Israel.
Remember Naaman was not born into the faith. Remember this
whole trip started with a little girl. “He returned to the man of God with all
his attendants. He came and stood before Elisha, saying, “Now I know for certain that there’s no God
anywhere on earth except in Israel. Please accept a gift from your servant….
Your servant will
never again offer entirely burned offerings or sacrifices to any other gods
except the Lord. ” [2 Kings 5:15, 17b CEB] Now it ends with a conversion to the one true God.
Something to challenge you today… Is it a praise or a shame
when “the heathen” believe and those who are called by God’s name do not?
No comments:
Post a Comment