If the prophet had told you to do some great thing,
would you not have done it? (2 Kings 5:13).
During a time of uneasy
détente between Aram and Israel, Naaman – one of Aram’s most valued generals – came to the prophet
Elisha to obtain healing for his leprosy. Naaman was a proud man, who had
earned his position and commanded respect from both his subordinates and his
superiors.
When his entourage stopped at Elisha’s house, the prophet
didn’t even come out to meet him. He sent word that in order to be healed,
Naaman was to wash himself in the Jordan seven times [3]. The general was
offended. It would be like expecting to see the doctor and having the
receptionist hand us a prescription through the glass: Take two aspirin and
call us in the morning.
At the very least a man of Naaman’s standing deserved a
face-to-face. He expected Elisha to make a big deal over his visit and summon
his very best magic to heal his leprosy. Not only did he want the answer to be
harder than Elisha made it out to be, he wanted to play a role in his own healing.
“Give me a quest; I’ll do anything. Go wash in the river? Are you serious?”
We’re just the same. Give me step-by-step instructions.
I’ll follow any rule to make myself right with God. Naaman needed to learn
the same lesson we need to learn: It’s not about proving ourselves worthy. It’s
about accepting God’s free gift of grace.
TODAY’S MEDITATION
How’s your quest coming to
earn God’s favor? Isn’t it time you gave it a rest?
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