Naaman was a great man with a big problem. He had leprosy. He went to Israel to seek Elisha, a prophet of God, for healing. However Elisha himself did not see Naaman, he sent a messenger to tell Naaman what to do to be healed.
2 Kings 5:
10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy
How many times have we questioned God? We pray and seek Him for an answer and when He does answer, we don't even recognize it? Or when He gives us an answer that doesn't look like what we thought it would, we get angry and pout. We have all been there. "Why didn't you heal her Lord, why didn't you show your might and glory?" "I didn't get that job? This was a perfect opportunity to show you provide!" What was He thinking? ....that is something we sometimes find out later or not at all. But one thing is for sure, He does what is best. Naaman's servant talked some sense into him and he went and dipped 7 times. He was healed. Ultimately, the end result was the same, even though it wasn't how he wanted it to go and not where he wanted it. God will always accomplish His work inspite of us.
There is something else that speaks to me about this story. Once Naaman finished his pouting, he dipped 7 times. What if he had given up after 5? Seven times is a little excessive, don't you think? After 4 times he was probably thinking, "I don't feel any different, I should stop. This is ridiculous." But he didn't and the blessing came. There are so many of us who fasted this year and the answers haven't come yet. Persevere, keep going. Dip one more time. What if Moses had only struck the rock once? Or Hannah or Sarah had stopped praying for that baby? The blessing that God held in His hand would still be there. So be encouraged and keep praying. But be on the look out for His answers to your prayers that might not be in the form you thought they would be. He just might surprise you.
2 Kings 5:
10 Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.”
11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
13 Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” 14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy
How many times have we questioned God? We pray and seek Him for an answer and when He does answer, we don't even recognize it? Or when He gives us an answer that doesn't look like what we thought it would, we get angry and pout. We have all been there. "Why didn't you heal her Lord, why didn't you show your might and glory?" "I didn't get that job? This was a perfect opportunity to show you provide!" What was He thinking? ....that is something we sometimes find out later or not at all. But one thing is for sure, He does what is best. Naaman's servant talked some sense into him and he went and dipped 7 times. He was healed. Ultimately, the end result was the same, even though it wasn't how he wanted it to go and not where he wanted it. God will always accomplish His work inspite of us.
There is something else that speaks to me about this story. Once Naaman finished his pouting, he dipped 7 times. What if he had given up after 5? Seven times is a little excessive, don't you think? After 4 times he was probably thinking, "I don't feel any different, I should stop. This is ridiculous." But he didn't and the blessing came. There are so many of us who fasted this year and the answers haven't come yet. Persevere, keep going. Dip one more time. What if Moses had only struck the rock once? Or Hannah or Sarah had stopped praying for that baby? The blessing that God held in His hand would still be there. So be encouraged and keep praying. But be on the look out for His answers to your prayers that might not be in the form you thought they would be. He just might surprise you.
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