We all can have expectations of how God should perform a miracle in our lives or how God should come through in a situation. We can get disappointed or even upset when God does not work it out in the way we want Him to. In my daily Bible reading, I read the story of Naaman in the book of 2 Kings, he has been going through the pain of having leprosy. A girl told Naaman that there might be a prophet in Samaria who could cure his leprosy and Naaman was excited about that. The king of Aram, who Naaman was working for, gave him a letter to give to the king of Israel so he could cure his leprosy. When Naaman gave the letter to the king, he was not happy. According to 2 Kings 5:7, “When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man is sending word to me to cure a man of his leprosy” (New American Standard Bible).
This was Naaman’s first disappointment. At that time there was a prophet named Elisha when he heard about Naaman’s story and how the king of Israel was angry, Elisha called for Naaman to meet him. According to 2 Kings 5:9, “So Naaman came with his horses and his chariots and stood at the doorway of the house of Elisha”. Elisha told Naaman to go and wash at Jordan seven times so his flesh would become clean and be cured of leprosy. Naaman became angry instead of immediately doing what Elisha asked him to do because he had a different expectation of how God should heal him. According to 2 Kings, “But, Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Behold, I thought, ‘He will surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the leper.”
How many times we can be like Naaman, we want God to work in a situation in the exact way we want Him to, and we get disappointed, or even upset when He doesn’t. During those times, God wants us to obey Him and go in the path He takes us. In this story, Naaman continues to question the river Elisha chose for him to wash himself and even suggested God and Elisha about other rivers that are better or much cleaner than the Jordan river. It’s easy for us to give God suggestions based on what we think is the best path for us.
I loved how Naaman’s servants encouraged Naaman to listen to what the prophet told him. I also thought about the importance of having friends who can speak wisdom and truth in our lives. At the end, Naaman obeyed, washed himself seven times in the Jordan River, and was cured of leprosy. Naaman didn’t become clean in the way he wanted, but in the way God wanted him to be clean. We don’t know why God chose Jordan over the other rivers. In the end, it’s about obeying God in the path that He is leading us, even if it does not make sense, because He is good and He knows the bigger picture, so we can trust Him. According to Isaiah 55:8-9, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.”
I love that you talked about Namaan!! This is so good!! He was desperate for relief but still questioned God’s plan. How often do we do that?
This is such a richly written piece, Priscilla. Please keep writing. We need your perspective.
That’s so true! Thank you so much for your encouragement Monika!