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News From the Quiver January 2004 |
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Holy Highway, Sacred Road |
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The Sacred Road contains many stories of our Creator and our Savior that help us with our walk today. One story reminds us that we can see great power by humbling ourselves and doing what the Creator asks us to do – no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. This story is in 2 Kings 5 and is the story of a man named Naaman who was a commander in the army of Aram. He was well respected and mighty in battle. But he had a disease called leprosy, which is a life-threatening skin disease. A young girl from the tribe of Israel had been taken captive in one of the battles and was now servant to Naaman’s wife. One day, this young girl suggested that if Naaman could go see the prophet Elisha from her tribe that he (Naaman) could be healed of this leprosy. Naaman went to his king and told him what the servant girl had said. The King gave Naaman his blessing to go away for a time to Samaria and sent him off with a letter of commendation to the King of Israel. So Naaman and his servants set out for Samaria. When Naaman finally arrived at the door of the prophet Elisha, he was greeted by a messenger from Elisha. Elisha sent the messenger to tell Naaman to go and wash seven times in the Jordan River and that if he would do this, his flesh would be restored and he would be healed. Naaman left angry. He said ‘I thought surely this man of God would come out to me, stand and call on the name of His God, wave His hand over me and I would be healed! Aren’t the rivers of my homeland cleaner and better than this muddy Jordon or any of the rivers in Israel? Can’t I go wash there?’ He was outraged. On the way home, Naaman’s servant said to him ‘If this man of God had asked you to do some great thing wouldn’t you have done it?
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How much more if he tells you to simply wash and be clean.’ So Naaman went to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times. When he came out his skin was cleansed and like that of a young man. He was healed by yielding his will to a mighty God who asked him to do a seemingly foolish and insignificant thing. Jesus also taught us about obedience. Not just with his words, but also with His deeds. He demonstrated complete obedience to a plan of salvation that would bring him humiliation, great pain, and physical death. He knew fully what submitting to God’s plan would mean and it is said that He sweat drops of blood when He prayed for the strength to yield His will to the Father’s. In the end, Jesus was able to yield and say ‘But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?’. The Father had a plan that would restore life to Jesus and would restore life, cleanliness, and healing to all those who believe and trust in the name of Jesus. But, couldn’t God just wave his hands over us and save us. Isn’t there a better plan of salvation we could follow? Why can’t we just trust that God is a good God and forget about this Jesus and believing in Him and trust God to save us and cleanse us another way? I think that’s what Naaman would have said. Naaman needed his servant to speak up and remind him that it’s not always about doing the great things – but doing whatever God asks us to do. This is often a season of reflection. Looking back on what we have done or not done in the past. Looking ahead to what we want to do or want to do better. As we reflect, consider whether the power of the Mighty God we serve is evident in our lives or not. If not, then let’s listen real hard for those small things He is asking of us and let’s put aside our big plans and pick up these things that he wants us to do. And then let’s see the power come. Let’s get cleansed. Let’s be healed. And let’s help our Naaman’s to wash and be clean.
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