And Elisha sent a messenger to him saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean” (2 Kings 5:10)
Naaman was a Syrian with leprosy. He heard that this Israelite prophet could heal him. So he traveled to Israel to find Elisha. When he found him, Elisha wouldn’t even come out of his house to meet him. Instead he sent out his servant to give Naaman instructions. The servant told Naaman he had to wash in the Jordan river seven times in order to be clean. And this is my favorite part – instead of being thankful for a cure to his leprosy, Naaman gets ticked off at Elisha.
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. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. (2 King 5:11-12)
He’s mad because Elisha not only didn’t come out to meet him but also told him he had to work for his healing. Naaman is so mad that he decides to just go home until a servant convinces him to go wash in the Jordan – which cured his leprosy.
How many times have I been frustrated with God for not intervening in a situation? We do this a lot, cry out to God to do something while he is crying out to us to do something.
In rural Ethiopia, parents are forced to kill some of their children due to tribal superstitions. There is a ministry dedicated to rescuing and providing a home for these children otherwise destined to die. On their website, drawnfromwater.org, there is a video telling the story of Bale, a young girl they rescued. What would have happened if the team who saved Bale from being tossed in the river would have instead just cried out to God asking, “Why don’t you save her Lord?” It would have been ridiculous to think God should intervene differently when he had already sent them.
When we see children being senselessly murdered in the Sudan or hear about the 25,000 children who have died today of preventable causes, it is easy to look at God and say, “Why don’t you stop this?” And what is God’s answer? Why don’t YOU stop it?
Why should God intervene when the Christian church in America today has already been blessed with the resources required to end poverty?
I struggle with this, I really do. I live in America and I see all the nice things people have. I live in the land of opportunity and I’ve been blessed with many talents and abilities. The truth is, I probably have the potential to be a wealthy man and raise my family in luxury. I would love to have a big house and a fancy boat. But when children and adults are dieing because they don’t have enough food or their water is tainted I wonder if it is right. Is it right for me to sit and enjoy when God is calling me to go and do? If I had that big fancy boat would I just be driving it straight to hell?
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Hi Chad, Your writing is always so thought provoking. This coincides with the message today which I am sure you know. I too, having all my life been in the want stage, have come to realize how unimportant things are. I even struggle to buy anything especially after the messages we have been having lately. There are so many places that our money is needed, where do I draw the line on my own comforts? I love you, you are an amazing person. Mom