Obeying God’s Command
[I] Passage: 2 Kings 5:10-12
"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 any of the waters of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage".
[II] Sharing:
Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. But he was a leper(v.1). Having heard from a little girl from the land of Israel(v.2) Naaman eventually went to the prophet Elisha expecting his leprosy to be healed(v.9). But Elisha didn't even come out to greet him nor "stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me(him) of my(his) leprosy"(v.11). You see, Naaman expected Elisha to treat him in certain way(I am sure to come out and greet him in order to show some respect) and to heal him in certain way(call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot). But unexpectedly Elisha just sent the messenger and told Naaman to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan river(v.10). So Naaman went away angry(v.11). Not only he had certain expectation from Elisha, he THOUGHT that Abana dn Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus are better than any of the waters of Israel(v.12). You see, to Naaman his thought is more important than God's thought. So he turned and went off in a rage(v.12).
[III] Questions and Reflection:
1. Is my anger righteous before God? Did Naaman had right to be angry at Elisha?
2. Is God's command more important than my expectation and my thought?
3. Am I obeying God's command now?
[IV] Prayer
"Dear Lord, help me to obey Your command.
Help me not to lean on my understanding.
Help me to lay down my own expectation and thought before the cross.
Help me not to be angry at others around me.
May You use me to bring healing in people's heart.
In Jesus' Name, Amen."
<2010. 4. 27.>