By David ReayThursday 14 Jul 2022LifeWords DevotionalsDevotionsReading Time: 2 minutes
But when Elisha, the man of God, heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes in dismay, he sent this message to him: “Why are you so upset? Send Naaman to me, and he will learn that there is a true prophet here in Israel.” So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.” But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage. But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? So you should certainly obey him when he says simply, ‘Go and wash and be cured!’” So Naaman went down to the Jordan River and dipped himself seven times, as the man of God had instructed him. And his skin became as healthy as the skin of a young child, and he was healed! (NLT)
Our God so often directs and prompts us through unexpected means, including unexpected voices. Naaman, the great military supremo of Aram, had leprosy which was deemed to be incurable. He only went to see Elisha after an Israeli slave girl in his household mentioned the prophet’s powers.
When we came to Elisha, the prophet didn’t even bother to greet him personally but via a messenger told him to bathe seven times in the River Jordan. This was an affront to Naaman. He wanted to deal personally with this alleged prophet, but was brought down to earth instead. He wanted to go off in a huff, only to be challenged by his subordinates. They more or less told him to swallow his pride and go into the Jordan. He did, and he got healed.
God’s help to us can come from surprising sources and in surprising ways. There may be people in our lives whom we dismiss or dislike who may have wise guidance for us. God may do things in a surprising way which rebukes our pride. Whenever we cry out to God for help we need to be wide open to the means of help he provides. Unlikely people and humbling circumstances.
Who is it in your life that is being used by God to bring healing and wholeness?
Blessings,
David