If we are people of faith, we have all gone through times when we wonder why God does not just work a miracle in our lives.
When we face difficulties in life, we know God has the power to fix our circumstances. There are times we might have prayed with all our hearts that God would heal a sick family member or friend, intervene to resolve a difficult financial matter, mend a broken relationship, help us find a spouse, or perhaps relieve us of some cross we carry.
When the blessing we desire is delayed, or when we are given guidance on what we might need to do to receive the blessing, we can sometimes grow frustrated with the process. We might wonder why God does not just do what we ask Him, in the way we ask, and with the timing we desire.
2nd Kings tells a story of what we ourselves may have experienced when seeking the Lord’s answer to our prayers.
Naaman was a loyal and respected Commander to the King of Aram. But he was also a leper. When Naaman’s slave girl, who was an Israelite, suggested to Naaman’s wife that her husband could receive a healing from the prophet Elisha, Naaman secured his King’s permission and traveled to Israel. He went first to the King of Israel, and then directly to the prophet Elisha. Here is what happened:
9 Naaman came with his horses and chariot and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent him the message: “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean.” 11 But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand there to call on the name of the Lord his God, and would move his hand over the place, and thus cure the leprous spot. 12 Are not the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be cleansed?” With this, he turned about in anger and left.
13 But his servants came up and reasoned with him: “My father, if the prophet told you to do something extraordinary, would you not do it? All the more since he told you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So Naaman went down and plunged into the Jordan seven times, according to the word of the man of God. His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:9-14)
Some may be aware that this Old Testament story prefigures the Rite of Baptism. As with Naaman, Baptism washes away the effects of sin and restores the Baptized to the innocence of a child, regardless of the age of the person being Baptized.
But there is more to this story than just the benefits of Baptism; there is a lesson about prayer in Naaman’s experience.
Naaman expected Elisha to come out of his house and perform a miracle of healing. But the prophet did not do that. Instead, Elisha suggested Naaman do something very simple. Elisha’s simple instructions required Naaman to do two things.
First, Naaman had to humble himself.
His immediate reaction was one of anger, and he was unwilling to accept the instructions given by Elisha. However, when Naaman’s servants intervened and pointed out that Naaman would have been willing to do something extraordinary if he had been asked, Naaman humbly accepted the correction of his servants.
Secondly, Naaman took action, in total obedience. After arguing that the waters of the rivers of his own land were better than those of Israel, Naaman chose, in obedience, to plunge into the waters of the Jordon.
The main point of this story is not actually the healing of Naaman’s leprosy. That is a blessing to be sure, but physical healing is only temporal – having to do with this earthly life.
What really matters is that Naaman acquired something much more valuable for eternal life. He practiced the virtues of humility and obedience.
But He bestows a greater grace; therefore, it says:
“God resists the proud,
but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Acquiring the virtues is what transforms us into the image in which we were created. If we wish to fulfill our purpose in life, then we will desire above everything to be like Jesus Christ.
Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (Hebrews 5:8)
If our Savior learned the lesson of obedience, then we too should desire to experience what Jesus experienced, what Naaman experienced.
When we pray and do not receive the answer we are looking or hoping for, we may need to look again.
Perhaps the Lord is blessing us in ways we had not even anticipated. Perhaps He is preparing us for eternal life. What greater miracle could we hope for?
Copyright © 2024, Deacon Mark Danis
Image credit: “Naaman in Jordan River (2 Kings 5:14),” Foster Bible Pictures 0131-1, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons