Underwhelmed with God

Naaman is off.

Here is this self-important leader in Syria with leprosy. His little Israelite maid gives him news that will change his life. She tells him to go to Samaria to see the prophet Elisha and he will find healing.

He goes into action, not by going to see Elisha, but by sending a letter to the king of Israel and packing up a fortune in silver, gold and fancy clothes. This backfires and causes the king to be quite skeptical of Naaman and the Syrians.

Elisha finds out and calls for him. He travels to Elisha’s home and Elisha’s servant comes to tell him how to be healed – dip in the Jordan River seven times.

This infuriates Naaman. He is angry because Elisha didn’t show up personally and perform some majestic ceremony to heal him. On top of it, if the river truly is the way to be healed, couldn’t he have chosen a nicer body of water?

Naaman represents a lot of people today.

They have very deep seeded, troubling concerns, but are more interested in how it all looks on the outside.

When God begins to work on the heart, He isn’t interested in how it appears to the onlookers. He’s interested in bringing about healing.

I don’t think He cares if we are impressed with His methods or not.