![]() ![]() If, in relating to my wife, I put all my energy into the big events - the birth of a baby or an annual holiday or her birthday dinner or something - and didn’t bother with the ordinary, day to day, little things of relating, the relationship wouldn’t last long. I didn’t bother with such things for years because they were so simple I didn’t imagine they’d be of much value.īut when you think about relationships, whether with God or with some significant other in your life, it’s the the simple things that determine whether or not they are healthy and life-giving. I could give several years to tough ministry on the streets of St Kilda, but not bother to meet once a month with a spiritual mentor. I could do eight years of theological study, but not bother with half an hour a day of silent prayer. If something was so simple it didn’t seem like it would do much then I skipped it. Done the heavy miles and skipped the simple steps. How could such a simple act possibly have such extraordinary consequences? Too simple to take seriously really, isn’t it?. It was a simplistic as the Church saying that if we are dipped into water in the name to the triune God, we’ll be healed of sin and united to Christ. It was too simple… He nearly missed out on the healing because it was too simple. There’s another reason I sympathise with Naaman. And the story tells us that Naaman walked from the waters not only healed in his body, but also giving praise to the one true God of all the earth. He could be rude and arrogant at times, and I think his refusal to even meet Naaman was a rather ungracious and unnecessary act, not at all consistent with the gracious hospitality Jesus commended in our gospel reading (Luke 10:1-11, 16-20).įortunately, Naaman lets himself be persuaded. I can sympathise with him too, because Elisha is not one of my favourite Biblical characters. The great general bathing in the muddy waters of the Jordan at the command of a Hebrew prophet. “Go and wash in the river, and you will be healed.” But he is unprepared for the simple formula offered by Elisha. He is prepared to pay millions of dollars and, as one of his servants points out, he is prepared to perform any number of difficult tasks to receive this gift from God. ![]() He has travelled a great distance to get a cure for his terrible disease. “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and you will be healed.”Īnd Naaman is furious. and Elisha won’t even come to the door! Instead, Elisha sends a servant to give the great general the simple formula. According to this scripture, he, and his king, were willing to pay millions of dollars, measured in today’s currency, if the disease could be cured.Īfter a couple of twists in the story, Naaman presents himself before the humble home of Elisha the prophet, millions of dollars in hand to pay for the cure he so desperately wants. Apparently as a Syrian, he didn’t, but his disease was still considered both hideous and incurable. Had Naaman been a Israelite, he would have been required to live apart from everyone else. His greatness is disclosed in the fact that he was the commander of the King’s army despite being a leper. We know he was a great general even though we are told little of his campaigns. Naaman was a great general in the Syrian Army. “Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan and you will be made clean.” But the person receiving this simple formula was not a simple man. A sermon on 2 Kings 5: 1-14 by Nathan Nettleton, 8 July 2001
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |