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 (2 Kings 5:11 NIV).
Man’s expectations and God’s methods may not always meet. They can meet only when man is ready to meet God in His terms.
Here, Naaman, even though informed to go and see the prophet goes and sees the king instead; because his expectation was that the king was somehow able to cure him. How often, like Naaman, we too try human resources before we try God’s resources?
But when Elisha hears of the king’s reaction he sent a message asking the king to send Naaman to him. When he came Elisha sends a messenger asking him to go and wash himself in the Jordan seven times so that his flesh will be restored and he cleansed.
At this Naaman becomes angry. He speaks out what were his expectations. He is angry because the prophet did not even come to meet him and cure him according to his own ideas.
This is a problem that you and I can face in our relationship with God. We often expect God to act according to our ideas. When God doesn’t do so; but suggests something much simpler and different, we express our disappointment and anger.
Naaman’s logic was also creating problems. He was reasoning that the rivers of Damascus was far better than the waters of Israel. But he forgot that dipping in the Jordan was an act of faith.
Though a simple act; it was enough to cleanse him. It can symbolize the washing away of sins when you dip yourself in the blood of Jesus. No other fountain can cleanse thus.
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More Manna: