The Works of God

If you are just joining this series (posted while I’m on vacation – I’ll read comments when I return!), I would recommend reading the first six posts on this subject.

2 Kings 5 is part of the great revelation of God’s majesty, goodness, mercy and delight in himself and his sovereignty over everything.  And it contains some lessons that are applicable to everyone, but ones that I have found particularly helpful as a dad of a child with a disability.

Today deals with the actual cleansing of Naaman, which is what most people focus on as the point and focus of 2 Kings 5.  It is not the point.  That will come later.

2 Kings 5:13-14

But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? Has he actually said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God, and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

In Part 6 Naaman goes away from Elisha’s house in a rage because he has not been received with the honor and respect he thought he deserved.

Fortunately, he has brought people with him.  His relationship with them is such that, even though he is a powerful man in authority over them, they feel like they can bring some common sense to him: will you not do this thing that could bring you what you desire most?  To his credit, he listens to them!  He follows their advice and the instructions he has been given – and God performs a miracle for this pagan Naaman that God is not doing for the people of Israel, at least not as a normal practice.

We need such people in our lives, who will enter into our rage or bitterness or hurt and speak a good work of truth and common sense.  God was good to provide such people for Naaman and I know he has been good to provide such people for me.  Listening to their advice is not always easy, and as parents we must keep the responsibility of discerning what is best for our children. But a good word at the right moment has more than once kept me from doing a foolish thing.

Parents, part of God’s good provision to us are the people in our lives.  Pray that he would provide the right ones to you.

In Part 8, if the cleansing of his leprosy wasn’t the point of 2 Kings 5, what is?