On Prayer: Naaman’s Need, The Prophet’s Provision                                        II Kings 5:1-14

February 13, 2006                                                                                                         BFUMC

I find this story absolutely delightful.  It is one of those stories that surprises the reader at every turn.  It is something of a comedy of errors.  Let’s just review it briefly.  Then we’ll outline just a few things we can learn from it as they apply to prayer.  Remember, we’ve been looking at the importance and power of prayer recently. 

Naaman was a commander of the Syrian army who was highly respected because of his military success which the Lord allowed.  The text says that the LORD had given victory to the Arameans (Syrians).  Naaman was also a leper.  We see the thread of God’s providential care when the Arameans made off (under God’s guidance according to the writer) with this little Israelite servant girl who had known of Elisha.  This little servant girl ends up as Naaman’s house help.  “If only my master was able to go to the prophet in Israel!  He would cure him!” she said to Naaman’s wife.  God’s work begins with the words of a little servant girl.

Naaman is told, and he requests that the King let him go consult Elisha.  The king – Ben Hadad - sends along a letter with Naaman which Joram completely misunderstands.  In other countries, prophets were in the employ of the court and could be ordered by the court to perform.  In Israel, prophets were free agents – and tended to be excoriating toward the leadership of Israel’s monarchy.  So when the Ben Hadad commands Israel’s Joram to see that Naaman gets cured, he takes these as fighting words.  “Look how he’s trying to pick a fight with me!” he says.  The irony of the story comes into play again: the Syrians have greater faith in Israel’s prophets than the Israelite king.

(Summarize the rest of the story)

There are several life lessons in this story.

OUR NEED, GOD’S PROVISION

First I note that it was Naaman’s need (his leprosy – which means a whole host of skin disorders including ceraiasis).  It is always this way.  This is one of those spiritual principles that always seem to be in play.  It is our need that drives us into the arms of God’s providential plan.  Naaman would never have met Elisha, and never met Elisha’s God (which clearly occurs – if you read on) had he not been a leper.  He would have been happy enough to spend his whole life as a powerful Syrian general who lived in the lap of luxury.  In the lap of luxury, there is little need of God’s word, God’s prophet, or God’s plan.  We’ve got our own plans and we’re happy enough with that.

But when you realize you have leprosy, then your world changes.  Suddenly you are driven by your need to your knees.  It is always this way.  People who have everything they need have everything they want and have little need for God.  It is when life throws its diseases upon you that your find your way to the altar – or to your knees.  It is suffering – sometimes self-induced – that brings you to your spiritual senses.

I’m going to startle you this morning.  I believe I also have leprosy.  I’ve had this increasingly bad rash that . . . no not actual leprosy.  But I’m a leper just the same.  So are you.  If we honestly look into the darkness of our own souls, and examine the darkness that is there, we all find that spiritual leprosy has infected every single one of us.  We have a spiritual need that perhaps can be hidden better than Naaman’s leprosy, but is just as real, just as deadly, just as distasteful.  Have you come to the point in your life where you are able to see it, confess it, deal with it.  You’ll never find God’s prophet and God’s provision until you’ve first identified your spiritual need.

JORAM’S IGNORANCE

Vs. 7  “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy?  Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”

Some people read everything the wrong way.  They interpret everything as an opportunity for a fight.  But what is amazing about this is that it reflects the fact that Yahweh’s prophets were not only not in the employ of the crown, but they were hated by the Crown.  Joram never really considered the possibility that he could simply access God’s power which was readily available.  Instead he read this as an opportunity to fight.  He would have gone to war over this had Elisha not sent him the message, “Why are you tearing your clothes?  Let him come to me that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.”

I think we see ourselves reflected in Joram as well.  We can be so quick to fight and so ignorant and insensitive concerning what God is wanting to do in our lives.  When you are faced with a challenge, with a problem, we panic and think the worst.  How many of you can identify?  Immediately, when faced with what appears to be a challenge to your integrity, you stop and say, “Maybe I need to reinterpret this situation with the hermeneutic of love – assuming the very best about the other person.”  No, it is too easy to assume the worst.  When faced with what appears to be a challenge to your security, you immediately say, “Let’s find God’s opportunity to supply my need here.  Won’t it be exciting to see how God handles this problem I have.”  No, like Joram we think the worst, jump to conclusions and panic.

Well Elisha’s word gets to Joram, wisdom prevails, and Naaman makes his way to Elisha’s house.  But the misunderstandings continue.

NAAMAN’S PRECONCEPTIONS

When Naaman finally goes to Elisha, Elisha doesn’t even come out to greet him.  He simply sends out his servant to say, “Go wash in the Jordan and you’ll be made clean.”  I love Naaman’s response because it is exactly what I would do.  “How dare he not even come out and greet me – great dignitary that I am.  As least he could wave his hand over my skin, call upon the name of his LORD, do something religious sounding and pious.  There are better rivers where I come from.  I’m leaving.”  Again the irony of the story strikes us.  It is his servants who speak wisdom to him.  “Look, if he told you to do something amazing and difficult, you would love to do it.  Why not do this simple thing of washing in the Jordan?”  Naaman has the sense to listen.  He washes, is cured, and converts to the worship of the LORD of Israel.

But it was Naaman’s preconceptions about what should happen that got in his way.  God had a plan, Elisha was on board with it, but Naaman’s arrogance and preconceived ideas got in the way.  Do you realize this is the same today?  Each of us has ideas about what God can and cannot do.  We have ideas about what those who follow God ought to do and behave.  Naaman really wanted the fancy words, the heavy spiritual content of, “Oh Lord of heaven and earth, I call upon you, I beseech you today . . .” along with some sacrifices, hand waving technique, etc. etc.  All he got was, “Go wash in the Jordan” and that come through Elisha’s messenger.  Naaman’s preconceived ideas almost completely cut him off from what God wanted to do in his life.

God is always bigger and better.  God is always working outside the box you have placed him in.  I think God gets so much pleasure in surprising us.  And we work so hard to keep God within perimeters we can understand.  What perimeters or filters are keeping you from what you know God is wanting to do in your life?  Are you ready to let Jesus break down those barriers and bring you into a new day of spiritual life and power?

CLOSING PRAYER