Word to the Wise
Monday, March 16, 2009 - Monday in the Third Week of Lent
[2 Kings 5:1-15 and Luke 4:24-30]Naaman returned with his whole retinue to the man of God. One his arrival he stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel.
Naaman the Syrian is one of my favorite Old Testament characters! He reminds me of Jonah, another favorite of mine! When things don't go the way he expects them to go, he pitches a fit! However, one thing can be said of Naaman: he listens to his subordinates! It's a good thing he does, because that little serving girl and his other servants were the way in which faith in God would come to him and he would be healed! The serving girl passes the word about Elisha the prophet and the other servants reason with Naaman who thinks the Jordan River is a mere muddy creek compared with the grand rivers of his own country. Big shots need big treatment! A dose of humility was called for and that got the results desired! Jesus uses Naaman as an example of faith. Naaman was not a Jew! But he put his faith (with a bit of persuasion from his servants) in the word of Elisha! Jesus is rejected by his hometown and he points out he is not going to be able to do much for them because of their lack of faith. Even a Syrian like Naaman (or the Syro-Phoenician woman later on, shows more faith than the people Jesus came first and foremost to preach to - his Jewish community! They prove him right by driving him out of town! He doesn't meet their expectations! One lesson I derive from this scripture is to be careful of my expectations. God's healing and word may come to me from an expected and surprising source. Another lesson is to listen to good advice and beward of the noise of pride than can drown out the small voice of wisdom! AMEN
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