Day #2107

October 8, 2019

This Tuesday’s Thoughts on Scripture is from 2 Kings 5:13: But [Naaman’s] servants approached and said to him, "Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, 'Wash, and be clean’?"

Naaman, a well-respected and mighty warrior who was commander of the king’s army, has a major problem - leprosy. Somehow he has managed to stay in command, but he’s suffering. One of the young servant girls, who was taken captive in a raid, thinks she knows how to help. The prophet from her hometown would know how to heal him. So the king Naaman serves sends word to the king of Israel for help, and subsequently the prophet sends a messenger to Naaman - go and wash seven times in the river Jordan, and your skin will be restored and you will be clean. Now, one might think Naaman would be thrilled to only have to do what was suggested. But instead he is indignant. Surely this prophet could bother himself to come and tell me this himself!! And surely I could wash in some other river!! And surely there must be more to do than just wash!! Then comes verse 13 - aren’t you being a little silly, the servants seem to say. Would you have been happier if the answer was more complicated?!

Many years ago I was in a council meeting where we were discussing building the new sanctuary. The plan was one wall would contain the “music” area - the organ, piano, choir chairs, mounted speakers, and a very special stained glass window featuring music. But there was a problem - where the speaker “box” would be mounted obstructed a clear view of this special window. What are we going to do? Move the music area? Change the window? Restructure the whole idea? There was discussion, and more discussion, and arguments, and after what seemed like hours of debate, one person raised their hand. "What if the speaker “box” was lowered by about a foot? Would that take care of the problem?" There was dead silence. Surely the answer could not be that simple! Surely it would require a visit with the architect and the interior designer! Surely this "untrained" person could not have a solution! But, yes, that was the solution. Problem solved.

Don’t we often think that when God is involved the "answer" to a dilemma should be as mighty and powerful and awesome as God is? Aren’t we taken off guard when God simply says, be still, all will be well? Thank you, Naaman, for the reminder that God is often in the stillness instead of the storm. 

Blessings.