Heroes of the Faith, Part 7نموونە

Obey without Understanding

Bible story: Naaman - 2 Kings 5

Theme verse: Proverbs 3:5

Let’s look at a great man who learned to humble himself and allow God to decide how things should be done. Naaman was the general of Aram and was highly regarded by everyone. He was famous and great. It’s easy when you are famous and great to expect God to treat you as a famous person, but God does not show favoritism.

Naaman took the right steps toward God, laying down all his expectations to follow Him. Naaman had leprosy, an awful skin disease. His wife’s servant girl said they should go to Israel where there was a prophet of God. Naaman could have ignored the young girl, but instead he decided to listen and take her advice. God speaks through all kinds of people, and if we are unwilling to listen to those that the world says are smaller and weaker (though in God’s eyes, we are all the same) then we can miss out on what God has for us. Naaman followed her advice and went to Israel in search of God’s help.

Again, at the prophet’s house, Naaman expected to be treated as someone great. Instead, the prophet Elisha sent a messenger to tell him to bathe 7 times in the Jordan river. Naaman was furious, but he again decided to listen to his own servants when they urged him to obey the prophet’s instructions. Don’t let your pride get in the way of pursuing God, even when it doesn’t make any sense to you. In Proverbs we read to trust God instead of trusting our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

The Jordan river was very dirty. Imagine Naaman standing out there in the water. Along the bank were his camels with gold and wealth and all his servants watching him. He was probably tempted to stop after 5 or 6 times, thinking it was silly to do this. But instead, he continued to obey the prophet’s instructions and dip in the river all 7 times.

Then he was healed! He was so excited that all the things that seemed silly didn’t bother him anymore. When you see what God does through your obedience, all the things that didn’t make sense won’t bother you anymore either. Naaman went back to thank Elisha and give him all the gifts he had prepared. But Elisha chose to act in humility as well and declined all the gifts.

Elisha’s servant Gehazi did not choose humility but went after the treasure. Instead of living happily with extra treasure, Gehazi lived with leprosy for the rest of his life because of it.

Jesus said to humble yourself and let God lift you up instead of lifting yourself up (Luke 14:11). Naaman was for a short time famous for all his accomplishments in the Aramean army, but for thousands of years he has been famous all over the world for his obedience to God.

I choose to listen and obey even when it doesn’t make sense.

Questions:

1. Will God really reward us for our works here on earth?

2. If God asked you to do something you don’t want to do, would you do it? Would it be rewarded?

3. Would you do the things you don’t want to do if you could gain the things you want?

Application to Life:

Listen to someone you normally don’t pay attention to. Try to understand their point of view. If they are pointing out something you are doing wrong or something that makes them uncomfortable, listen to them and change your actions.