LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 20: God uses unassuming people to do his will_61404

Posted: 6/11/04

LifeWay Explore the Bible Series for June 20

God uses unassuming people to do his will

2 Kings 5:1-27

By David Morgan

Trinity Baptist Church, Harker Heights

Names like Rumsfield, Meyer and Sanchez roll quickly off our lips because of news reports regarding the war in Iraq. But soldiers with names like Beverly, Buddy, Chris and Jason find themselves sleeping in makeshift tents during their year-long assignments. These unassuming soldiers are daily fighting an unpredictable enemy and working to help rebuild Iraq's infrastructure. They toil to improve the quality of life for Iraqis of all religions and ethnicity.

Compare this scenario with the recounting of a general's healing in 2 Kings 5. Naaman, the highest-ranking military official (“commander”) in the Syrian (“Aram”) army, had a chest full of medals and a wall full of citations. He had captained the Syrians to victory over Israel. Note that he is the only high-ranking official to be named. We know from other sources the names of the kings: Ben-hadad of Syria and Jehoram of Israel. The narrator chose instead to emphasize the role played by three unassuming figures in securing Naaman's healing.

A commander struck down

No one doubted Naaman's greatness. Both his master and his troops respected him for leadership and bravery. The narrator alluded to God's sovereignty over all nations when he stated God had given the foreign general victory over God's people. God had used Naaman to bring judgment on Israel. Naaman's name, which means “gracious” or “charming,” suggests a good life. Everything looked good except Naaman's skin. He had leprosy.

“Leprosy” covers a wide variety of skin diseases. It even refers to mold in houses. The root meaning of the term is “to strike down.” Why Naaman was still living at home is perplexing, because for many lepers the first step was quarantine and social isolation. Perhaps he still was in the early stages. But he certainly realized the fate that awaited him. As the disease progressed, one would lose sensation in the extremities and limbs actually could fall off.

A maiden extends hope

The narrator had set the stage for the first unassuming person to help Naaman–the Jewish maiden who attended his wife. The young captive told her master a prophet in Samaria (another name for the Northern Kingdom, Israel) could cure Naaman. The verb “cure” commonly means “to gather together.” It was especially appropriate because Naaman could anticipate isolation and separation as the disease progressed.

Naaman relayed the girl's words to his king who wrote to Israel's king requesting he cure Naaman. The general left for Israel with the letter and expensive gifts.

Receiving the letter troubled the Israelite king. He suspected it might be a pretext for attack.

A prophet gives instructions

Enter the second unassuming character, Elisha. He had heard about Jehoram's reaction and sent word to direct Naaman to him. Elisha's words, “he will know that there is a prophet in Israel” imply he would heal the Syrian.

Naaman arrived at Elisha's house with all the trappings associated with a military commander. Elisha did not appear to be impressed, but sent instructions for healing through a messenger. He told Naaman to “go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (v. 10).

Naaman was livid. No one dismissed him that way. Furthermore, he expected some spectacular activity, but Elisha told him to wash in the muddy Jordan. Naaman pouted that Syria had much better rivers for bathing.

Aides offer advice

The final unassuming people to intervene in Naaman's behalf were his aides. Addressing him as “father” suggests they had a genuine concern for him and his health. They may have been subordinates, but the relationship was more than simply master and servant.

They carefully and tactfully approached the general, mildly rebuking him for being unreasonable. They reminded him he would have performed difficult tasks had Elisha prescribed them. But all Elisha commanded was the simple task of dipping in one of Israel's rivers, albeit a muddy one.

The servants' words had their desired affect. Naaman accepted Elisha's remedy and obeyed the prophet. He went down to the Jordan to wash himself. The words “went down” may suggest a double meaning–he went down physically to the river, and he demonstrated his humility. When he finished dipping himself in the water, he was clean. His skin was in better shape than any man his age. It was like a little child's.

Unassuming people make a difference

A general who was a leper needed help doctors and kings couldn't give. God chose instead to heal him using ordinary people and means.

God often uses the meek and modest to accomplish divine tasks. People may want spectacular, but God uses humble and unassuming. In this case, Naaman returned to his homeland declaring Israel's God was the God of all the earth.

Question for discussion

How have you seen God work?