This week, I’m looking at the Hebrew Scriptures and in partiuclar 2 Kings 5:1-14. It is the story of Naaman being healed. A familiar story to many, or has time allowed the detail to be lost?
We may not ask people to take a dip in the Clyde 7 times, just show that love of God every time.
Who was he?
So here we have Naaman, an influential general who has a number of victories under his belt. However, he has a skin disease. There’s a female hostage who has joined Naaman at his home. The myths of Israel come out in conversation and Naaman is intrigued at what might be, a cure to rid him of this dis-ease, to give him ease again.
He takes with himself substantial amounts of money and currency and clothing – this isn’t a short journey it would seem. When he meets with the King of Israel he is perplexed; rulers are powerful but not all-powerful. This one acknowledges his limitations and one of his courtiers, Elisha, offers to help. Naaman is told to go to Elisha.
He wants the solution now
Upon arrival, expecting an instant cure – don’t we all? – he is told to wash himself in the nearby river 7 times. Is that it? Would you like to offer a repeated dip in the River Clyde to the next person?
He eventually complies, and is cleansed. What a non-believer has let God in?
A woman was involved? 🙂
So a non-person, a servant, dare I say this…a woman, points to the way of life. Neither the king nor the riches of anyone in the country could signpost as well as this person. She shares what she knows, not owns.
Notice also that Naaman hasn’t changed his faith, his allegiance to a king or country, or swapped cultures. It is like two different faiths sharing what’s good, speaking from one to another without seeking reparation.
This captured property has the courage to share her knowledge with her captor.
Naaman then accepts that knowledge, not upset at the subversion of hierarchy, even to accept that he is to do what the King of Israel suggests.
God works in mysterious ways it is said. Here a woman speaks and someone listens. The desire is not to upturn power, demonstrate one is better than the other, but to offer the goodness, the love of God. She has let God in to that life.
Evangelism
When we think of evangelism do we seek someone to do as we do, follow what we think, convert to our faith? I suppose that’s what we may desire – an immediate response. Perhaps this passage asks of us something different. Is it that we might offer what understand, offer that knowledge that we have gained of the goodness of God to others. Then let them decide and pursue.
Jesus speaks of Naaman in Luke 4:27 “There were also many persons with skin diseases in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha, but none of them were cleansed. Instead, Naaman the Syrian was cleansed.” Jesus doesn’t claim that Naaman was converted, adding one to the number, increasing the size of the church – but celebrates the change in Naaman. Perhaps we might be afraid of evangelism as we believe that we need to do it, when all along it is God. Let God in.
Linking in with Luke 10
We don’t need mega churches. We do not need to be able to learn great swathes of “do this or do that” and all will be well. We don’t need to carry huge loads of money…nor have sandals 😉
We offer that love of God to all who we meet, all, even those of a different faith, of a different persuasion to us, and let God speak into that situation. We do not need to go mob-handed but as we are. The word evangelism, speaking the good news of God, may have taken on the mantle of being old fashioned – but only if we let it. If people are seeking answers, not in what they do but who they are, it is in our being, how we operate, how we speak to others, how we love others, that will be so readily seen.
If Naaman can be healed, may we offer that peace of Christ to all whom we meet this week. We may not ask people to take a dip in the Clyde 7 times, just show that love of God every time. Let God In
If you wanted to find out what Naaman returned with read here: https://www.logos.com/grow/important-detail-forget-story-naaman/
I found the dialogue interesting