The Fourth Wall - Day 24

2 Kings 5

9 So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and waited at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 But Elisha sent a messenger out to him with this message: “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored, and you will be healed of your leprosy.”

11 But Naaman became angry and stalked away. “I thought he would certainly come out to meet me!” he said. “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! 12 Aren’t the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn’t I wash in them and be healed?” So Naaman turned and went away in a rage.

Well, that didn’t go very well!

What was Elisha thinking? He didn’t even come out and see Naaman, who was a pretty important man at the time. And, he was a pretty important enemy. 

This was not at all lost on Naaman at the time. He was angry, and the scriptures say that he left in a rage. Have you ever been in a rage? What did that feel like? Did you ever rage at someone, lose control and simply let your tongue go without reservation or thought? It is not usually a good look. 

But something interesting is happening here. Elisha is so unconcerned about what will happen that he is just telling Naaman to go and wash in the river, the muddy river that is close to his house, and in that way he will be following the will of God and doing what he asks. 

But Naaman wasn’t having any of it. He was a VIP and should be treated as such. He shouldn’t be simply dismissed to go and take his ablutions at the river. It makes sense he was incensed about it. He probably should have been treated with some deference. 

But here is the thing; everyone is the same in the eyes of God. Everyone deserves grace, healing, compassion and love. Naaman wasn’t actually special because of who he was, he was special because he was a child of God, just like all of us. 

And I know the old saying from the “Incredibles” movie, “if everyone is special than no one is special. . .” But I don’t think it works that way with God. Rather, he is constantly showing his love, grace, and mercy to us through his acts of faithfulness to his people. We are considered his people because he created and loves us. Naaman was no different. We are no different. 

1. Have you ever felt special to God? 
2. When and where? What happened to make you feel that way? 
3. Do you feel that way when things go your way? Or do you feel that when they don’t?