Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 4; 2 Kings 5; Psalm 83; 1 Timothy 2
Scripture: 2 Kings 5:17-19
17 "If you will not," said Naaman, "please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. 18 But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I bow there also — when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this."
19 "Go in peace," Elisha said.
Observation: This is one of those great stories where God reaches out to include the unincluded. Naaman is an Aramean, not from the tribes of Israel. In fact, his nation had attacked Israel and his master had obtained a young Israeli girl as a slave! (This is how Naaman learned about Elisha.) Nevertheless, God uses Elisha to heal and teach Naaman. He is not only healed but is converted to follow the true God.
What is most interesting to me is this exchange between Naaman and Elisha after Naaman is healed. He asks Elisha if he may take back with him a load of dirt from Israel so he can to create an altar back at his own home on which to offer sacrifices to the God of Israel. And then Naaman asks for forgiveness for future acts of idolatry! He knows he will accompany his master to worship the idol Rimmon and that when his master bows, Naaman too will be expected to bow. He doesn't want to do it, now that he knows of the true God, but he feels he must and asks to be excused from the penalty for idolatry. Elisha grants his request!
Application: Man looks on the outside, God looks on the heart. Naaman would be bowing to Rimmon on the outside, but bowing to Jehovah God in his heart. I'm not saying that we should accept, allow, or approve any and every unrighteous behavior. I am saying that God's answers often do not fit into our neat little boxes.
Did God want Naaman to bow to Rimmon? Of course not. But Naaman was taking his first steps as a believer and God wanted to let him grow into his faith without placing upon him demands that he was not prepared to handle. And the Lord knew that Naaman could be an influence for good in the court of his pagan master, the king of Aram.
Bottom line: Be careful not to spout off with trite and prepackaged answers to the tough problems in people's lives. Sometimes there is an unusual solution that may seem to violate some closely held belief. I think it might be wise to ask the question: "Does this idea advance the kingdom of God?"
Prayer: Lord, make us sensitive to the nuances of the Spirit. Your ways are not our ways and Your thoughts are not our thoughts. May our thinking be raised heavenward so we can think and see as You do. Give us wisdom and discernment as we seek to lead others in Your perfect way.
This I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
1 comment:
We are often too quick to judge others. It is important that we all realize our propensity toward arrogance based on a confidence that our paradigm of correct doctrine and practice is absolutely complete and infallible. We would be wiser to hold our tongues and pray before articulating our "knowledge"to others. God may want to reveal something to us that we had not previously understood.
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