2 Kings 5:6-10: a reflection

6He brought the letter to the king of Israel, saying, “Now when this letter has come to you, behold, I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.” 7When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man sends to me to heal a man of his leprosy? But please consider and see how he seeks a quarrel against me.” 8It was so, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. 10Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall come again to you, and you shall be clean.”

Naaman, a great commander, comes to be healed of his leprosy, expecting, no doubt, some grand and impressive cure. But Elisha does not even come out to meet him; he sends a messenger with a simple instruction: Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and you will be clean. No dramatic gesture, no impressive ritual, just a simple command to wash in an ordinary river. God's means of healing was humble and unimpressive, not the grand thing Naaman expected.

Notice the simplicity of what God appointed: wash in the Jordan and be clean. Naaman had expected something grander, some dramatic gesture worthy of his standing; but God's means was humble, ordinary, unimpressive, a simple washing in a common river. God did not require a great or impressive act; he appointed a simple, humble one, and the healing would come through that. The grandeur Naaman expected was not God's way; God worked through the simple and humble.

That is worth remembering, for we too can expect God to work only through the grand and impressive, and overlook or despise the simple, humble means he appoints. We can want dramatic experiences, impressive solutions, grand gestures; and be reluctant to obey the simple, humble things God actually calls us to. But God often works through simple, unimpressive means, a simple obedience, an ordinary practice, a humble step, rather than the grand things we expect. Do not despise the simple, humble means God appoints, looking only for the grand and dramatic; God worked Naaman's healing through a simple washing. Be willing to obey the simple, humble things God calls you to, rather than waiting for something grander; God's grace often comes through simple means, the ordinary obedience we might be tempted to overlook. Do not require grandeur where God appoints simplicity; wash in the Jordan, as Naaman was told, obeying the humble means God gives, and find his grace there.

Lord, Naaman, a great commander, came to be healed of his leprosy, expecting some grand cure; but Elisha sent a simple instruction: go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and you will be clean. No dramatic gesture, just a simple command to wash in an ordinary river; your means of healing was humble and unimpressive, not the grand thing Naaman expected. Help me remember that, for I too can expect you to work only through the grand and impressive, and overlook or despise the simple, humble means you appoint. I can want dramatic experiences, impressive solutions, grand gestures; and be reluctant to obey the simple, humble things you actually call me to. But you often work through simple, unimpressive means, a simple obedience, an ordinary practice, a humble step, rather than the grand things I expect. Keep me from despising the simple, humble means you appoint, looking only for the grand and dramatic; you worked Naaman's healing through a simple washing. Help me be willing to obey the simple, humble things you call me to, rather than waiting for something grander; your grace often comes through simple means. Keep me from requiring grandeur where you appoint simplicity, Lord; help me obey the humble means you give, and find your grace there.