Bullets From The Bible 12-15-17
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In 2 Kings 5:5-8 the story of Naaman continues. It reads, Then the king of Syria said, “Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said, “Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.”
And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me.”
So it was, 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? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.”
Naaman is a good and mighty man, but he is a man that has leprosy. He has a terminal disease for which there is not a cure. Yet he has hope because he has been told that there is a prophet in Israel that can cure him.
Apparently Naaman was very important because the king of Assyria sends word to the king of Israel on his behalf. Along with a significant package of gifts the king of Syria makes request that the king of Israel would heal Naaman of his leprosy. The problem is that they were going to the wrong source for healing. While they had the right country, the king didn’t even realize that there was a prophet in Israel that could heal...and therefore he thought they were just trying to pick a fight with him.
There are many times in our lives when we need something...yet really don’t know where to turn. At least Naaman knew that he was in need, as many times people don’t even realize that they have an important need. Sometimes we will turn in the general direction of where we think the solution might be and still miss the mark. Sometimes the “help” that we might get is incorrect or detrimental and yet we might not even realize it until it is too late. Naaman had a need...yet he won’t find the solution with either the king of Syria or the king of Israel.
The story of Naaman will continue tomorrow.
