Good morning, for those in the USA, welcome to tax day. I filed mine a couple of weeks ago. It’s never fun to pay taxes, but I try to focus on God and not worry about money. It isn’t always easy to do.
Jesus tells us we can’t serve God and money (see Matt 6:24). Whenever I focus on finances, I become anxious and worry if I have enough. By keeping my eyes on Jesus, I never worry, and I always have enough. God can meet all our needs (see Phil 4:19).
Today, we’ll examine chapters 5–7 of 2 Kings.
Naaman’s bath
We begin by looking at Naaman. The text describes him as a great man in the sight of his master (v5:1).
I have one master, Jesus Christ. There’s no desire for Him to see me as a great man, only a loyal servant. I hope that my lack of greatness magnifies His grandeur.
For Naaman, he was great because the Lord had given victory to Aram through him (v5.1). He was a vessel. You become a vessel by submitting to God and seeking His will instead of your own. Allowing yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Even prominent men have problems. Naaman had leprosy. This wasn’t a minor issue. In those days, it was a death sentence, and because of it being contagious, they put you out of camp. Others would cast you out and reject you.
Elisha told him to bathe seven times in the Jordan River to be healed (v5:10). He takes offense to this because he expected something more spectacular than taking a bath (v5:11).
Tempering expectations
We like to project our expectations on God.
My disability began thirty-nine years ago. A year or two ago, I preached a sermon on miracles. My legs had been gaining strength while working with a physical therapist, and I felt God telling me I was going to walk again.
I know this is true. Whether here on earth or in heaven, I will walk again.
The point of the sermon, however, was that I, this wretched sinner, have that promise of heaven because He saved me. God forgave my sins, and they no longer hold me back.
Think of a person with paraplegia being miraculously healed. You picture them jumping out of their wheelchair, doing somersaults, and landing a backflip. Why wouldn’t God make it spectacular so that everyone could see and know it was an act of divine healing?
Sometimes God does things this way, like with the paralytic at the pool in John 5:1–9. Most of the time, God stays away from the parlor tricks. He’s God. He doesn’t need to put on a show.
We should believe in Him by faith. Faith is believing without seeing (see Heb 11:1).
Challenge yourself
Naaman’s servant challenges his thinking about this response (v5:13).
Naaman was great because he listened to his subordinates. Pride can prevent us from hearing those who serve us.
We assume, because of our position in society, we’re greater. Everyone is equal, but there are many roles that need to be filled. Each of us has a part to play in the grand scheme of things.
Sometimes we think we can change our station. I don’t have any sign that Gehazi had this intention when he went out and took payment from Naaman. He may have thought he could get away with it.
Elisha was in communion with God. The Lord is watching everything we do. Elisha learned of Gehazi’s actions, uncovering his secret. God unveils all our actions (See Luke 8:17).
Owning our problems
Naaman’s leprosy afflicts Gehazi because of his transgression.
Some of our troubles in life are tests which God gives us to develop character. Others are problems we bring on to ourselves. Actions have consequences.
In chapter six, we see another foreshadowing of Jesus. Elisha makes the ax-head float (v6:6). This reminds me of Jesus walking on water (see Mark 6:45–52).
Later in this chapter, we receive the assurance that we’re never alone. In verse 6:17, Elisha prays God will open his eyes, and the servant realizes hills full of horses and chariots surround them.
If Jesus had summoned his angel army, they could have prevented his crucifixion. They could have wiped out all the Roman soldiers and the Jews who condemned Him.
Grace
He knew we’d only have salvation if He paid the price we owed. His sacrifice was the only thing that saved us, and we’re eternally grateful.
John 10:18 tells us that no one took Jesus’ life, but that He laid it down. It was His gift to us.
Our sin nature makes us all evil, every one of us.
An example of this is in 2 Kings 6:21. “When the king of Israel saw them, he asked Elisha, “Shall I kill them, my father? Shall I kill them?” (NIV).
You can hear the blood lust in his voice.
I hear a child asking for a piece of candy located near the cash register at the grocery store. “Can I have a piece, momma? Can I have some?”
Elisha tells the king, no. Instead, foreshadowing Jesus’ teaching from the sermon on the mount, to love your enemies and do good to them (see Matt 5:44). Elisha tells the king to give them food and water.
Because he takes this action, they stop raiding Israel’s territory (v6:23).
We can have peace if we follow God’s commands.
Are you impetuous? Eagerly seeking your will instead of God’s? Does peace allude you?
As we approach Easter, I urge you to consider the cross and think of what God gave up for you.
