And Naaman was enraged! Look at Naaman’s response:
- Does he know how important I am? He didn’t even come directly to me.
- Pride hinders us from our breakthroughs. Naaman was focused on his status and not on the God who could heal him.
- He could’ve healed me right then when it was convenient and easy for me.
- We have to be careful that we are not placing our will above God’s will, expecting Him to move on our schedule, His will but our way.
- And then I have to go to the river Jordan to wash? What sense does that make?
- We have to be mindful that God’s ways are not our ways. We cannot begin to understand how He does what He does. It doesn’t have to make sense to you, just do what He said to do!
In verse 13, Naaman’s servants came to him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you do to something difficult, you would have done it. So why don’t you just do what he said? Go and wash and be cured.”
- Think about that: Why don’t we just do what He said? Naaman received simple instructions, but it wasn’t what he wanted to hear, so he decided to have an attitude.
- Instead of obeying immediately and getting instant results, he chose to complain. (The children of Israel showed us what complaining accomplishes when their eleven-day journey took 40 years.)
- Thank God for Naaman’s servants. It’s important to have people around you to hold you accountable, people who are honest with you even when you don’t want to hear the truth.
How many times have we eventually obeyed God instead of immediately obeying Him?
The Manna Chef 