What is your expectation for healing and salvation from your sin and misery? Do you expect a great show like the world and many churches give and Naaman expected for his leprosy?
Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha’s house. And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, “Indeed I said to myself, He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.”
II Kings 5:9-11 NKJV
Several years ago a friend from work visited my church. When we talked afterwards he said he expected to see a large worship team up front, perhaps video screens, and more of what he had seen on TV and in other churches. He expected the church to put on a good show. Naaman expected something similar from the prophet who would heal him of his leprosy. He expected a good show of his healing.
Up until this point we have focused on the sovereign call of the Gospel. By His own power, will, and decree God ordains all His creatures and all their actions so that in the fullness of time each of His own might hear the Word of God and be saved. God used Israel’s sin and idolatry over many years to give its enemies victory in battle. On one such occasion a little Israelite girl was taken captive and put in the house of General Naaman where she testified to Naaman’s wife of the power of the living and true God. God allowed Naaman to be stricken with leprosy that he might seek healing from the land of his enemy. Naaman heard the word of the little girl and went to Israel with a letter that caused unbelieving King Jehoram great distress before Elisha called for Naaman. Through all of these events of history foreordained by God the great general and leper of Syria arrived at the door of Elisha’s house. He did not arrive alone or without expectation for what might come to pass.
