Shade Tree Wisdom 1/17/08

We had an inch and a half of rain last night, so this morning, for the first time I can remember, the paper was double-bagged to keep it dry. And it did. Keep it dry, I mean.

There was an army commander who was intelligent, competent, able, an excellent commander whom his king trusted completely and set great store by. The one problem, the commander had leprosy.

Oh, he had tried all the cures that were offered, spent much money and time, but he was still not cured.

This is one of those stories where the impossible becomes possible. For in this commander’s household was a servant girl. She had been caught in a raid and taken from her home. Now she worked in the kitchen. She knew her Boss’ problem, so one day she said to her mistress, the commander’s wife, “If he would travel to Samaria, there is a prophet who can cure leprosy.”

That night the wife and husband discussed this strange statement. The commander told it to the king, and that king said, “Go, I’ll write a letter to the king of Samaria asking him to make you well. I’ll give you leave of absence to make the trip. And take what you need from the royal treasury.”

Well, when he got to the royal presence in Samaria, that King read the letter and showed his dismay. “What’s he trying to do, start a war with us? I can’t heal anyone.”

But Elisha, who was the prophet the servant back in Syria was speaking about, heard this and sent this message to the king, “Why tear your clothes. Have the man come to me, and he will know there is a prophet in Israel”.

So Naaman, that was the commander, came to Elisha’s house. Elisha did not go out to meet him. Instead he sent this message. “Go bathe in the river Jordan 7 times and your flesh will be restored and you will be healed.”

Naaman was upset. He said, “I was sure he would stand there, wave his hand, and cure me. But this? Rivers at home are much cleaner. At least then I would have a clean bath”.

But his servants pleaded, “You’ve come this far. If he had given you a great task, wouldn’t you have done it? Why not do this simple thing since you are here.”

So he did, and was cleaned. (There’s more, but read it in 2 Kings chapter 5)

The point to remember is this. “Obey what the Lord asks”. We find that so hard to do. Jesus complained “Why do you call me Lord, and do not the things that I say?” Luke 6,46. And Samuel said to Saul, “Do you think God wants sacrifices. Empty rituals to show. Obedience is the thing, do what He asks”.

We find it hard to do. He tells us that He has done it all. It is His gift to us. Ephesians 2,. 8.9. Hear Him, and praise and thank Him. Your salvation is done.

GPD 1/17/08