This week's Bible Study - August 19, 2007
When Sickness Strikes
 Background Scripture:
2 Kings 5:1-16
Quote of the Week:
“Health is not valued till sickness comes.”
-- Thomas Fuller
There are some folks who believe that a true believer should never get
sick. Some of them are Christian Scientists, who do not believe in
taking medicine. Their founder, Mary Baker Eddy, wore glasses. Hmmmm.
When I was in college, I played tennis at a small school in Indiana.
One of our competitors was Principia, a Christian Science college in
Illinois. I remember one conference tournament, when a player on my
team went to the student union, looking for some Tylenol. Needless to
say, he got a few looks.
Sickness strikes everybody. Sure, some people appear to be healthier
than others, as some seem to have chronic colds or headaches or other
maladies. Lifestyles, such as drinking and smoking, can lead to
sickness, but even those who maintain exercise routines and eat the
right foods tend to get sick from time to time. Sometimes, it may be a
common cold, but it may also be a more serious illness.
Does sickness imply that a person is living out of God's will? Is there
something that is wrong in the person's life? Some would argue this is
the case, but we've all seen others who are walking holy lifestyles who
encounter illness. What happens when you get sick? How do you handle
everything from being under the weather to having potentially major
illnesses?
Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He achieved
many types of success in his career, and was highly regarded. We all
know folks who are successful. Aram was seen as being a great man in
the sight of his master and he was highly regarded. The Lord had used
Naaman to give victory to Aram. God was at work in Naaman's life in a
powerful way. You would think that God would prosper Naaman in all of
his life. However, Naaman had leprosy. Leprosy isn't as 'popular' of
a disease today, but it is referenced often in the Bible.
To have leprosy made a person an outcast. It was a huge impact on one's
life. There were entire colonies of lepers, who were often living in
the outskirts of town. As people walked past them, they often cried
'unclean!'. Can you imagine what this might do to a person's psyche?
Did Haram appear to be the type of person who would live in such a
colony? A couple of weeks ago, I was with a group in Vancouver. We
drove through downtown, where the homeless population is huge. As we
looked at the people, it would hard to believe that one might be an
otherwise successful businessman.
Bands from Aram raided Israel and took captive several people. One of
the young girls from Israel served Naaman's wife. The girl didn't
really understand everything, but she saw the problems that Naaman had.
Apparently, she was treated very well, so she cared for Naaman's family.
She mentioned that Naaman could be cured of his leprosy, if only he
would see the prophet in Samaria.
Naaman heard of the potential cure. I'm sure he was willing to do
whatever was needed to cure the disease, or even hope to cure it. As
the saying goes, "Desperate times call for desperate measures". As
committed as Naaman was to the army and as successful as he was, when he
asked the king about what he should do - the king also showed some sign
of faith or desperation. He wanted Naaman to be healed. The king
prepared a letter to the king of Israel. As parents, we've all written
permission letters for our children to do things. As a parent, I've
been in a situation where my daughter had to write a permission letter
for me to pick up her check from work. Naaman carried a letter from the
king.
Naaman left and took with him much silver and gold and clothing. He
took the supplies that might be needed to purchase anything that he
needed to get - and to appear presentable. The king mentioned in his
letter that he was sending Naaman so that he could be cured of his
leprosy.
When Naaman reached the king of Israel and gave him the letter, can you
imagine the dilemma he faced? What could the king of Israel do to cure
leprosy? I'm sure he felt as if he was in a no-win situation. I think
back to the wise men in the book of Daniel - who were asked by the king
to give the meaning to his dream, which, by the way, he didn't share
with them. It is one thing to say what something means, but it is
another thing altogether to say the dream and then interpret it. The
king of Israel tore his robes and complained that this was an attempt to
pick a quarrel with Israel. He obviously knew of the success of Naaman
and Aram, and he didn't want any part. He knew that he had no control
over curing someone from leprosy.
The king couldn't do anything, but Elisha, the man of God heard the
dilemma of the king and sent him a message. He asked for the leper to
be sent to him, as he was God's prophet in Israel. What the king could
not do - he could not do - but God could do. I doubt that Elisha went
around healing everyone of any malady, but at times, God's power was
upon him to show some purpose. The king was skeptical, I'm sure, but he
sent Naaman to the house of Elisha.
The procession showed up at Elisha's house - all of the horses and
chariots - quite a production. Can you imagine the neighbor's reaction?
We've all seen ambulances or police cars or fire trucks at a residence
and slowed to take a look. What would you do if it looked like a
warrior from another country showed up with all the fanfare at your
neighbor's house?
Elisha didn't even go to see Naaman. He sent a messenger. I can
imagine Naaman was none too pleased about what had happened. He had
come all of this way and wanted to be healed, but the prophet wouldn't
even see him - he sent a messenger. The messenger had a word for Naaman
- go and wash seven times in the Jordan - your flesh will be restored
and you will be cleansed. Does this sound like sound advice for a
leper? You have to realize that the Jordan River was not actually
clean and pristine. It would be like sending someone to wash in a gully
someplace - with dirty water. What would this require? Faith and
desperation. Well, Naaman was desperate, but not that desperate.
Naaman got angry and was going away. He was put off by the fact that
Elisha wouldn't even come out to talk to him. He must have expected a
big show with Elisha calling on the name of the Lord and some lightning
bolt from the sky cleansing him - some grandiose manner. Or, to be
touched by the prophet - but to send a messenger? And, to go to the
river of Jordan - this filthy river? If it was washing he needed, why
not wash in the rivers of Damascus which were better than any river in
Israel? He was indignant at the way he was treated and left in a rage.
He took his ball and went home - or at least started that way.
Before Naaman got too far, his servants pled with him. He had come so
far, hoping that he would be cured of his leprosy. Obviously, he wanted
to be cured. The servants took a risk in trying to appeal to Naaman,
but they said that if Elisha had said to do some great thing - would he
have done it? I believe was looking for some grandiose thing to happen,
but to go and wash in the river of Jordan? The servants said that he
had been told to wash and be cleansed. Why not?
Naaman must have reconsidered. So, he went down to the Jordan and
dipped himself into the river. Once - nothing. Twice - nothing. I'm
sure he was hoping to see some sign of success, but nothing. Each time
he dipped, he probably looked and it probably took some coaxing for him
to keep dipping. Seven dips, with nothing appearing to happen for the
first six, required him to have some measure of faith, and to keep
trying. I'm sure he had some ideas of how to treat Elisha and the king
of Israel, if he had stooped to this level and was not clean. However,
he dipped the seventh time - and his flesh was restored and it became
clean like a young boy.
You have to know that Naaman was relieved - and grateful. He went back
to Elisha and stood before him, proclaiming the God of Israel to be
greater than any other god. He wanted to give a gift - likely the
silver and gold and clothing which he had brought with him. However,
Elisha answered that he would not accept a thing, even upon the urging
of Naaman.
Naaman had been healed, when he surely expected nothing of the sort to
happen. He was willing to try anything - almost anything. It took
persuasion from his servants to get him to stick with it.
Closing
Sickness still occurs today. Even the greatest believers of our time
still deal with everything from colds to diseases to cancer to eventual
death. They may be successful in parts of their lives, but we are all
feeble and dependent upon God's gracious hand in our lives. However,
we all have seen how God can bring miracles of healing in the lives of
people, even today. It doesn't happen always, but God still is at work.
There are many other parallels to this lesson that we would do well to
think about. When you are desperate, where do you turn? Naaman was
desperate, but he knew of nowhere. It was a servant girl that provided
the answer. Some of us are like that servant girl. Our position may
not be all that great, in the world's eyes, but we know the Redeemer and
we know the Maker of all things. We walk around with the hope of the
Lord in our hearts and souls and minds - are we willing to share that
with others? Everyone needs that hope, but some will never know,
unless we share with them.
Naaman, himself, was faced with a situation to do something that
admittedly didn't make sense. Why bother? Are we like Naaman at times
- wanting to find the answer, but unwilling to follow through with what
we've been shown? I can relate to Naaman at different points in my life
- where I gave up before God really worked to the extent that he could
have. Naaman was ready to leave. And, he would have, had it not been
for other servants who encouraged him to continue. When he followed
through, he found healing.
Some are like those other servants. What are you like when someone is
seeking God and not finding what they wanted? Do you give up along
with them? Would you have been the servant who told Naaman to get his
things - they needed to leave and get back to Aram - or would you be the
ones who convinced him to follow through? We all face different types
of advice today - some tell us to give up and find out own 'happiness' -
we don't need to put up with whatever we put up with. Others tell us to
continue on and offer encouragement to us as we go through this life.
Who are you? Are you an encourager to continue, or are you helping
others to quit? We all lead some - where are you leading?
In the end, Naaman found healing. God desires to work in people's
lives, and when we are faithful, he works in ways that we sometimes can
not see. But, we can take comfort in the verse found in Romans 8 - we
know that God causes all things to work together for good for those who
love him!
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