Big Ego, Bigger God

Friday January 30, 2015

I once had a boss who wielded the ultimate power in our organisation. It was his goal to make sure we never forgot who was in charge. Though he was successful in gaining an iron grip within our office, the net result was that this man was very lonely. How different it could have been if he had humbled himself and formed friendly relationships with his employees!

Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram (2 Kings 5:1), one of Israel´s enemies. The New International Version says that Naaman was "a great man", which literally can be translated a "big man" (v.1). He had won important battles and conquered powerful foes. This big man, though a mighty warrior, also suffered from leprosy. He could wield a blade of iron and crush opposing enemies, but he couldn´t stop his body from breaking down due to disease.

There comes a moment for each of us when we arrive face to face with our limitations or the horrible reality of a world out of our control. We can´t protect our kids. We can´t stop the disease. We can´t keep a relationship from failing.

Naaman´s Jewish slavegirl told his wife that the prophet Elisha could heal him (v.3). But when he went to see Elisha,, the prophet´s strange instructions were for the great warrior to wash seven times in the Jordan River (v. 10). Naaman left in a huff, disturbed that Elisha asked him to do such a humble, random thing (v. 11). The military man´s officers, however, convinced him to go through with the simple plan (v.13). He took the plunge (several times) and was healed (v.14).

Naaman learned what we all must discover : when we´re overwhelmed by our own "bigness" (our ego), we have no room to receive God. - Winn Collier

Read
2 Kings 5:1-14
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
Now bands from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman´s wife. She said to her mistress, "If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy."
Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from israel had said. "By all means, go," the king of Aram replied. "I will send a letter to the king of Israel." So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read : "With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure hi of his leprosy."
As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said," Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!"
When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message : "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha´s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, "Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed."
But Naaman went away angry and said, "I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn´t I wash in them and be cleansed?" So he turned and went off in a rage.
Naaman´s servants went to him and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!" So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

John 3:27-30
To this John replied, "A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. You yourselves can testify that I said 'I am not the Christ but am sent ahead of him.' The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom´s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less:"

Question to Ponder
How have you been tempted recently to worry too much about yourself and your reputation?
How does Naaman´s story affect your view of what God is doing in your life?

**Article taken from ODJ (Our Daily Journey with God) Dec 2014 - Feb 2015 issue