“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. This is the Lord’s declaration. For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9 (CSB)
God can do anything He wants to do and work in any way using BIG dramatic events or simply in a still, small voice. God can provide for His people through unusual circumstances. He can use famous, powerful people like a prophet or king; he can even choose to work through unnamed, insignificant slaves or servants. He can also choose to show compassion to Israel’s enemies – compassion for a Gentile enemy.
“Naaman, commander of the army for the king of Aram, was a man important to his master and highly regarded … The man was a valiant warrior, but he had a skin disease. Aram had gone on raids and brought back from the land of Israel a young girl who served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his skin disease.” II Kings 5:1-3
“So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’ house.
Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go wash seven times in the Jordan and your skin will be restored and you will be clean. But Naaman got angry and left, saying,
“I was telling myself: He will surely come out, stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place and cure the skin disease. Aren’t Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and left in a rage. But his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more should you do it when he only tells you, ‘Wash and be clean’?” II Kings 5:9-13
God provided for Naaman, and he turned up his nose at God’s plan. He was greatly disappointed in the way God chose to answer. We so often forget that it’s God plan; we think everything is about us. God should work according to our plans!
Naaman had a choice to make. Even in disappointment, was he going to let his pride get in the way of receiving the Lord’s help?
“So Naaman went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, according to the command of the man of God. Then his skin was restored and became like the skin of a small boy, and he was clean.” II Kings 5:14
Naaman would declare on that day, ” I know there’s no God in the whole world except in Israel!” (II Kings 5:15)
How is God answering your prayers? According to your expectations? According to His Ways?
He has the bigger picture in mind, and all the glory belongs to Him. Trust Him, precious child!
