So last week after a month’s break we returned to the books of Kings.
When we left Kings a month ago the prophet Elijah had just ascended into heaven, passing on his mantle to his protégé Elisha. Before he was taken Elisha requests from Elijah a double portion of his spirit and it seems perhaps Elisha has received it.
Last week Su Sze reflected on Elisha and the Shunnamite woman and this week we are reading this story of the healing of Naaman. But there are many more stories of miracles coming through Elisha.
These are wonderful stories but as always when approaching them we need to be careful not to read them glibly. We need to be careful not to go looking for some kind of formula, thinking that we can somehow manifest a miracle with the right words or behaviours or motives. Miracles are not something some people get because they deserve it and others don’t because they don’t.
The world is filled with things we cannot comprehend. Nothing more so than the things of God. The miraculous, by definition, is always unpredictable and unexplainable. This is what makes it wonderful but also confusing and sometimes hard. And so we read these stories with great humility. We pray with great compassion Also, bringing to God those who desperately needed a miracle and didn’t get it.
Jesus once said to Peter, “you do not realise now what I am doing but later you will understand”
In these words I place my hope but I do not think it is something that I will discover on this side of eternity. This doesn’t stop me from wrestling with God about it though. Nor does it make all the pain and confusion instantly disappear. That I’m afraid is the long slow work of prayer and community life (as Su Sze spoke about last week).
And so with that spirit let us now delve into this story, “the healing of Naaman.”
Naaman was a well respected commander of the army of the king of Aram. Aram was one of Israel’s neighbours and they were often at war. This is why there is a captive Israelite girl in their midst. She is a prisoner of war.
Naaman also has leprosy.
Rather, surprisingly to me, given her captive status, this young Israelite girl tells her mistress, Naaman’s wife, about a prophet in Samaria who could heal his leprosy. Perhaps Naaman and his wife are extraordinarily good to the young girl. Perhaps, but unlikely. Her generosity should not lead us to overlook the cruelty of her situation.
And again rather surprisingly Naaman listens to his slave girl and decides to go to Samaria to seek healing. He goes with silver and gold and a letter from his king to the king of Israel. The king at that time is Jehoram, son of king Ahab, arch nemesis of Elijah.
Jehoram cannot heal Naaman and so he takes the letter as an assault on his ego and thinks the king of Aram is trying to provoke him. How many wars have started I wonder because of the ego of an insecure king or president?
Thankfully, in this case, war is avoided. The prophet Elisha somehow hears of about this and he sends a message to the king to send Naaman to him.
Naaman again with his silver and gold goes to Elisha. Naaman is probably thinking that this silver and gold along with his status increases his chances of getting healed. But it of no significance to Elisha who does not even go out to meet him. And so Naaman too gets a bruised ego and decides to leave.
It is easy to think that Naaman is been petty and arrogant and perhaps he is but the truth is we all crave recognition. We all long to be seen and known and to be treated according to our worldly status. Our official events all start by recognising certain dignitaries who are in attendance. It would be considered rude not to do this.
This is how power works.
But the prophets are outside the world of power.
But as he turns to leave, one of Naaman’s servants asks, “if the prophet had asked you to do something difficult would you not have done it?”
The servant knows Naaman wants to earn this. But he cannot.
The servant goes on, “how much more when all he said to you was wash and be clean.”
The servant assumes that for Naaman to simply wash in the Jordan is easy. But it is not.
In Hebrew, the word for the Jordan river (which I won’t try to say), comes from the root word to descend.
To descend is not easy. And the higher one gets the harder it gets.
But it is a crucial part of the spiritual life and healing.
Again, it is easy to think that Naaman is being petty and arrogant and again perhaps he is but the truth is I think we would all have preferred something shinier, something more interesting than simply bathing in a muddy river.
But again, somewhat surprisingly, Naaman listens to his servant. He washes in the river and he is healed.
This story reminds us that the sacred and divine can come in the ordinary things of our everyday lives.
It also reminds us that the sacred and divine crosses boundaries. It goes out beyond the so-called chosen ones. It can come from the outside, people we consider enemies or even just different.
Jesus draws on this story in his inaugural address. He is making it clear that the Kingdom of God will include those we have considered outsiders.
And finally, this story reminds us (as the book of kings has done over and over throughout this series) that transformation and hope rise up from the ground.
We have just had another election. There are elections happening everywhere this year.
Elections matter because government policy impacts people’s lives, particularly the vulnerable. Political participation, no doubt, is one way (although not the only way) we can pursue the common good and so as followers of Jesus we should care about politics. And while there will never be a straight line from the Bible and Jesus to a particular party or candidate we should work to faithfully evaluate different policy proposals and the character of candidates with the mind of Christ, drawing on both our faith and theology as well as knowledge of policy making.
However, modern elections are not really about policy. Like most advertising they are about storytelling. In their campaigns political candidates do not outline policy proposals rather they seek to articulate a vision about a good life and convince voters that they are the ones who can bring about this good life. “Make America Great Again” vs “we are not going back.”
I think we need to be aware of these stories but be sceptical of them. As Christians we have another story about the good life and who can bring it. A grand story of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. A story about the golden thread of God, that has weaved its way throughout history bringing healing, love and hope no matter who has been in power.
A story about a time to come when all things will be made new.
Therefore, while we should care about politics, we should not place our identity, our sense of safety and all responsibility for our common life into the hands of our politicians. We proclaim a story that is older, deeper, wiser than any of the stories offered by modern politicians and so we need not fall into despair if our candidate does not win. We need not fall for the fear mongering of those who claim a certain politician is an existential threat.
In the story of Naaman, as is almost always the case in the Bible healing comes not from above but up from the ground. It is not the king who ushers it in. Rather healing comes from God through the suggestion of a young slave girl, the words of a prophet, the encouragement of servants and the washing in a muddy river.
And so returning to psalm:
Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.
Fret not thyself because of those who prosper themselves and bring wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.
Fret not thyself, it only causes harm.
For those who do evil shall be cut off but those who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more but the meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
