Not Your Way
Naman, the general was a great man. He had a but in his life, he was a Leper. He was so interested and desperate to get healed, that he followed the words of a young girl and went all out on it. He got the permission of the king and travelled down to Isreal. The journey was a risky one for, he could be taken hostage being a commander of a foreign army. He could be ambushed considering the bulk of riches he had with him. He took all the risk and arrived in Israel.
Unfortunately for him, the man he was referred to did not even give him the attention he needed. Imagine the secretary of state of USA wanting to visit Adeboye in Nigeria. And all Adeboye would do is to send an usher to him, that he should go and bath inside Asejire river. That was demeaning.. humiliating.
This was the dilemma faced by Naaman. He was humiliated and given an option that looked odd to him. He had assumed the manner with which the healing would take place. But Naaman went away angry. He said, "I was sure he would come out to me. I thought he would stand there and pray to the Lord his God. I thought he would wave his hand over my skin. Then I would be healed. (2 Kings 5:11).
He had built the ideals in his mind of better options than the one presented. And what about the Abana and Pharpar rivers of Damascus? Aren't they better than any of the rivers of Israel? Couldn't I wash in them and be made pure and clean?" So he turned and went away. He was burning with anger. (2 Kings 5:12, NIRV).
But he did not know that GOD HIMSELF CHOOSES THE MANNER WITH WHICH HE WILL ANSWER OUR REQUEST. God knew that there was Abana and Pharpar but Naaman healing was in the dirty smelly Jordan. Thank God for people who could confront him despite his anger and position. People who could tell him the raw truth.
Naaman's servants went over to him. They said, "You are like a father to us. What if the prophet Elisha had told you to do some great thing? Wouldn't you have done it? But he only said, 'Wash yourself. Then you will be pure and clean.' You should be even more willing to do that!" (2 Kings 5:13, NIRV).
He eventually came down from his ideals... his idols... his imagined manner with which he believed he would be healed. And when he accepted, guess what happened?
So Naaman went down to the Jordan River. He dipped himself in it seven times. He did exactly what the man of God had told him to do. Then his skin was made pure again. It became clean like the skin of a young boy. (2 Kings 5:14, NIRV).
I'm writing this to someone today - Who has been praying to God for something and have listed the ways and manners with which the prayers must be answered. You are praying for a job and your mind has been on Lagos, anything aside Lagos you are rejecting it. You've been praying for a husband and you've had your own criteria. Anything less, you are not going to consider him - bearded, muscular, six packs, must be working in so and so place, have a car... You've been praying to God for a wife and you've already had a figure and manner in mind - figure eight, light in complexion, cute, not taller than you, must have dimples etcetera. You've been asking God to anoint you for ministry and you've already had a RIGID IDEA OF HOW HE MUST ANSWER YOU. The issue is, is it a sin to be SPECIFIC when praying? NO... BUT AS A MAN PRAYS, HE MUST CONSCIOUSLY SUBMIT HIS WILL TO GOD'S WILL. HE MUST ALLOW GOD HAVE HIS WAY. PRAY IS NOT A MEANS BY WHICH GOD RUBBER STAMP OUR DESIRES, RATHER IT'S A MEANS BY WHICH WE BRING INTO FRUITION GOD'S WILL.
Friend, snap out of this madness. Take off your pride and haughtiness. Jump inside your Jordan. Your healing is not in Abana or Pharpar. You've prayed and fasted to God, he can't mislead you. Quit turning away or rejecting God's answers because they do not align to your ideal. Your ideal is forming an idol and will keep you far from his promises. Your ideal is delaying you longer than necessary.
Take this word from me today the way Naaman took the advice of his servants - JUST DO IT! (Isaiah 30:21).
If you go the wrong way — to the right or to the left — you will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the right way. You should go this way.” (Isaiah 30:21, NCV).
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