The healing of Naaman the Aramean is both a testimony to the open heart of God and also a reproach against Joram and the nation of Israel over which he was king. In a time when Israel was seeking the gods of foreigners, we see a foreigner seeking the God of Israel. Naaman comes to realise what should have been obvious to the Israelites: there is only one true God. Naaman hears about the prophet Elisha from an Israelite girl who had recently been taken captive by his army. The importance of this event is the way it anticipates God’s ultimate purpose for his people, a purpose that Joram was entirely oblivious to. When Joram received the plea for help from the king of Aram he saw it as an act of provocation. In fact, however, this was God at work giving his people an opportunity to mediate God’s blessing to those around them. God had told Abraham that his descendants would mediate the blessing of God to the nations of the world and here was an opportunity to enact this (Genesis 12:1-3). But the king of Israel missed his calling. In contrast to Joram, the Israelite slave girl saw the opportunity and took it. Like Joram, we can easily miss these kinds of opportunities. Too often we respond impulsively to circumstances without thinking in terms of God’s purpose. More opportunities might be passing you by than you are ever aware of. Pray that God would open your eyes and help you see these opportunities to be an instrument of blessing to those around you. Keep God’s purpose foremost in your thoughts.
Ask God to make you aware of opportunities to bless people today.
Read 2 Kings 5
