Struggles in Life

 

    We all have struggles in life.  It may be age related, health, mental, emotional, or a complex combination.  No one goes through life without a real struggle or two that impacts the person in every way.  Struggles can make your stronger or they can break you.  Some people have had certain struggles since birth and can't imagine life without it.  Others may develop struggles in life and it changes how they see everything.

    Naaman was a great commander in the Aramean army.  He seemed to have everything.  It was in the prime of his career that he got leprosy.  It changed everything about his life.  His wife's servant girl was a Hebrew, so she suggested that he find a prophet of God to heal him.  He wrote to his king who concurred.  

    Naaman went to Elisha's house expecting to be welcomed because he felt that his title in life was important.  He was highly disappointed when instead Elisha ordered Naaman to go bath seven times in the dirty Jordan River.  Elisha gave him distasteful orders without even welcoming him.  It was a big hit to his pride, but he begrudgingly went to do as he was ordered.  When he rose from the water on the seventh time, his skin was fully restored.  

    That day Naaman believed in God.  It took a real life struggle for him to even start to look for God and when he did his life changed forever.  It does not mean that he would never face another struggle, but the one thing that would have taken his career, family, and society itself from him was removed.  

    He tried to pay Elisha because this was a huge thing and he needed to do something, but Elisha was not interested in money.  He just wanted the man to live for God.  

    Gehazi, Elisha's servant, however was a greedy man.  He went after Naaman after they were out of Elisha's line of sight and hearing.  He retrieved the reward and lied to Elisha about it.  What he didn't factor in is that he could not keep that a secret from God, who told Elisha what happened.  Elisha cursed Gehazi with leprosy as punishment. 

2 Kings 5