Naaman - Expectations

How often do we struggle with various things in life. Maybe we struggle financially, or we lack self-confidence. We struggle with some type of addiction, or we are over confident in our selves. Maybe we don't want to seem weak, or we want to seem smarter than we are. Throughout our lives, we will face various things, and will seek out a solutions to them. As we read about Naaman, let's see what lesson God has for us to learn.

Who was Naaman?

• 2 Kings 5: 1
  • Who was Naaman?
  • How was he treated?
• 2 Kings 5: 2 - 6
  • Did they understand the God of Isreal?
• 2 Kings 5: 7 - 8
  • Has anyone every sent someone to you for help and you didn't know what to do?
  • Sometimes it's not about you, but about who you know.

Expectations

• 2 Kings 5: 9 - 10
  • Simple ask
• 2 Kings 5: 11 - 12
  • What we expect is not always what God has planned
• 2 Kings 5: 13 - 15
  • If he was asked to do something complex, would he have believed in God or the action that healed him?

Changed

• 2 Kings 5: 16 - 19
  • Why do you think Elisha didn't comment or correct Naaman about his request to forgive him going to another god's temple and bowing down?
  • Because only God can change a person's Heart.
  • Elisha did what he needed and planted the seeds, but God gets to reap the harvest.

Naaman wanted to see the power of the healing. He had expectations on what he thought should happen. He brought silver and gold to pay for this healing that he was seeking. But what he found was nothing like he had been prepared for in his life. He was willing to give a great price, but God wanted to give a gift. Elisha did not except the gift because it wasn't him who healed Naaman, but it was God. And to make His point, God used a simple act of washing to heal Naaman. Naaman was a great warrior and was used to doing great things. But God wanted him to do something simple. In life, we sometimes will find ourselves like Naaman expecting one thing, but asked to do something else. Or we will see someone asked to do something and step in to be the voice to help someone down their path.