Grumpy Obedience
To my fellow believers: grumpy, bad-tempered, reluctant obedience is still…obedience. (M. Puccini)
Often the Holy Spirit will nudge us to obey God in ways that make our selfish nature have a temper tantrum. Inside our emotions may be screaming. But it doesn’t matter. God wants to crucify our sinful nature and this is one of the main ways He does it. When we obey, we open the way for God to bless us.
In the Old Testament, there is no better example of this principle then Naaman the Leper.
Naaman’s Cranky Obedience
Naaman’s story is found in 2 Kings 5.
Naaman was a pagan general who had developed leprosy. Out of desperation, he came to the Jewish prophet Elisha to be cured.
Then everything went wrong.
Though he’d brought great treasure to buy his blessing, Elisha refused even to see him. Instead the prophet sent out a servant with a message.
“Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”(2 Kings 5:10 RSV).
Naaman knew his leprosy wouldn’t be healed by getting wet. But he served the enemy king of Syria. Perhaps Elisha was just trying to make him look foolish. Angry and humiliated, he almost left.
Fortunately, his servants spoke up.
My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much rather, then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean? (2 Kings 5:13 RSV)
With nothing to lose, Naaman waded out into the Jordan River. Six times he dipped himself underwater and nothing happened. Then came the seventh time. Rising out the water the general discovered his leprosy was suddenly gone.
Naaman didn’t believe it would work. Irritated, he dunked himself seven times anyway
And God healed Naaman when he obeyed.
Final Thoughts
God calls each of us to do hard stuff. It would be lovely if we would obey the Lord 100% of the time, while silently singing praise songs in our hearts, but often we don’t.
But that’s okay.
Obedience is what the Holy Spirit’s after.
These images came from Pixabay.com.
