Common to every man, I suppose, is the struggle with self - our comfort, our desires, our happiness. We can be pretty self-centered at times in our quest to look out for number one. Most often, it lurks under a cloak of impatience - an absorbance with self that says, "We want what we want when we want it the way we want it," and that's all there is to it! It's an epidemic confirmed by the addition of the microwave oven to our list of necessities in the kitchen- not to mention the pantry full of everything instant or microwavable (which, I suppose, is one in the same). From grits and oatmeal to popcorn and rice, we've got it all! But don't let me stop there! Heaven forbid if there's not an arm holding a bag full of food out the fast food drive-up window by the time our automobile rounds the corner! And how dare someone take longer than a split second to get moving once that traffic light turns green! Whew! Yep, we want what we want when we want it the way we want it alright. The sad thing about this kind of living is that it creeps in and influences our approach to legitimate issues of concern and not just popcorn and fast food! This is nothing new, by the way.

Meet Namaan, a man whose leadership and military prowess had earned him the respect of his peers and the admiration of his king. As commander of the king's army, Namaan had led his men to great victories, and he certainly enjoyed the recognition and honor this brought to his life. However, it was all overshadowed by one huge problem - he had leprosy, a disease causing skin lesions, deformities, nerve damage, and slow, but progressive debilitation. The young Hebrew maid Namaan had recently taken in for his wife was stirred to compassion for her master one day, and she told her mistress of a prophet in Samaria that could heal Namaan of his leprosy. The good news was promptly shared, and, bearing gifts and the king's well wishes, Naaman was on his way to Israel to find this great prophet.

He first presented himself to the king of Israel, who totally misunderstood the situation, and I'm sure Namaan's hopes deflated as fast as a pin-pricked balloon. But the news of his quest traveled fast, and he was mercifully summoned by the prophet of God. At Elisha's door stood the commander of the army of the king of Aram with his chariots, horses, and gift-bearing servants behind him - his head held high, his shoulders proudly squared, and his heart pounding with anticipation at what he had imagined would happen next. There he stood waiting - dignified and just a little bit desperate at Elisha's door. And what did the prophet do for this dignified, desperate dude? He sent a messenger to the door with instructions for him to go bathe himself seven times in the Jordan River! A MESSENGER! A BATH! In the Jordan River - the muddiest river around! What was Elisha thinking?! Well, Namaan did what any self-respecting dignitary would do! He stomped off in a huff, grumbling, "I thought he would certainly come out to meet me! I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me! Aren't the rivers of Damascus, the Abana and the Pharpar, better than any of the rivers of Israel? Why shouldn't I wash in them and be healed?'  2 Kings 5:11-12

Yep, he was better than all that, AND he wanted what he wanted when he wanted it the way he wanted it! He wanted to be healed. He wanted it immediately. And he had obviously imagined it would all happen with a wave of Elisha's hand, certainly not a dip in a muddy river!! Thank goodness, he had some men with him that weren't thinking through a cloud of pride and preconceived ideas. They successfully pleaded their case with Namaan, who finally went down and washed himself in the Jordan River like Elisha had told him to do; and he came out with skin that looked as healthy as a young boy's! He was healed! What a miracle!! It wasn't until he dipped himself in the Jordan River - not five or six, but SEVEN times that his healing came, but it did!! Sure, he wanted Elisha to whip out a magic wand right there on the spot! Of course, he wanted the wave of a hand and a "presto!" And isn't that what we all want? The instant? The quick fix?

Whether we're dealing with physical sickness or an addiction, grief or a financial hardship, we all secretly wish someone would just wave a hand over us and have God immediately remove it. And when He doesn't do it that way. . . well, let's just say we take our cue from Naaman. Prayers are often lifted for a God-sized intervention; but if it doesn't come by way of "The Miracle Book According to Me," we often miss the miraculous entirely. In our minds, we have imagined another, "better" way - our own Abana and Pharpar; and we reject or completely overlook God's involvement in the final outcome of our circumstances. Sometimes He will do the instant miracle, not requiring any action on our part whatsoever. A check will come in the mail, a tumor will suddenly disappear, or an addiction will unexplainably leave us, and moments like these are unforgettable! However, the fact is, more times than not God works through doctors, counseling, or changes in lifestyle over a period of time; but isn't the end result still a miracle, and shouldn't it be to His acclaim and glory? Whether it's by the wave of a hand and a faith-filled proclamation or a dip in a muddy river and a little bit of time, a work of healing or deliverance in any area of our life should be readily recognized as a miracle wrought by the hands of God! The Apostle Paul wrote, "Everything comes from Him; Everything happens through Him; Everything ends up in Him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes!" Romans 11:36 And to that, I would add another emphatic, "YES!" and "AMEN!" and "GO GOD!"