NAAMAN: WHY DO THE EASY WAY WHAT CAN BE DONE THE HARD WAY?

(II Kings 5)

Naaman was a commander,

In the army of a king.

King Aram regarded him highly;

He was trusted with everything.

Naaman contracted leprosy;

He didn’t know what to do.

He knew he would lose his limbs, then his life;

He was really in a stew.

His wife had a servant girl,

A captive from Israel.

She remembered Elisha the prophet,

Who through God could make Naaman well.

So Naaman went to Israel’s king;

His own king gave him a letter.

He offered the other king money and clothes,

If he would make Naaman better.

The king read the letter and tore his robes;

He thought Naaman was picking a quarrel.

He knew he could not cure anyone;

He saw the request as immoral.

Elisha sent the king a message,

Though the king he did not see.

“Why did you tear your robes?” he said.

“Just send the man to me.”

Naaman was told to wash in the Jordan,

Seven times from his feet to his head.

If he wanted his skin restored,

He must do what Elisha said.

The Jordan was muddy and gross,

So Naaman fumed and fussed.

But he was missing the point;

The cure was found in the trust.

His servants reasoned with him,

Elisha was not just teasin’.

He didn’t ask Naaman to do something hard;

The cure was well within reason.

So Naaman did as he was told,

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

Complete obedience along with faith,

Is what pleases our God in heaven.

Naaman’s flesh was fully restored.

It looked like the skin of a boy.

He realized then that God was real,

And not an untrue story.

The things the Lord requires of us,

Won’t always make good sense.

But if we want our lives restored,

We need faith and obedience.

Becky Overturf Wall