The Essence of Miracles: Drawing People To The True God
Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant."
The prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
"If you will not," said Naaman, "please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also -- when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this."
"Go in peace," Elisha said. 2 Kings 5:15-19
The prophet answered, "As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing." And even though Naaman urged him, he refused.
"If you will not," said Naaman, "please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also -- when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this."
"Go in peace," Elisha said. 2 Kings 5:15-19
Naaman came to Israel hoping to be cured of his leprosy. He came with a letter from the king of Syria and delivered it directly to the king of Israel. The king of Israel tore his clothes when he read the letter. He was in distress because he thought it was impossible for leprosy to be cured. In fact, he saw the request as a pretext from the king of Israel to ferment trouble between them and possibly even wage war!
His words were rather telling: "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me?" Obviously, this king had forgotten that the God of Israel who parted the Red Sea for his ancestors could still work miracles. I wonder if he even knew about the various miracles God had worked through the prophet Elisha.
When Elisha heard about the king's response, he sent him a message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." God worked a miracle and Naman was cured of his leprosy when he followed instructions and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman's response to the miraculous healing was: "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel." Naaman requested to take some soil from Israel back to Syria because in those days, people believed that a god could be worshipped only on the soil with which he was associated.
A miracle turned an idol worshiper into a follower of the only true God -- Yahweh! That is the essence of miracles. They are meant to draw people to Christ. Oh! That our hearts will be filled with a genuine desire to lift up Jesus and glorify our heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit; how our God would move in genuine signs and wonders, and how souls would come to Christ in droves. May this be the cry of our hearts because our God is ever ready to move. That is my passionate cry! As we lift up Jesus, we can boldly declare that our God will manifest Himself!
His words were rather telling: "Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me?" Obviously, this king had forgotten that the God of Israel who parted the Red Sea for his ancestors could still work miracles. I wonder if he even knew about the various miracles God had worked through the prophet Elisha.
When Elisha heard about the king's response, he sent him a message: "Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." God worked a miracle and Naman was cured of his leprosy when he followed instructions and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River. Naaman's response to the miraculous healing was: "Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel." Naaman requested to take some soil from Israel back to Syria because in those days, people believed that a god could be worshipped only on the soil with which he was associated.
A miracle turned an idol worshiper into a follower of the only true God -- Yahweh! That is the essence of miracles. They are meant to draw people to Christ. Oh! That our hearts will be filled with a genuine desire to lift up Jesus and glorify our heavenly Father and His Holy Spirit; how our God would move in genuine signs and wonders, and how souls would come to Christ in droves. May this be the cry of our hearts because our God is ever ready to move. That is my passionate cry! As we lift up Jesus, we can boldly declare that our God will manifest Himself!
Prayer: Lord, please help me to genuinely lift you up and desire that you move in signs and wonders in Your Church so that countless numbers would be won for you. Amen