Where is your God?

Today, we read of the story of the prophet Elisha and the Syrian leper, Naamen in 2 Kings 5. Starting from 1 Kings 17, scholars were able to identify a collection of folk tales and legends etc. about 2 great prophets of old, Elijah and his successor, Elisha. Unlike the 4 major prophets and 12 minor prophets we found in the Bible, both of them did not leave any writings behind, but lots of miracle stories. These stories are not simply fairy tales or legends. They convey many moral lessons for the Jews to lead a religious life acceptable to God. For many times, both prophets struggled with the kings who set bad examples that led the people away from God.
2 Kings begins near the end of Elijah's career. Ahaziah, the king of Israel, fell sick. He sent messengers to inquire Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron, of his sickness. An angel of the Lord told Elijah to confront the messengers with this warning: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to inquire of Baal-zebub, the god of Ekron? (2 Kings 1:3). The messengers returned and instead of repenting, Ahaziah sent a captain with 50 soldiers to arrest Elijah. Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume them all. Ahaziah sent a second batch which met the same fate! The captain of the 3^rd batch was afraid and he begged Elijah to spare them and come along with them. An angel of the Lord told Elijah to go and at last Ahaziah died as foretold by Elijah.
In 2 Kings 2, we read of the story of Elijah going up to heaven in a chariot of fire and Elisha succeeded him. Then Elisha worked a string of miracles, many of which are similar to those worked by Elijah, but far more spectacular. For example:

• parted River Jordan with Elijah's cloak (2 Kings 2:14)
• made bad water wholesome & drinkable again (2:19-22)
• cursed small boys who had teased him baldhead and 2 she-bears tore 42 of them (2:23-24)
• supplied allied army with water (3:20-22)
• increased oil for a widow to pay debt (4:1-7)
• gave a Shunammite woman a son and later restored him to life (4:8-37)
• cleansed poisoned food (4:38-41)
• multiplied 20 loaves to feed 100 men (4:42-44)
• cleansed Naaman, the Syrian leper (5:1-18)
• passed on Naaman's leprosy to his own greedy servant Gehazi (5:19-27)
• made an iron axe-head float in River Jordan (6:5-7)
• telepathy, read the mind of the king of Syria (7:8-12)
• temporarily blinded the whole Syrian army and brought them into Samaria (7:18-19) etc.

A very impressive CV indeed. Let's return to the story of Naaman, the Syrian leper. At first, he was not happy with Elisha because he did not meet Naaman in person, but instead sent a messenger to tell Naaman to wash himself in River Jordan for 7 times to cleanse him of leprosy. After his cure, Naaman came respectfully to declare his faith: Behold, I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel (2 Kings 5:15)
Christians, where is your God? Sometimes He works wonders in spectacular ways (sending fires from heaven), sometimes so inconspicuously that you barely notice them (washing in Riven Jordan).

My God, open my heart so that I may be able to discern Your loving presence. Have pity on this poor soul of mine. You are merciful and delight in seeing sinners repent. Now is the time of acceptance. Will You receive this stiff-necked Alex and fill him with Your Spirit? Amen.