Keep It Simple

At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a maid. One day the girl said to her mistress, "I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy." 2 Kings 5:2-3

Simple requests require simple answers. Simple directions require simple adherence. Still, we like to complicate the simple, adding unnecessary baggage to straightforward problems.  


A young girl, taken captive out of Israel, had been made a slave to an influential man with leprosy. This girl, out of remarkable compassion, offered a simple solution to Naaman's problem: She suggested that he go and ask the prophet of her people to heal him. What an astoundingly simple solution to Naaman's suffering! However, between Naaman, his king, and the king of Israel, the simplicity of these directions became quickly muddled. 


Piled high with silver, gold, clothing, and a neatly written note, Naaman approached the king of Israel with his request. Simple directions had turned into a very complicated bribe that was misinterpreted by the king of Israel as a threat of war.

Fortunately, Elisha settled the king down and offered Naaman some surprising directions for his healing: Wash seven times in the river Jordan. The directions were simple and straightforward, but somehow Naaman managed to be insulted, "So Naaman turned and went away in a rage" (v. 12). 


In the end, all ended well, but it is worthwhile to examine the causes of all the barriers to healthy communication. Doubt and fear led Naaman to believe he had to earn his healing even though the slave girl simply directed him to ask. Suspicion and insecurity caused the king of Israel to distrust Naaman's request of healing. He was suspicious of Naaman and doubted God's power in Elisha. Pride caused Naaman to insist on his own terms even though he desperately needed healing.

We certainly can complicate our lives by adding a pinch of doubt and fear, a touch of suspicion and insecurity, and topping it all off with pride. God asks us to follow him, obey him, and love him. The directions are really very simple. The challenge is to keep perspective, remember the directions, and keep it simple. With God's help, we can do it.