Depending on Him

Have you ever noticed that Jesus never really healed people in exactly the same way? Sometimes He would touch a person, and sometimes a person would touch Him. At other times He would speak the word, and they would be healed.

It seems as though God goes out of His way to accomplish His purposes through unusual and varied means. We find a great example of this in the story of Naaman. As the leader of the armies of Assyria, he was famous, powerful, influential, and admired by many. But he had leprosy. There was an Israelite maid working in his house who had been captured as a slave, and she suggested that he go to Israel. There was a prophet there named Elisha who could pray for him, and he would be healed.

So Naaman went to the king of Assyria and told him what his maid had said. Then the king sent a message to Israel’s king, saying, "Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:6).

Naaman and his entourage arrived in town and stopped in front of Elijah’s house, expecting a hero’s welcome. But Elisha didn’t even give Naaman the time of day. He just sent his servant, Gehazi, to the door with a message for him: Go dunk yourself in the Jordan River seven times, and you will be healed.

There was a reason God wanted Naaman to do it this way. To go into the water, Naaman would have to take off his armor and royal clothing and reveal what he really was.

God likes to vary His methods so we will be dependent on Him—and so that He will get the glory.