Ex-pec-ta-tion (ek’spek’tā’shǝn) n. The belief that something should happen in a particular way.
This month’s biblical story of change is recorded for us in the book of Second Kings, and tells of the miraculous transformation given by God to a man named Naaman. You may recall the story. This commander of the Syrian army desperately needed a change in his life. He had leprosy. On the advice of a young Israelite slave girl he packed up a million dollars’ worth of silver and gold and went to Israel, where he’d been told he would find a prophet who could cure him. In the end he was healed as he’d hoped, but it all came about in a way far different from what he had expected. In fact, his own expectations almost kept him from experiencing the change he so desperately needed from God.
The prophet’s name was Elisha.
Elisha sent a messenger to say to Naaman, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage. But his officers tried to reason with him and said, “Sir, if the prophet had told you to do something very difficult, wouldn’t you have done it?”
2 Kings 5:10-13
Apparently, in spite of his dire circumstances, there were some things Naaman simply wasn’t willing to do or accept. After all, he had his pride. He was a man of status and import. He had some serious doubts in this prophet who wouldn’t even come out to meet him. He had his own ideas for how things should go. In fact, he was prepared to pay for this healing, and pay big. He was expecting something that fit his own ideas of marvel and wonder and healing, and what he was being told to do was nothing of the kind. It was complete foolishness! He knew how he wanted to be treated, and what he wanted to see happen. He had expectations and they weren’t being met. Greatly angered, he started to walk away.
Fortunately, the officers under him had the sense to see things differently. They bravely encouraged him to reconsider his response. I can almost hear them saying to him, “Sir, get over it!”
If you’ll allow me, I can even imagine the God of Israel whispering to him in this moment: “Naaman, get over your pride. Get over your biases, your self- sufficiency, and your doubts. Get over your customs and comforts, your preconceptions and judgments. Whatever is keeping you from participating in and experiencing the change I want to bring about in your life, get over it!”
In the end (read verses 14-17), Naaman did bathe seven times in the Jordan River and God did heal him.
Naaman wanted to get over leprosy, but first he had to get over himself. He had to leave behind his prideful and biased expectations, and then take to heart the instructions of the prophet. He had to learn that his ways were not God’s ways (Isaiah 55:8), and that even the seeming foolishness of God is wiser than the so-called wisdom of men (1 Corinthians 1:25). Ultimately, God’s ways exceeded his expectations. Not only was he healed; he came to know and worship the one true God!
I don’t find it difficult to apply this story to my life, and I suppose you don’t either. I’m quite sure I can be a lot like Naaman at times. I also have a great need for God’s transformative power and activity in my life – but I, like Naaman, may at times be captive to my own expectations. I may need someone respectfully telling me to “get over it,” to set aside my preferences and biases, to accept by faith that God is at work in his own ways, and to trust him to fashion the change he knows that I need. Otherwise I might miss out on the wonder he has in store for me.
Friends, if this is true for us individually, it is true also for the church and for organizations like WMPL. We are continually in need of healing, reconciling, nurturing, and empowering change from God! He has not ceased to prepare and direct the church to share his changeless gospel across changing cultures and generations. He will change us. That’s his way. But like Naaman, we may expect our ways. Here’s my hope and prayer: For Jesus’ sake, and for the sake of his mission to those who still don’t know him, let’s get over it. And then get on with it. His way.