Week 15 2 Kings
I got to the story of Naaman today so I was looking forward to the chapter.
But before I’m past the intro I’m already onto a mental sidetrack. It said: the king of Aram had high admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories.
That last phrase doesn’t sound quite right and I guess the reason is because Israel is supposed to be the star of the bible’s story. For the last three-hundred chapters or so I’ve been focused on Israel. Which is okay. But I have to remember not to catch Israelite Tunnel-Vision.
And for that Naaman is a good reminder. Naaman was an Aramean. Arameans were national enemies of Israel. Aramean marauders captured Israelites. Naaman had his own Israelite slave girl. Arameans were bad guys. And then I also read: through (Naaman) the Lord had given Aram great victories. Naaman – an outsider & enemy – got military assistance from the Lord.
So – even if I am – the Lord isn’t suffering from national-tunnel-vision. He’s operating on an international scale. He might key in on Israel…but he’s Master of the whole world.
I look at a map of the bible world: Egypt Libya Ethiopia Syria the Hittites the Hurrians Assyria Babylon Medo-Persia; later there’s Greece Rome; off the map there’s Japan India China Peru & eventually even Alberta.
The Lord’s seriously engaged in all of them.
Note: quote from 1 Kings 5:1 (NLT)