Listening

Listening

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.

Proverbs 19:20, NIV

Naaman, a commander of the Syrian army, was cured of leprosy through the prophet Elisha. In spite of the fact that Naaman was a prominent man, he came down with leprosy, a despised disease. A young Israelite slave girl in his household, who had been captured on a raid, had apparently done a lot of listening in her home and “church” while growing up. She suggested to Naaman’s wife that the prophet Elisha might be able to heal Naaman’s leprosy. Naaman’s wife listened and mentioned the idea to her husband. Naaman listened and spoke to his superior, the king of Aram. The king listened and sent a letter with Naaman to the king of Israel. The king of Israel, however, didn’t do such a hot job of listening. He tore his robes and suggested that the whole thing was a silly trick.

But Elisha listened. When he heard about the king’s reaction, Elisha sent him a message suggesting that Naaman come to see him. Then the king listened, and Naaman came to Elisha’s house with horses and chariots. When Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman saying, “Wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River,” Naaman didn’t listen. He went away in an angry rage because he thought the cure was beneath his dignity. But when Naaman’s servants reasoned with him and asked him to reconsider, he listened—and was healed.

All of this listening began with a girl who obviously grew up in a family and community of faith, where she was taught to listen to God. How amazing that it all started with the faith of a child who listened!

Father,

May we be listening always to you and your Word, ready to heed the good advice of godly people around us. Amen.