Position

Here's this week's Bible study blog entry:

There’s a certain level of respect that people of a high-power position in society get. There’s a certain level of respect that people of a high-power position in society demand. And sometimes there’s a certain level of respect that people of a high-power position in society are denied. When that happens, people of a high-power position in society usually whine and say that their rights are being violated.

I really have no patience for it.

In this week’s Bible reading from 2 Kings 5:1-14, a high-power position person, the Aramean army commander Naaman, was sick with leprosy. He was desperate for healing. He was so desperate that he took steps to ask a prophet of Israel to heal him.

And the prophet, Elisha, wouldn’t even see him. He simply sent a message, “Wash in the Jordan River 7 times, and you’ll be clean.”

Naaman didn’t like the level of respect he was given. He whined and complained that he was being treated unfairly. He whined that the Jordan River was dirty and that the rivers in Damascus would be so much better. He was enraged that he did not get the respect that people of a high-power position in society ‘deserve.’

It’s a good thing for Naaman that wasn’t stubborn to the point of death. He listened to his servants, who told him, essentially, “Just do it – what can it hurt?”

Naaman was healed. He was clean. He was grateful.

I wonder if he got over that position thing, too?