Hearing God in your Community

‘Perhaps you remember that Bible story about Naaman, the great military general, who went to see the prophet Elisha because he needed healing from a skin disease. After Naaman had traveled some 700 miles all the way from Damascus to Elisha’s house, the prophet didn’t even bother coming to the door. Instead, he sent a message telling the great man to go and bathe seven times in the murky River Jordan. Naaman was furious. He pointed out that there were bigger, cleaner rivers back home. But eventually, he was persuaded to obey and, when he did so, his condition was completely healed (2 Kgs 5).’

‘Most people insist upon hearing the voice of God on their own terms. The thought that he might ask us to immerse ourselves again and again in something as uncool as an uncool church – where the music is sixth rate, and the pastor doesn’t exactly roll out the red carpet, and his teaching is frankly ridiculous, and its members all look like they voted the wrong way – may very well be as offensive to us culturally, intellectually and personally as bathing in the Jordan would have been for Naaman.

What might the River Jordan represent for you? Perhaps God wants to speak to you through a Christian tradition you’ve previously disparaged? Or through a person who annoys you as much as Elisha annoyed Naaman? Or through a very junior employee like Naaman’s servant girl who set the whole thing up? We must learn to listen more carefully to those people the culture ignores, because God speaks most consistently from the margins – through children, through the poor, through those who suffer.’

Lord, convict me of any pride and give me the grace of humility to recognize you in the people around me.

Amen