Divine graces are varied and many. By them we have forgiveness of sin, healings for our bodies, provisions as well as protection. The important lesson to take to heart is that we cannot dictate how God will administer these graces. Naaman’s story will bring this out clearly. The opening verses of 2 Kings 5 capture the exploits of this Syrian general. He had brought many victories to his country. However, his illustrious career was punctuated by a debilitating disease of leprosy. A young slave girl that he brought home would later suggest to him to go and see the prophet for a cure. On arrival to Samaria, Elisha did not attend to him personally; rather through a trainee who told him to go and dip in river Jordan seven times. That got the general pissed off. He figured out that there were better rivers in his native country; if dipping in the river was the solution he might as well return home.

“Those who lay out conditions for God on how He should reach out to them stand the risk of missing divine graces.”

What was the problem with Naaman? He had a preconceived idea of how the prophet would heal him. Read this in 2 Kings 5:11. “But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper”. Because Elisha did not come to him as expected he was not going to try his prescription. It took the intervention of his servants to persuade him. God is known as the commander of the universe. We cannot dictate how He should work. Those who lay out conditions for God on how He should reach out to them stand the risk of missing divine graces.