This past weekend, the story of Naaham, the leper in II Kings 5 was brought back to my mind in a new way by our AH speaker Adrian. The whole story is fascinating, but one little aspect really stuck out to Valerie and I, so I wanted to share that here.

First off, quick overview: Naaman was a prestigous and honored man, for he was captian of the host of the king of Syria. But there was one big thing against him. He had leprosy.

Well, it so happened that he had a little servant girl living in his home and working for his wife that, although she had been taken from her own home and people, still remembered and reverenced the God of Heaven. And she remembered that there was a prophet in Israel who could heal leprosy. So she shared that information with Naaman's wife who in turn shared it with Naaman.

Was there the slight possible hope that this could be true? Well, the King of Syria sent Naaman to Israel and on Naaman's behalf wrote the King of Israel and asked for Naaman's healing. Of course, the King of Israel was the wrong person to go to, and he rent his clothes in anguish as he felt that it was a set-up to make a quarrel between Israel and Syria. But thankfully, the prophet Elisha heard about the visit and asked to have Naaman come to see him. So Naaman went to see Prophet Elisha.

However, when Naaman arrived at the prophet's home with all his pomp and circumstance, the prophet did not even come out to see Naaman, but instead sent his servant out to greet him. The simple message was, "Go wash in the Jordan seven times and you will be clean!" Naaman was undoubtly furious. "How dare he? He doesn't even come out to see me, but instead sends me to wash in the river! Does he think I need a bath?"

But here is where the important part of the story comes in, and I'll let the verse speak for itself:

"And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, [if] the prophet had bid thee [do some] great thing, wouldest thou not have done [it]? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?" II Kings 5:13

How often do we tell God, "If you ask me to do some great thing....I'll do it! I'm willing!" But when He asks us to do the little things, we bawlk at obedience. Or we'll justify our lackness in the small areas as we rationalize, "But I do the important things! What's the big deal if I don't always obey in the little details. They are just little anyway...no one will notice!"

But God is a God of the small details and specifics...and He knows...if we can't honor him in the little areas of our lives, when we are really put to the test, we wont be able to stand for the big areas either. So, I see over and over again.....while there are big tests throughout our lives.....the majority of our tests are little ones.....day after day, when no one is looking, and when no one can get credit.

Thus an important question to be asking: "Are we willing to do the small things that He asks of us? Are we willing to be obedient in the little daily details and principles of His law?" If not, we can't expect Him to honor us with higher trusts or more responsibilities, can we? For, "He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke 16:10