We’ve had a series of wonderful stories in our Scripture readings lately, and today’s is especially good. It is a story of healing, a story with plenty of twists and turns, misunderstandings, anger, illness, kings and warriors. This story has everything – including some lessons for us. Let’s see if we can find them.

Our story begins with a great warrior, Naaman, commander of the army of the King of Aram (now known as Syria), an enemy of Israel. But this mighty warrior suffers from leprosy, a debilitating and much-feared skin disease.

Naaman’s wife has a servant girl, an Israelite who had been captured in a raid. One might expect this girl to be filled with resentment at her plight – taken from her home to serve in the household of an enemy of her people. She might even be glad to see her master’s terrible affliction. But she surprises us all by showing compassion for his misery.

She tells her mistress that the great prophet of Samaria (who happens to be Elisha) can cure Naaman.

Naaman, I am sure, would go to any length to be quit of his skin lesions and so he tells his king of the girl’s story.

Naaman had won great victories for his king and in gratitude the King sends a letter to the King of Israel on Naaman’s behalf asking that he be healed by him.

Naaman sets off in his quest to find this prophet who can heal him, taking a great reward with him.

• Ten talents of silver (about 750 lbs.)
• Six thousand shekels of gold (approximately 24,000 oz.)
• And ten sets of garments – far more clothing than any one person would ordinarily possess.

The Syrian King must have think that Elisha was a part of the Israelite’s king’s court and he words his letter in such a way that it is incorrectly interpreted by the Israelite king who thinks he is personally being asked to cure Naaman.

Upset and distressed, the king tears his clothing, calling out his anger, "Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me." Such an impossible request. Is this some kind of trick to provoke another confrontation between their countries?

Elisha hears of the king’s distress and sends a letter asking him to send Naaman to him.

Naaman arrives at Elisha’s house in an impressive display of authority, surrounded by his soldiers and their chariots. But Elisha, even though he asked for him, does not see Naaman personally but sends a messenger to tell him to go bathe in the Jordan River seven times.

Naaman is decidedly ticked off:

• First, Elisha won’t see him.
• Second, why should he bathe in the muddy Jordan? There are much cleaner rivers at home. Why come all this way to be told to literally go ump in the river? What kind of cure is that? Naaman knows the kind of healing ritual to expect from a holy man and this is not it.

But the little servant girl – the one who put the idea of going to Elisha into his head in the first place, save the day – and Naaman – when she boldly approaches him. If Elisha had asked of Naaman a difficult task, would he not have done it, she asks. Then why not do this simple thing? What harm can come of it?

So Naaman is persuaded to do as Elisha had said and he goes and immerses himself seven times in the Jordan River. Lo and behold, his leprosy disappears and his skins is restored and healed.

While the story seems simple, it is infused with many layers.

• There is the ongoing conflict between Israel and Syria
• A decorated army commander suffers from an embarrassing skin condition
• There is a king willing to approach his enemies in order to help this highly regarded commander of his army.
• A nameless slave girl has the courage to advise her owner
• The power of healing resides with a prophet in a house rather than with a king in a palace
• A cure is found by taking an ordinary bath in an ordinary river, rather than an instantaneous change
• There is yet another example of God’s power to heal and God’s trust in Elisha to be God’s prophet and intermediary in the world.

So, we can learn much from this story, but, to me, the important lesson is that God is often found in unlikely people and unlikely places. Sometimes we miss seeing God because we expect God to be found in the familiar and the comfortable.

Naaman expects to be greeted in the manner befitting his status and to be instantly healed in some elaborate ritual. He fails to understand that God works in other ways. He almost misses being healed because he tries to conform God to his own ideas.

God may be found in the familiar but God is also in the new, the risky and the unlikely.

The most unlikely person in this story is, of course, the young servant girl. Far from family, friends, and her homeland, she maintains a strong faith while living in the household of an enemy of her people, those who worship idols. But this young woman reaches out in compassion to help her master. And when he fails to see God working through the prophet, she persists in her efforts to help him. While Naaman rages in disappointment, this servant girl – whose name we do not know – perceives the word of God.

God is not found where we expect God to be found. God is found in the nameless ones, and the ones who live on the margins.

I was once invited to an elaborate service of worship for the induction of a newly-appointed Roman Catholic bishop. The service was infused with beautiful music, a huge choir, and many, many participants in fine gold-trimmed robes. It was impressive, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me. Outside the cathedral, a long line of limousines waited to carry the priests to a celebratory banquet.

As I sat amid the pomp and circumstance, I could only think of a worship service I attended in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. The church was of concrete block construction, the pews were hard wooden benches. The minister sat on a plain wooden chair. The windows were without glass and nothing adorned the walls or simple pulpit. The preacher delivered her sermon in Spanish and then repeated the entire thing in English for us while the regular worshippers listened quietly and patiently.

After the service, we piled into the back of a pickup truck for a ride back to where we were staying.

Was God in that magnificent Roman Catholic cathedral that day? Most certainly so. But I have to admit that I had a better sense of the presence of Christ in our midst in that humble little Nicaraguan church.

God is found in the unexpected, in the simple and humble places in our lives –p especially among the poor and those on the edges of society.

I have a little quiz for you. Here goes.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Lady Byng trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winter for Best Actor and Best Actress.

Well, how did you do? I suspect that you’re like me and failed this little quiz – and for good reason. The truth is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers – they’re the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Our fifteen minutes of fame quickly fades.

Now here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one.

1. List three teachers who inspired and encouraged you on your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have made you feel appreciated and special
4. Name five people you enjoy spending time with.
5. Name a half-dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

I suspect that that was an easier quiz and that you had no difficulty coming up with names.

You see, the people who make a difference in our lives aren’t the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They’re the ones who take the time to care. They’re the ones who reach out when they don’t have to – who risk for the sake of others - people like that unnamed servant girl who risked by boldly challenging her master.

This is where God is found.

Where will God find you?

Amen