2 Kings 5:  Read the wonderful story of Naaman.  I think there are many applications to our lives and to thoughts on simplicity that God can show us through this story.

The story tells how Naaman had leprosy and went to the prophet Elisha to be healed of this disease.  But when Naaman arrived at Elisha’s house Elisha himself did not even come to greet him, but sent a messenger with the message, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.”

That was very easy, but was Naaman excited?  We read, no way, he was angry.  That was in fact too simple.  He was angry because, “Behold I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and cure the leper.”  He thought he had better rivers at home than the Jordan that he could have washed in if that was the cure.

But then his servant came to him and said. “My father, if the prophet had commanded you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?  How much rather, then, when he says to you, wash and be clean?”

So, apparently Naaman reconsiders and does what Elisha had told him to do, and his flesh was restored and he was healed.

I think this is such a wonderful story of the simplicity of God.  All through the Bible, New and Old Testament this theme is carried through.

How can this apply to your own life.  Think about this story when you are pondering and memorizing the verses we have had in class each week.  It is too simple to take them at face value.  Would you be more willing to DO them if they were just a bit more complicated.  Perhaps not so “childlike”.  We are told to be “childlike” not childish.  There is a big difference.

Matt 18:3 “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become LIKE children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Think about this and also these other thoughts and verses that stress the simplicity of God.

The world wants a show of power, and might and wealth but God wants to do things the opposite in a simple childlike manner.

The Jews were looking for a king to come in power and glory but God sent the Messiah to a virgin and he was born in a stable.

When the angels announced his birth they did not do it to the rulers of the land but to the shepherds on a hillside.

Psalm 119:130 “The unfolding of thy words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.”

I love the words in 1 Cor 1:19-31.  Read it, it says it all as to God’s feeling of simplicity verses the wisdom of the world.