2 Kings 5:11 But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy.
Prompts are events or facts that cause actions or feelings. Provocations on the other hand are triggers that incite irritation or anger. We would see two people under the same circumstances, facing the same issue reacting differently. One would take it as a prompt but another would be provoked. Our perspective on ‘an issue’ or ‘life in general’ is the trigger to our reactions. Perspectives are formed over a period of time based on our exposure, maturity and upbringing. Perspective or personal viewpoints are shaped by experiences, values and belief systems. Culture, family circumstances and childhood trauma play a very important role in character formation and perspectives. However, distorted perspectives can be reshaped, renovated and reformed. If we find ourselves easily provoked, irritated and agitated there is a dysfunctional perspective that is goading the provocation. To change our reactions we must take effort to reshape our perspectives.
Naaman the commander of Aram, the enemies of Israel came to Elisha for healing. He was a mighty man of valor but he was a leper. There was no other cure except a miracle from God. The witchdoctors of Aram had no spell or charm to cure him hence he went to the prophet in Israel. Elisha did not even come out of his shack to examine the celebrity. He just gave him instructions to go and dip himself seven times in the Jordan River. This provoked and infuriated Naaman. God was dealing with Naaman’s pride. He had to humble himself and dip seven times in the Jordan River which was muddy and grubby. While Naaman was agitated, there was a servant of Naaman who travelled with him who had a different perspective. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” (vs 13).
The same instruction that provoked Naaman prompted the unnamed servant to obey.
Prompts or Provocations:
1. Reshape: If we are easily irritated there is pride hiding in us. We must humble ourselves and reshape our perspectives.
2. Renovate: The challenges we face in life must renovate our thinking and not build walls of resistance. It must make us better, not bitter, resilient, or resistant.
3. Reform: Naaman reformed his thinking, humbled himself to obedience and received the miracle. A man of quick temper acts foolishly (Proverbs 14:17a). Reformed thinking brings positive influence but reactionary response is destructive.
Look for prompts to change, improve and reform. Don’t be provoked, be prompted to reflect and reform.
2 Kings 5:14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I put on humility to see everything as a prompt. Help me not to be provoked, or agitated. Amen.
Leave a Reply