2 Kings 7:3-7 MSG It happened that four lepers were sitting just outside the city gate. They said to one another, “What are we doing sitting here at death’s door? If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us we’ll live, if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.” So after the sun went down they got up and went to the camp of Aram. When they got to the edge of the camp, surprise! Not a man in the camp! The Master had made the army of Aram hear the sound of horses and a mighty army on the march. They told one another, “The king of Israel hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us!” Panicked, they ran for their lives through the darkness, abandoning tents, horses, donkeys—the whole camp just as it was—running for dear life.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 PhillipsFor look at your own calling as Christians, my brothers. You don’t see among you many of the wise (according to this world’s judgment) nor many of the ruling class, nor many from the noblest families. But God has chosen what the world calls foolish to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world calls weak to shame the strong. He has chosen things of little strength and small repute, yes and even things which have no real existence to explode the pretensions of the things that are—that no man may boast in the presence of God.
Observations
This may seem strange at first, but, to me, this is one of the most encouraging stories in the entire Old Testament. The city has been cut off from resources for months. The people in the city have resorted to unthinkable ends by the lack of food. The prophet Elisha has predicted a sudden and dramatic turn around of the situation, but no one believes him. Outside the city gates, with no hope for help or food from inside the city, we have these four lepers. Now lepers were avoided by others because the disease was communicable (it is a virus), had no cure and resulted over time in disfigurement, even to the extent of losing fingers, toes, noses. Lepers were considered a waste of space and resources.
These four lepers have an epiphany! “If we enter the famine-struck city we’ll die; if we stay here we’ll die. So let’s take our chances in the camp of Aram and throw ourselves on their mercy. If they receive us we’ll live, if they kill us we’ll die. We’ve got nothing to lose.” I can see them hobbling and shuffling toward the enemy camp. They have nothing to offer and nothing to lose. But God, in the way He does, uses the least – foolish, weak and men of little strength and small repute, actual outcasts – to save the city. This is clear evidence of how different God’s standards to judge value and worth vary from our standards for the same.
Impact on Me
There is great value in study of the Word, practicing spiritual disciplines and daily devotions, worshipping together, serving in ministry. These are all a necessary part of growing in our Christian walk. However, they do not define our value in God’s eyes. While they demonstrate our gratitude – our recognition of the grace and mercy poured out on us and for us, our commitment to submit and obey, our desire to return love to Him – they do not make us more worthy in God’s sight. We are worthy when we choose to be in Christ through the surrender of repentance and accepting the salvation provided for us on the Cross.
These four lepers remind me “that no man may boast in the presence of God.” My accomplishments, my talents, my knowledge, my accumulated wisdom, my faithful performance, only has real value when it is offered up in humility and used to walk in obedience to His will and purpose in my life. The best thing I bring to the table is my ear to hear and my heart to obey. Our God is able to make the fiercest army flee before anyone He chooses, even four starving, crippled, rag draped lepers that society considers worthless. What can He do with me if I will just get up and go when He calls?
Devotion
Lord God Almighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the One Who stooped down from Heaven to redeem my unworthy soul, I worship You. I want to see with Your eyes and value others with Your heart. I want to be just who You call me to be, not wishing to be someone else doing something else because they are being seen and recognized and I am not. I want to remember that what You can accomplish in and through me is only limited by the freedom I will allow to Your Holy Spirit. Change my heart, break loose the things in me that break Your heart so I may be Your good and faithful servant. I pray this all in Jesus’ name.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 