What Would Do To Achieve Your Goal?

 

From Commons.Wikipedia

This from 2016, and  I doubt there has been much change.It really isn't a good shot, but it was better than the other dataset I found from 2001. A little concerning are the gray (Not Reported) and the white (Not Applicable) areas. Leprosy is still with us, and basically curable if caught early.

Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. (2 Kings 5:1 KJV)

The Pulpit Commentary gives a little background about who Naaman could have been:

Benhadad, [King of Syria at this time] who had been wont in his youth and middle age to lead his armies into the field in person, seems now in his old age to have found it necessary to entrust the command to a general, and to have made Naaman captain of his host. ... Probably he had commanded the Syrian army in some of its encounters with the Assyrians, who at this time, under Shalmaneser II; were threatening the independence of Syria, but did not succeed in subjecting it.

And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife. (2 Kings 5:2 KJV)

A child was considered the spoils of war, and moved into slavery. She must have been well treated, because she was concerned about her master's horrible infection of leprosy. Every instance where leprosy is mentioned in the Bible tells of suffering and outcast from society. This little maid in waiting offered a solution that reached the king of Syria, who obviously thought highly of his captain:

And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel. And the king of Syria said, Go to, go, and I will send a letter unto the king of Israel. And he departed, and took with him ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of raiment. (2 Kings 5:3-5 KJV)

I suggest you read the whole story, because there are so many different lessons in this one chapter that I could fill a week of blogs. Read it, see how many you find, but this blog is on what would we do to get what we want. That depends on how important it is. The prophet Naaman went to didn't even see him:

So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. (2 Kings 5:9-10 KJV)

We don't have to wonder what Naaman thought:

But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. (2 Kings 5:11-12 KJV)

Pick out your least favorite politician, place him in Naaman's place, and imagine his consternation when told to take a bath in a non-important river, in a place he disliked. Imagine his wrath and rage. And imagine the best of friends giving him advice:

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? (2 Kings 5:13 KJV)

An easy solution, no huge undertaking, nothing impossible, all that is lost is a piece of time during the day. Reason won out and Namaan followed directions, became cleansed of his leprosy. When we really want something so badly that we would ... just what would we do to obtain what we want? How far would you travel? How much would you spend to gain your goal? What is your goal? One unnamed little maid is remembered for thousands of years because of her faith in God and His prophet. She spoke of that belief, a king took her word for it and sent a company in belief. 

In the middle of the story, Naaman decided it was well worth his time to believe God and His prophet. Stay in the chapter to read the rest of that story - a gift refused, an opportunity for gain, and the consequences unexpected. God has a lot to show us, but what does He want us to do?

What does God ask of us?

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30 KJV)

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:7-8 KJV)

There pages of verses that I could add here, but I ask that you seek them out in the Bible. Ir's not what a denomination says, it's not what one church says, it is what God has inspired for all of us to read, understand, and believe:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Read the Bible - there are free apps online for your smart phone, and links on line to read, compare, and study, as in this link for John 3:16-18,