Abana and Pharpar, beautiful but empty
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage (2 Kings 5:12 ESV)
Naaman was a Syrian general who left Syria to seek healing from Leprosy in Samaria through prophet Elisha. When he got to Elisha’s house, Elisha sent a servant to tell him to go to river Jordan and dip himself seven times to be healed completely from his Leprosy. This army general was so infuriated by Elisha’s instructions. He said:
Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage (2 Kings 5:12 ESV)
He said Abana and Pharpar, which were rivers in Damascus Syria, were better than river Jordan! However, though Abana and Pharpar were cleaner and better, maybe fresher than river Jordan, he will never get cured of Leprosy by washing in them. They were better but empty. Naaman finally accepted to follow the prophet’s command and dipped himself in Jordan seven times and came back with his skin as smooth as a young man!
There are so many applications of this truth. The world looks better but never satisfies. What about some church services, teachings, preachings, prophecies, etc which are electrifying but empty, never producing any results? Sometimes, though not always, God will be found in places that are not so palpable to our human senses. God will sometimes use people that we may not like. He often chooses the weak to confound the strong, and the foolish the wise. Be in Jordan, where God is found, rather than in Abana and Pharpa which look beautiful but are empty.
MEDITATE
Have you ever been disappointed by something or even someone that promised so much but delivered little to nothing?
APPLY THE WORD
The best place to be is in God’s will. What you are looking for is in Christ, not in the world. Be careful not to despise what God is doing because “you do not like” the place or the person He has chosen to work through.
PRAY
Ask God to help never miss what He is doing because of external features.