EXPECTED
Today's reading: 2 Kings 4-7

"But Naaman became angry and stalked away. I thought he would surely come out to meet me! he said. I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God and heal me!" 2 Kings 5:11 NLT

Expected-having considered a probably or certain outcome; having considered what's reasonable, due or necessary; having considered bound in duty or obligation.

Oh, I've heard sermons preached on Naaman's predicament!

I've heard pastors speak of the handmaiden's faith, Elisha's flippancy and Naaman's 'easy way out' to a healing.

But this morning I'm caught by what Naaman did that I had never seen before--he expected.

He expected things to go differently. Ever been there?

He expected things to look differently. Done that?

He expected God to respond differently than He did. In the middle of that now?

Who are we, and who was Naaman, to have any formal grasp on what and how God will go about doing anything He pleases?

Would you ever have expected in God's glorious creation a mixture or parts and pieces that would produce a hippopotamus? A giraffe? A frog?

Would you have ever expected two cells to meet and 'marry' to form a person? A live human being?

Would you ever have expected in the dead of winter that the beauty and freshness of spring would awaken in every corner of the landscape?

God's not living up to our expectations--He is surpassing them with every passing moment!