Key experiences

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A key experience is an event that is particularly significant and has a lasting impact on thinking, feeling, or behavior. It occurs unexpectedly or intensely. The event stands out strongly from everyday life. It also evokes strong emotions, positive or negative. It leads to a lasting change in attitudes, goals, and behavior.

Examples:

• Overcoming an illness after a long recovery  
• A renewed appreciation for health and family

1. Naaman's Experience

He was a commander of the Syrian king Ben-Hadad, a respected man through whom God had given victory to the Syrians. He held a prestigious position. He was powerful, had character, and was brave, a war hero. 'But' he was leprous, and this 'but' ruined everything. His leprosy isolated him, it was incurable. Constantly having death before his eyes.

2. A Glimmer of Hope

A captive girl from Israel was a servant of Naaman's wife. She had a strong and true faith in the God of salvation, care, and deliverance. She showed her mistress a way to find healing through the prophet in Samaria.

Then Naaman went to King Benhadad and told him what the girl from Israel had said. The Syrian king encouraged him to visit the prophet. He gave him a letter of recommendation to King Joram of Israel and asked him to heal his servant of leprosy.

After arriving in Israel, he handed the letter from his king to King Joram. When Joram had read the letter, he tore his clothes in outrage and cried: Am I a god, with power over life and death? Is this war about something?

Elisha heard about it. He sent a messenger to the palace and had Joram told: Send the man to me! He should realize that there is a prophet of the true God here in Israel.

Shortly afterwards, Naaman arrived at Elisha's. The prophet sent his servant to the house to tell the military commander: Go to the Jordan and wash yourself seven times in the water! Then your leprosy will disappear and you will be healed.

3. Naaman's Attitude

Naaman came with anger and rage and false notions. I had expected Elisha to come out and pray to his God. I had imagined him placing his hand over my sick spots and freeing me from my leprosy.

His expectations were not met. They were an obstacle for him.  

His behavior shows the all-too-human hope and expectations going unfulfilled.

4. A wise man lets himself be told

Full of anger, Naaman wanted to return home. But his servants persuaded him to take action. The message from Elijah, to dip seven times, was indeed possible. Naaman was convinced. He went down to the Jordan, stepped into the water, and dipped himself seven times, as the messenger had instructed.

5. His Healing

A great pivotal experience. The deadly disease is over. The isolation and the fear of death are over. He returned to the Prophet with his entire entourage and confessed to him:

Now I know, there is only one true God, the God of Israel.


6. His realization, his decision

His request to Elisha: I want to take as much soil from here as two mules can carry. I want to worship the true God, who made heaven and earth, on this soil in my country. Elisha sent him off with a greeting of peace. According 2 Kings 5.

7. Recognize, Confess, Act

Here in this story, it is about natural life, about sickness and health. But there is also a divine eternal life, which means: I acknowledge and know whom I believe in. Do you know it or do you hope for it?

Leprosy, a picture of sin that all people suffer from. Paul proclaims:

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (ESV)

Jesus, in his prayer, makes clear:

And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

John 17:3 (ESV)

We should recognize like Naaman: Now I know, there is only one true God who made the heavens and the earth. The one who sent Jesus, His Son, as a gift and paid for our guilt on the cross.

We should confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. We maintain our relationship with God through daily Bible reading and prayer.

Author: Edith Waechter
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