"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn't this Joseph's son?" they asked.
Jesus said to them, "Surely you will quote this proverb to me: 'Physician, heal yourself! Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.'"
"I tell you the truth," he continued, "no prophet is accepted in his hometown. And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed-- only Naaman the Syrian."
Centuries later Jesus used Elisha as an illustration of a faithful prophet throughout Israel. The context of this comment came when the people of His hometown did not accept His message because He was just one of their boys.
Elisha was a faithful servant who could have done so much for Israel, but because of their rejection of him and his word, the miracle of healing leprosy came to a gentile. His message and miracles did not produce the repentance of the people to whom his ministry was focused. There were some who listened, but for the most part they ignored him and God.
However, Elisha continued his influence on Israel even though they were continually disobedient. Was Elisha a failure? No, not at all. This is a commentary on the mercy and grace of Almighty God that speaks of His patience with His people by providing men like Elijah and Elisha who did not stop seeking to bring back the people to God.
There are times when it is easy to feel discouraged like Elijah. Parents can be discouraged from when they instruct and pray for their children who are well into their adult years. It can be discouraging for pastors and evangelists to work and preach the truth without people responding in obedience and faith in Christ. It can be discouraging for youth sponsors, teachers, and workers to provide Christian alternatives for their students only to see them go the ways of the world. But God still calls us, parents, children, church and workers, to serve Him. People’s responses are not ultimately our responsibility. They have been told the truth and taught the lessons of God's word. Being obedient to what God wants is our responsibility.
Philip Yancey traveled with the noted missionary physician, Dr. Paul Brand, who specialized in the disease of leprosy. While in India they were warmly greeted by people he had helped. They sang hymns, danced, and shared in the joy of seeing their friend who healed and shared with them about Jesus. Yancey met Namo, who had a photo of Dr. Brand on the wall of his humble home. "May the Spirit that is in him live in me'” he said. He had given up on life as a leper, but medical treatments halted the spread of the disease and a series of surgical procedures over 5 years allowed him to regain the use of his hand and feet. He took training in physiotherapy and began working with other leprosy patients. Namo went on to become chief of physical therapy at the All-India Institute.
Yancey also met Sadan another former patient of Dr. Brand. He told wrenching stories of past rejection: classmates who made fun of him in school, the bus driver who literally kicked off a public bus, many employers who refused to hire him. He told how Dr. Brand was the first physician to touch him. "Still, I must say that I am now happy that I had this disease. Apart from leprosy, I would have been a normal man with a normal family, chasing wealth and a higher position in society. I would never have known such wonderful people as Dr. Paul and I would never have known the God who lives in him."
Whether we live out our days in India, England, or rural Minnesota, the true measure of our worth will depend not on a résumé or income, but on God’s truth and love we pass on to others.
We know that Elisha received his eternal rewards as a faithful servant.
