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When I was in the seventh grade, I felt very proud of the fact I had bought a Bible with the hard-earned money I had saved up. After walking into a local bookstore in my hometown, I left with an NIV Teen Study Bible. I was so excited about my purchase that I took it with me just about everywhere, even to the movie theater. Just picture a twelve-year-old, his face beaming with pride, walking around with a large Bible. My friends, and even my parents, knew this was unusual, but they were patient and gently reminded me of the importance of time and place.
When I read the stories of the prophets, I was struck by the way they spoke with God. I thought: “If I speak to God, could I hear his voice as they did?” I asked my mom this question once. Her response, without thinking too much about it, was: “Sure you can! After all, God can do whatever he pleases.” As you can imagine, I tried to hear God’s voice, but I never received an audible response. Initially, I was disappointed. Was I missing something? I kept reading, hoping I’d find the answer.
As I grew older, I began to notice the quieter ways God speaks: through an answered prayer, the advice of a friend, the embrace of someone we love, the kindness of a stranger, the taste of warm coffee, and the sound of birds singing in the morning.
In today’s Old Testament Lesson from 2 Kings 5:1–15 we read the story of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army who suffered from leprosy and almost missed out on God’s healing because of pride. Naaman thought Elisha would come out, wave his hands, and call on God to heal him in a dramatic display of power. Instead, he was told to wash in the Jordan River seven times—a command so simple it felt beneath him. It wasn’t until Naaman stepped into the river with an open heart and mind that his prayer was answered.
Like Naaman, I was surprised to learn that God often works in subtle, unexpected ways. God had been speaking to me all along, not with thundering words from the sky, but with a still small voice. Looking back, I smile at my curiosity and youthful innocence. Yes, God speaks; we just have to listen closely.
Eric Bailey
Minister for Youth and Young Adults
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