Then he went to the spring of water and threw salt in it and said, “Thus says the LORD, I have healed this water; from now on neither death nor miscarriage shall come from it.” So the water has been healed to this day, according to the word that Elisha spoke. 2 Kings 2:21-22
The medical school application process involved interviews with those who decided whether I’d get into medical school. The only question I remember was the inevitable, Why do you want to be a physician. They were probably looking for some unique answer, but all I had was something I’m sure they heard repeatedly. I truly want to help improve the lives of those in need. It was true. That’s why I wanted to be a physician. I don’t know that I can say that God told me to go to medical school, but I certainly thought it was the right thing to do in the eyes of God. We’re commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves and it seemed to me that addressing the needs of those who’re sick and hurting would be a good way to do that.
When confronted with sickness and pain in others, we should feel for them, and we should desire to help. This is illustrated in today’s passage, in which Elisha was staying in Jericho, a city which was afflicted with a diseased water source that apparently caused death and miscarriages. When informed of the situation, Elisha sprang into divinely inspired action, applying salt to the spring from which the tainted water came. Elisha then proclaimed that the water had been miraculously transformed so that it no longer caused death and miscarriage. Elisha saw people in great need and he intervened, using what power he had to improve the lives of those around him.
This behavior was later modeled by Jesus, who as Christians, we’re supposed to emulate. As followers of Christ, we’re supposed to love those around us, which means that when they hurt, we’re supposed to feel uncomfortable and we’re supposed to want to help. We don’t have to be miracle-working prophets or physicians to do this.
When my wife hears of someone in the hospital, she almost immediately begins thinking of how she can provide meals for those at home. It’s just something she does to try to and help. When someone’s child was sick at work recently, another coworker jumped in to put together some emergency funds to help with unexpected expenses. Often, we don’t do anything for lack of knowing what to do, but that’s on us. If we truly love those around us, we will find a way to help when we witness our neighbors hurting and in need. That is our job as Christians.