The Light of God Encountered on the Path of Obedience
To my beloved brothers and sisters, I extend the peace of the Lord to you.
Have you ever found yourself asking God, “Lord, why does that person’s path seem so smooth, while my journey is so burdensome?” There may have been times of frustration when others seemed to receive immediate answers to their prayers, while you alone seemed to be undergoing an endless season of training and hardship. However, the faithful God, who makes no mistakes, is the One who leads ‘me’ on the very best path.
There is nothing wasted in God’s guidance. I believe that when we move forward in faith and obedience, we will see the beautifully interlaced puzzle of His providence—delicately and perfectly fitted for us—and we will be overwhelmed by His planned grace, giving Him great glory.
Today, through two figures in the Bible, I wish to discover God’s “tailored love” for us. One went to Siloam and immediately received his sight, while the other had to wash his body seven times in the Jordan River. Through these two stories, let us reflect together on where we stand today and how we are experiencing the light of God.
1. Siloam: Obedience that did not ask “Why?”
In John chapter 9, we encounter a man born blind. He was someone who had never seen the light from birth, living in total darkness. Jesus anointed his eyes with mud and commanded him, “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam.” By common sense, this was a command difficult to understand, perhaps even feeling insulting.
Although the blind man did not fully know who Jesus was, he obeyed immediately without a single question or complaint. As a result, “So he went and washed and came back seeing” (John 9:7). A miracle of ‘new creation’ took place in his life. He was no longer a blind man but became a man of mission. As one ‘sent’ (the meaning of Siloam) by Jesus, he became a witness of the light.
2. The Jordan River: Arrogance that asked “Why?”
Conversely, let us consider Naaman the commander in 2 Kings chapter 5. He possessed high status and power, yet he suffered from leprosy. He sought out the prophet Elisha, but the prophet did not even show his face; instead, he sent a messenger saying only, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times.”
Naaman was furious. ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God! Are not the rivers of my land better than all the waters of Israel? Why not just once, but seven times?’ His heart was filled with pride and complaints stemming from his status and experience.
However, after the wise counsel of his servants, he reluctantly obeyed, and his flesh was restored like that of a young child. The crucial point is that, regardless of his initial hesitation, Naaman ultimately obeyed. The Jordan River was a place of training where his pride was broken and his ego was crushed. Although the process of God's dealing with him was painful due to his stubbornness, he was molded into a vessel large enough to be used by God. Through seven acts of obedience, he finally arrived at the great confession of faith: “There is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” Theologians today even describe Naaman as God’s missionary left in the Gentile lands.
The Siloam and Jordan River of Our Lives
These two stories serve as mirrors for us living today. Before the guidance of God, are we responding with purity like the blind man, or are we putting our own thoughts and logic first like Naaman?
God approaches each of us in the way we need most. Sometimes He rescues us at once with the grace of ‘Siloam,’ but other times He leads us to deeper faith by breaking our pride through the training of the ‘Jordan River.’ Does the difficulty you are facing now feel like Naaman’s Jordan? Instead of complaining, try to discern God’s will contained within it. At the end of that training, God’s glory is surely waiting.
The Life of One Who Has Seen the Light, The Life Experienced in God's Dealings
- First, restore simple obedience.
Like the blind man, try responding with “Yes” before asking “Why?” What is the command “Go and wash” that He is giving you today? It might be forgiving someone, breaking a long-held bad habit, or beginning a service you have hesitated to do. That very thing is your ‘Siloam.’
- Second, trust the purpose of the training.
When you face repeated difficulties and think, “Why only me?”, I exhort you to proclaim, “God has a purpose for me!” Just as God refined Naaman to make him a great witness, your time of suffering and tears will become precious ingredients for a testimony that saves other souls.
- Third, testify with a transformed life.
A person who has experienced the light cannot remain silent. Just as the blind man shouted, “I am the man!”, we too must live as ‘sent ones’ in our respective places of life. Our transformed life itself is the most powerful message of the Gospel.
Beloved brothers and sisters,
Whether you are currently standing at Siloam or the Jordan River, the important fact is that God’s hand, leading us to the light, is with us there. If you proceed with obedience in faith, the main character of God’s amazing work—which is happening even now—will be none other than “you.”
I pray that you will not hesitate but take a step of faith toward the ‘Siloam’ that God is speaking to you about today. Seek the help of the Holy Spirit. At the end of that obedience, I believe you will taste the miracle of new creation where He molds your life anew. I believe you will experience the deep heart of “God the Father.”
Blessings in the name of Jesus.
October 15, 2025
Dr. Jaeyun Lee
