We read in 2 Kings Chapter Five about the biblical account of the healing of Naaman, a captain in the Syrian army. This man was a mighty man of valor who was plagued with leprosy. When we study this passage of Scripture, we concentrate on the miraculous healing of Naaman. We emphasize the importance of following God’s instructions. We see the fallacy of pride and the arrogance and the anger that goes hand in hand with pride. However, in this study, I want us to consider verses two and three, “And the Syrians had gone out on raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She waited on Naaman’s wife. Then she said to her mistress, ‘If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy.’”
The Hebrew word for “maid” in this passage can mean a child from infancy to adolescence. This young girl was old enough to serve as a maid to Naaman’s wife, but she was not a young adult. Please consider the following ideas gleaned from this young, Hebrew slave.
She listened to the instruction of her parents. This youthful maiden was blessed with parents who taught her the about the one true God – the God of the Israelites (Deuteronomy 4:39). Her parents took to heart the teachings of Moses in Deuteronomy 6:6-9. They must have used every waking moment to instill a love for God in her. She carried a love and a faith that went with her when she was abducted by the Syrian army and transported as a slave to Naaman’s household.
She understood the power of God and His servants. Although Elisha had not healed a person with leprosy (Luke 4:27), this maid believed in the power of God to do so. She understood the power of God as He created the world (Genesis 1). She believed the words of 1 Chronicles 29:11-12, “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all.” This young maid knew that God could heal Naaman through His prophet, Elisha.
She carried her faith with her into a strange new land. This youthful servant girl did not allow the idolatrous nation to rob her of her belief in God. She maintained her faith in spite of her surroundings.
Even though she found herself in difficult circumstances, she praised God. The young girl was snatched from her family and her country and forced into slavery. Yet, she did not bemoan her lot in life. She did not blame God or say, “Woe is me.” Instead she seized the opportunity afforded her to show the power of the God she served. She suggested that if Naaman were to meet the prophet in Samaria he would be healed. She did not say he could, but had the confidence that Elisha would heal him.
She showed respect to her captors and fulfilled her assigned duties. The maiden desired the best for those with whom she served. She wanted Naaman’s health to be restored. Undoubtedly, she fulfilled her assigned duties with diligence and without complaint evidenced by the relationship she had with Naaman’s wife. Advice from a surly, uncooperative slave would have been ignored, whereas information from a productive servant was heeded. Naaman’s wife told her husband the suggestion from this young, Israelite, slave girl.
Because a young Israelite girl maintained her faith in God and properly served her mistress, an idolater became a believer in the one true God of the universe. Because a young girl had the courage to speak out about the one true God, a non-believer accepted God.
Each Christian – young and old – can learn much from this unnamed, youthful girl. We need to imitate the actions and attitude of this young girl. We need seize the opportunities afforded us to speak out about the God we claim to serve. We need to overcome our difficulties and use the trying times to teach someone about the one true God. Let us follow the example of this young girl and many other people of the Bible who stood the test of time to serve their Lord.
