He was popular and successful as commander of Syria’s powerful army. His leadership abilities and military prowess had made him rich and his king famous beyond the country’s borders. Things couldn’t have been better if there would not have been another truth about his life that made all his achievements, status, and riches mean next to nothing! This man, Naaman, had leprosy, a deadly, and at the time incurable skin disease, which demanded that he lived his live in isolation.
Just when he thought all was lost, the slave girl, who had been forcefully taken from her home and family, told her master’s wife that she wished he could see a man of God in her country. He would know how to help him.
Why would this young girl do such a thing? The sick man was probably directly responsible for her present situation. She was “just” a young slave girl, a helpless victim. A natural reaction for her might have been to think, “right on, serves you right, you got what you deserved.” However, this girl had no hatred or thoughts of retaliation in her heart. She showed sincere compassion for her slave Master! Although she suffered injustice and heart ache, she had forgiven the wrong done to her and was now seeking what was loving and kind for him. She trusted God who works all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to his purposes.
Her slave master listened to her. The life she had lived in front of him made her words credible beyond those of a common young girl. After seeking permission from his king, Naaman traveled to her home country, where he eventually meet the prophet of God. The prophet didn’t perform a healing ceremony as he expected, instead, the unusual therapy prescribed by the prophet required nothing more than dipping seven times in the Jordan River. It sounded stupid, too simple to Naaman, but after some encouragement from his servants, he obeyed the words of the prophet. When he came up out of the muddy water the seventh time, this wounded warriors skin was as healthy as that of a young child!
A great man had a big problem. A little slave girl, who was willing to love and forgive had the solution. Her loving witness resulted in her masters healing and realization: “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.” (See the Old Testament book of 2 Kings 5 for more details)
This “God of all the earth” can be called upon today whether it is for physical healing or healing from the leprosy of sin-sickness.
Falling Into Place
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