Saturday Morning Promises – Great Stories

Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 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.” (2 Kings 5:1-3)

It was a bright day of sunshine in a little village in Israel. Smoke rose from the fires where food was being prepared. Animals were being herded into stalls and carpenters were busy mending the farming implements. Old men sat around talking of days gone by. Children played in the middle of the street. A dust cloud rose to the north. Terror was coming.

The invading Syrians took everything in their path. Those who resisted were killed. Livestock was driven away, grain gathered up, articles of value stolen and in the midst of the chaos of that horrible day a little girl was scooped up and taken away. Cries for her family fell on deaf ears. Her family would search for days until realizing she was taken captive. A slave girl. Taken to a foreign land with people who did not worship Jehovah. To deepen the wound she was enslaved in the house of the man who changed her life – Naaman. And he was a leper.

As the Lord peered into the heart of this little maiden He did not see hatred nor bitterness. He saw a remarkable heart. This young girl – thrown into a world unlike her own – let the radiance of God’s love shine through the dark veil of hatred and reach out to her enemy. She did not wish him dead of leprosy. Remarkably still she believed in the overwhelming power of God when she suggested to her mistress there was a man in Israel who could heal her husband. Leprosy? How is it possible to be healed of leprosy? She knew God could do it.

Jesus would use this story in His teaching many centuries later. He would remark, “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27). The reason this one man (a Gentile) was cured of his leprosy was because of a little maiden girl taken in a raid. Young people have such power in their hearts. They don’t have the hatred and prejudice we adults have. They just see the power of God.

The story for this last day of the week is to think of how much she changed the life of Naaman. Consider her plight because she did not. Being a captive did not mean she stopped loving God. Through her words she saved a man from certain death in leprosy. A simple little girl teaches a simple little lesson about what a simple little effort on our part can bring in the life of someone. “Would you like a Bible study?” “Would you like to visit with us this Sunday?” “Could I help you in any way?” Little maiden. Little words. Huge results. Thank you young lady.

The love we give away is the only love we keep. (Elbert Hubbard, ‘Notebook’ 1859-1915)