Making Known the Only Cure

She said to her mistress, “If only my master (Naaman) would see the prophet (Elisha) who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 2 Kings 5:3.

Naaman was a great man, a leader of men, experienced and successful in battle. He was a seasoned warrior, a man to whom the king of Syria had entrusted the safe-keeping of his kingdom; he had through providence delivered his country from its enemies. No doubt such high success and the favour of the king had obtained for him wealth and prestige. He was famous among his people.

Despite his prominence, power and the love and respect of his nation, Naaman carried a terrible burden. He was a leper! All the greatness, ability and achievements of this successfully big man must have faded into insignificance when he made the dreadful discovery. A microbe, an organism to small to be seen with the naked-eye, had brought the great man low.

She was but a little girl. A child too young to have developed whatever God-given gifts were latent within her. Unimportant in the sight of the important, nevertheless she had caught the eye of a marauding band of Syrian soldiers who where plundering Israel, her native land. Taken captive to Syria she became the handmaid of Naaman’s wife.

The little maid was indeed God-sent. Only she knew the cure for the great man’s sickness. The best physicians could not heal him. The grace of God can be seen operating in this child. In her words, yes, but also in her attitude. Here is proof that the Almighty sometimes uses children! Why should she want to help the commander of those rough enemy soldiers who had carried her in terror from her land and people? Yet her concern for Naaman comes across powerfully in the words, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria!” Surely such concern can only be explained as being the fruit of the Holy Spirit. She showed no bitterness towards others!

The little captive spoke up, this resulted in Naaman’s health being restored, even if it did happen in a rather indirect way. Better still he turned from heathenism and its false gods and became a believer in the true and living God. What if she had kept silent? Christians have the Spirit of God living in their hearts. This qualifies them to be the only people on earth who have the cure for a world dying in sin, which is a spiritual form of leprosy. ONLY CHRIST, the Great Physician can heal and deliver from the power of sin. May He give His people courage and concern to tell others and point them to Him.

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