Saturday, May 28, 2011

Influential Women Of The Bible: The Servant Girl of Naaman.

Influential Women Of The Bible: The Servant Girl of Naaman.

The young servant girl’s story is found in 2 Kings 5:1-5.

Even though she was not a woman, this young female child changed the course of a man’s life. Sometimes it's the most “insignificant” person who makes the biggest difference.
Her story begins with a man by the name of Naaman. He was an army commander for a country called Aram. The king of Aram admired Naaman because Naaman was a mighty warrior who had won many battles. His only problem was that he suffered from a disease called leprosy. During one of the raids against Israel, many of the Israelite people were taken captive. Among the captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman's wife as a servant. One day the servant girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go and see the prophet in Samaria! He would heal him of his leprosy.” After receiving permission from King Aram, Naaman leaves Syria and searches for the prophet Elisha. As he arrives at Elisha’s door, Elisha sent a message that he should go and wash seven times in the Jordan river and he would be healed. At first, Naaman became angry and left in a rage. But after much convincing an d reasoning by his servants, Naaman went down to the Jordan, dipped himself seven times as Elisha instructed, and his flesh became as healthy as a child. He was completely healed! All because of a young girl who decided to share her faith in her God as a healer.

This young girl found herself captive in a foreign land. But she never lost sight of who she was. She was one of God’s chosen people. She had faith in her God. She ended up in a place where just a few words from her lips caused a mighty Gentile warrior to be restored to health. The circumstances of her life could have made her bitter and vindictive. Instead, she chose to help the man who was her master. And Naaman chose to take the advise of a servant girl, not allowing his pride to stand in the way of her help. By seeing a need and offering a little help, this young girl made a big difference.

There are many places in the bible where you will find people who were sold out for God despite the circumstances. They were willing to do anything that the Lord asked them, no matter the cost. You may have ended up at a place in your life because of circumstances that were beyond your control. Don’t let your circumstance make you bitter, resentful and vindictive. Allow God to use you to look beyond your circumstance and look for an opportunity to share your faith in God. You may be in a place where one step of obedience can change the course of someone’s life. Your decision today can make a big difference.

(From series, “Influential Women of the Bible” by Pastor Steven R. Williams, Sr.)

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