Alliance Baptist Church

Read: 2 Kings 5:1-15

TODAY IN THE WORD

Everyone thought that they knew the contenders to win the Kentucky Derby this past spring. No one, not even the television announcer of the race, knew exactly who the number 8 horse was when he started moving from dead last up into first position, pulling away to win the race by over six lengths. Variously described as “scrawny” and “impossible long shot,” the horse “Mine that Bird” provided another reminder that the biggest and strongest horses don’t always turn out to be the best.

What’s true of horses is also true of people; we often think status, power, and appearances tell the whole story. But God loves to surprise us with the way He uses unexpected people. We see such a story in our reading today.

The core contrast here lies between the young servant girl and two powerful men, the Aramean military commander Naaman and the king of Israel. Despite his position of power and his proven battle valor, Naaman suffered from the disease of leprosy. His wife had a slave girl who had been abducted from Israel. This girl confidently told Naaman’s wife, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy!” (v. 3). She knew of the prophet Elisha and his power and was unafraid to recommend him.

In contrast, when the king of Israel heard about Naaman’s request, he thought only of himself and was filled with fear (v. 7). One wonders how a slave girl could have known more about Elisha than the king of Israel! The king could only think in terms of geopolitical struggle, not spiritual power.

The second contrast occurs when Naaman pouted over the instruction to bathe in the Jordan River (v. 12). The young girl had complete trust in Elisha’s God-given power to heal, but Naaman wanted the healing to look the way he expected, not the way he was instructed. When he finally complied and was healed, it provoked his worship. The testimony of the young servant girl resulted in praise being given to God (v. 15).

TODAY ALONG THE WAY

This girl wasn’t daunted by her position as a foreign slave; she still proclaimed the life-giving power of God. When we realize the depth of the richness of God’s grace and salvation, how can we refrain from sharing this with others? People around us—perhaps in our family, neighborhood, or workplace—are suffering from the spiritual disease of sin and separation from God. We can point them in the right direction! Ask God to give you opportunities to share a testimony of His power with someone who needs to be saved.