A Little Maid With A Great Calling

2 Kings 5:1-6

"Naaman was the commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now, bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria, he would cure him of his leprosy.” Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. “By all means, go,” the king of Aram replied. “I will send a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: “With this letter, I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.” (NIV)

Faith and Courage

The passage we read today from 2 Kings 5:1-6 tells the story of a young girl who was taken captive by the raiders from Aram. This event occurred around the 9th century BC, roughly between 850 and 860 BC, when Israel was divided into the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah). After Solomon’s reign, Israel became vulnerable to invasions from neighboring empires like Aram, also known as present-day Syria.

During one of these invasions, the army of Aram captured a little girl from Israel and brought her to serve as a slave in the household of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army. Despite her circumstances, this unnamed girl became an instrumental part of God's plan, showing how God works in mysterious ways—even in the most unexpected situations.

God's Mysterious Ways

We often try to understand God’s ways based on our limited human reasoning, but God is not like us. Thank God for that! If He were like us, many things would be different—and not for the better. God is far more gracious, loving, and wise than we could ever comprehend. He works in ways that are often beyond our understanding.

As human beings, we think we need something tangible to make things happen, but God can create something out of nothing. When He created the world, He simply spoke it into existence. This story of the little girl demonstrates that God can use even the most unlikely people and circumstances to fulfill His purposes. Though the girl had been taken from her home, she acted with incredible faith and compassion.

The Little Girl: Hero of the Story

Though the story centers on Naaman’s healing, the real hero of the story is the little girl. She had every reason to be bitter—ripped away from her family and home and forced into a life of servitude in a foreign land. Yet, instead of allowing bitterness to consume her, she showed kindness and compassion to her master.

Naaman had leprosy, a disease with no cure in those days. In Israel, lepers were isolated outside of the city due to their contagious condition. Even though Naaman was an enemy commander, the little girl felt compassion for him. She remembered the prophet Elisha back in Israel and told her mistress, Naaman’s wife, that the prophet could heal him.

This act of kindness turned the entire situation around. The girl didn’t let her circumstances make her bitter; instead, she saw an opportunity to help someone in need. As Christians, we may sometimes feel out of place or be in difficult circumstances, but there is always a purpose in it if we look closely. God can use us to bless others, even when we are struggling ourselves.

Her Boldness and Courage

This little girl didn’t have to say anything. She could have stayed silent, unsure of whether her suggestion would be accepted or ridiculed. Yet she had the courage to speak up. She was bold enough to suggest that her enemy’s commander could be healed by the prophet in her homeland. She stepped out in faith, believing that God could work through her testimony.

How often do we, as Christians, shy away from sharing our own testimonies with others? How often do we hold back when we should be sharing God’s love and power with those around us? This girl’s boldness is a powerful reminder that we are called to share our faith, even in difficult or uncertain circumstances.

Compassion in the Face of Hardship

The little girl demonstrated remarkable compassion toward Naaman, despite being in a position where she could have harbored anger or resentment. Her caring and compassionate heart is an example for all of us. She had every reason to be bitter, but instead, she chose to help someone in need. Her faith and compassion made a significant impact on Naaman’s life.