The Un-named Maid – 30th March 2008 am
2 Kings 5:1-3
The prophet Elijah is named 29 times in the New Testament while Elisha is named only once Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
Naaman was a Gentile and the commander of the army of an enemy nation., but with all his prestige, authority and wealth, he was a doomed man. Underneath his glorious uniform was the body of a leper, only the power of the God of Israel could heal him.
Ancient leprosy began as small, red spots on the skin. Later, the spots get bigger, and start to turn white, with sort of a shiny or scaly appearance. After a brief period of time the spots spread over the whole body and hair begins to fall out - first from the head, then from the eyebrows. As the leprosy worsens, finger nails and toenails become loose; they start to rot and eventually fall off. Then the joints of the fingers and the toes begin to rot and fall off one piece at a time. Gums begin to shrink and they can’t hold the teeth anymore, so each of them is lost. Leprosy keeps eating away at the leper’s face until literally the nose, the palate, and even the eyes rot - and the victim wastes away until death.
For the reasons mentioned above, leprosy is a type of sin. It starts off small and finishes big. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death” (James 1:15).
Sin is deeper than the skin – Lev 13:3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh: and [when] the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight [be] deeper than the skin of his flesh, it [is] a plague of leprosy: and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean.
It spreads – Lev 13:7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again:– Sin will always
It Defiles – Lev 13:45 And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
It Isolates – Lev 13:46 All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].
What would Namaan do? It appeared that all hope was lost. Not only was his career over but ultimately his life would be over. However, there is someone in this household who was willing to speak up, not only out of a love for her master, but out of a love for God.
I. She Had Concern For Naaman –
This young girl had been carried away captive. She was far from home. Away from her friends, her family and how does she react…. She could have said, “Good enough for him, he deserves leprosy….”
This young maid was a great example of how God can use His children even when they find themselves in a less than desirable circumstance. She could have been a very bitter captive, but instead she allowed the “Light of the Lord” to shine in the household of her captors.
She must have been raised in a home that taught her to believe in the Lord just as Daniel did while in captivity in Babylon. Notice what Clarke had to say about this little maid: “And see the benefits of a religious education! Had not this little maid been brought up in the knowledge of the true God, she had not been the instrument of so great a salvation.”
She didn’t hate this man who had captured her; she only saw his need - What a lesson for Christians
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already for harvest.
Time is running out – the field are white for harvest – there are people dying and going to hell every second of every day. What are we doing? Are we like the maid – willing to speak up for the Lord? Willing to point people in His direction?
God doesn’t necessarily use the knowledgeable person, or the talented person, or even the pious person, but will always use the willing person. One survey reported the top five reasons why people do not reach out to others as follows:
A. "I don’t know enough."
Note the contrast between the woman of Samaria and the disciples. The disciples had also been touched by Jesus. They had also been privileged to spend countless hours and days enjoying intimate fellowship with the Master. Yet, this woman, who had only spent a few moments with Christ, went to the same village the disciples had visited only moments before, and shared her story, while they had kept quiet. God doesn’t necessarily use the knowledgeable ones, but He always uses the willing ones.
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
B. "I’m not an evangelist."
After surveying 10,000 people, the Institute for American Church Growth concluded that 79 percent began attending church after receiving an invitation from a friend or relative. Only 6% were attracted by the pastor, 5% by the Sunday school and 0.5% by an evangelistic crusade.
C. "I don’t want to appear to be pushy."
In one survey of non-church attendees, it was revealed that 65% said they would respond favourably to an invitation from a friend. 15% said they would respond favourably to an invitation from a stranger!
D. "I don’t know any non-Christians."
You know more than you think.
The lost are all around us, even as they were all around the disciples. That’s the point that Jesus made in verse 35. No doubt, our Lord said this as He gestured toward the crowd that was coming toward them as a result of the woman’s invitation!
E. "My walk with God isn’t all it should be."
The Bible tells us that if we will seek to share our faith with others, our walk with God is strengthened.
In Philemon 6 Paul wrote, That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
You don’t have to be a spiritual giant in order to share your faith. You just have to be willing.
Many probably questioned the wisdom of God in allowing this young girl to be carried away as a slave. He had her here at the perfect time to accomplish His work. Thank God for people with a heart for others.
II. She Had Confidence In God –
Verse 3 … for he WOULD recover. She knew what God could do! Thank God for those who believe in a BIG God! Too many have a little, weak, God!
In Mark 14 we read where Jesus went to pray to his Father in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Scripture tells us in verses 35-36, And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. [36]And he said, Abba, Father, all things [are] possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. Did you hear what Jesus declared in verse 36? He said to the Father, “All things are possible unto thee,” meaning that all things are possible with God!
In the Book of Luke we find a similar verse. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, a virgin, and he told her, Luke 1:31-33 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. [32] He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: [33] And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Mary exclaimed, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” (v. 34), and Gabriel explained to her of how she would conceive by the Holy Spirit (v. 35). He then told her, “For with God nothing shall be impossible” (v. 37).
In the Book of Zechariah we read how the Lord encouraged the captives of Babylon who thought they would never see Jerusalem again. Zechariah 8:6-8, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the LORD of hosts. [7] Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Behold, I will save my people from the east country, and from the west country; [8] And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
In the Christian life we are confident that the word “impossible” does not mean a thing to the Lord! Nothing is impossible with our God! In fact, “With God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27)!
This young maid had that confidence in God, she knew that nothing was impossible for the one who made the world in just six days.
She knew that nothing was impossible for the one who fed and clothed an entire nation for 40 years.
She knew that nothing was impossible for the one brought water from a rock, parted seas and made solid walls fall – even leprosy could be cured….,
If leprosy is a representation of sin and it can be cured – your sins can be forgiven – have confidence that God can forgive sins – not by dipping in the Jordan but by going to the Water of Life and being washed by His precious blood.
III. She Had A Confession For God –
For this little maid to be credible, she had to have a testimony. Certainly her testimony added credence to her witness. She was able to speak and they listened. They heard what she had to say about the prophet that was in Samaria. She said with conviction that her master should go and see the prophet in Samaria and said with confidence that he would be healed.
She spoke out of her convictions. She was unafraid to simply speak out for the Lord – regardless of who the audience was.
How many times have we held our peace when we should have spoken up? How many times do we correct someone when they blaspheme in front of us? How many times do we confess God, not just with our lips but with our lives?
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
She was a light for the Lord in character and conduct in the midst of a dark world.! Thank God for those who are willing to say a word for the glory of the Lord!
Conclusion
What Bible character best sums us up? Are we like this young maid? Her name is not mentioned… but she was not there to take any credit, she just wanted to point someone to the Lord
Do we have a concern for people, lost and save?
Do we have confidence in God, or do we doubt Him and His Word?
Do we have a confession for God? How’s our testimony?
