A Maidens Witness
Today I would like to talk about the power of a witness. Not just any witness, but a slave in a land of pagans. Not just any slave, but a female adolescent. In the ancient world of the Old Testament a female child had as much importance and power as a lowly ant. Slim to none in the land of men. Yet, this child stood up to be counted when necessary and in the process changed the life of a very powerful man and made an impression on a nation.
In the army of Aram was a powerful man by the name of Namaan. He was the commander of the army. As you all are aware a commander will give orders and expect them to be obeyed. If his orders are not obeyed he has the privilege of administering justice on the offending party. The commander of the army is use to certain privileges and he has certain expectations. When he walks into the room everyone of a lesser rank will stand and salute. In other words Namaan was a person that expected things to be done his way without question and he had the power to ensure his orders were obeyed.
Being the commander of the army is impressive enough. Yet, Namaan was also powerful based on the company he kept. He was a friend, counselor and confidant of the king. The king of Aram leaned on Namaan both figuratively and literally. It is supposed by some theologians that the king of Aram was advanced in age and needed the literal support of Namaan to move around his palace and his kingdom.
Namaan, a powerful man. A mighty man. He has a whole army at his command. He has the fortune to have a king as a friend. Yet, Namaan was powerless over one thing. He had a disease.
A disease that could cost him his command.
A disease that could cost him the friendship of his king.
A disease that could cost him the comfort and love of his family.
A disease that could knock him off his pedestal of power and prestige and ostracize him from society. Namaan had leprosy.
This disease, this condition, this affliction of the skin, could cost him everything he had and everything he was. Despite his riches, his power, his fame, this disease did not answer to him. Namaan was helpless in the face of this condition. Oh sure, he could hide his disease behind his armor in battle. He could cover it up with bluster in front of his enemies. But at the end of the day he knew he had this disease and he knew that eventually he could not hide his condition. He also knew that eventually the little spot presently on his skin would grow and ultimately kill him.
However, despite this knowledge he continued to serve his king. He led his army on successful raids and battles. According to the writer of 2Kings Namaan was even an instrument of God for it was Namaan that fired the arrow that killed King Ahab.
On one of the skirmishes between the army of Aram, modern day Syria, several prisoners were taken. One of these prisoners was a young maiden that Namaan placed in his household to serve as a handmaiden for his wife. This young woman was a Hebrew.
Now consider her situation. She is a slave. She is a woman. She is a Jew. She is in the household of one of the most powerful men in Aram. Exactly what kind of power or influence could she expect to have in this household? She is considered so insignificant we are not even told her name. If you were in her situation would you be willing to speak up and offer your opinion?
Or give advice?
Or witness for your God?
This young woman is thrust into this forbidding situation and left to adapt on her own. She is given the job of being the servant for the masters wife. In this role she would hear of the comings and goings of the master. She would learn of the concerns and desires of the wife. She would also learn of the terrible disease that her master has and all of his attempts to find a cure. One day, she dares to open her mouth and tell the masters wife that she knows someone that could cure the wife’s husband.
After all the fruitless attempts that Namaan had made to be cured of this disease I imagine that his wife was pretty skeptical of what this Jewish maiden was saying. I could her Namaan’s wife scornfully tell the young maiden that there was no such thing as a cure. I could hear her saying that she would not allow her husband to be subjected to some voodoo medicine man! But the young maiden would not be deterred. She pleads with her masters wife and finally convinces her.
One wonders if the young maiden had an ulterior motive. Perhaps, she thought that if Namaan was cured she would be allowed to return home. We don’t know. What we do know is that she convinced Namaan and his wife that a cure could be found over the mountains in Israel and Namaan should be headed there.
Imagine the paradox here. The most powerful man in the most powerful army taking orders from a young Jewish maiden! Inconceivable, but true.
She certainly could have kept her mouth shut, but she didn’t.
She could have been cowed by the powerful man, but she wasn’t. She could have decided that to tell Namaan and his wife of her God would be unhealthy, but she witnessed instead. This young maiden was not powerless or weak, she believed in her all-powerful God and proclaimed that fact to her captors.
Now we have to admit that Namaan was desperate. How desperate was Namaan? Why he was willing to take advice from a woman! And not just any woman, but a slave! He was willing to try anything even this Jewess’s God if necessary. Namaan went to his friend and king and asked to be allowed to go to Israel to seek the treatment offered by the maiden. The king was only too happy to let Namaan go since he did not want to lose his confident to this disease. Indeed, the king even wrote a letter of introduction to the king of the Hebrews asking him to assist Namaan in receiving the cure.
Namaan was so determined to receive the treatment that he outfitted a caravan with gold, silver, and new linen. He didn’t know how much the treatment cost, but he was determined to make sure he had enough. So, in this caravan he had 30,000 pieces of silver, 6,000 pieces of gold, and ten new linen robes. In all, approximately $150,000 worth of gifts. Or approximately enough money for a one week stay in the ICU of the local hospital.
After several days journey Namaan and his convoy reach Jerusalem. He makes his way to the palace and asks to see the king. Now can you picture this in your mind. Here is the man that killed the previous king asking to see his successor. This general of the enemy dares to enter the city with just a caravan as his army. What gall! Or was it confidence? Or is it just determination to suffer the consequences as long as his disease is cured?
And what of the Hebrews? Do you not think that they knew who this traveler was? Do you not think that the soldiers and commanders that guarded King Jehoram didn’t know who the commander of their enemy was and what he looked like? Yet, Namaan was willing to walk into this potentially deadly situation all for the sake of a cure.
Namaan provided King Jehoram with his letter of introduction. How did Jehoram react to the letter? He shredded his clothes and exclaimed “What am I? A god that can cure all?” King Jehoram is reading a letter from a very powerful king and an enemy of Israel. The letter requests his assistance in curing a dear friend of a deadly disease. Jehoram interpreted that as saying that he, Jehoram, better cure Namaan or else all of Aram would attack Israel and wipe them out!
Fortunately, God had prepared the way. Elisha knew about this visit and sent a letter to the king telling him to send Namaan to him. I am sure the king was only too happy to oblige. He probably offered to help carry Namaan’s luggage out to the camel! Then stood on the porch to make sure that Namaan was headed in the right direction and definitely out of the city!!
Namaan and his entourage eventually reached Samaria where Elisha was living. I’m sure Namaan wasn’t too sure what his reception would be, but I am also pretty sure that he was expecting certain protocols would be observed. After all he was a general in the army of Syria and a friend of the king. Therefore, he would expect that the master of the house would greet him at the door and invite him, Namaan, into the house. But that didn’t happen.
He probably expected that he would be offered food and drink to quench his hunger and thirst after a long journey. But that didn’t happen.
He probably expected that he would be offered a basin of water and a towel to clean the dust from his face, hands and feet. But that didn’t happen.
What did happen was a servant came to the door and yelled out “ My master says go to the river Jordan and dip yourself in the water 7 times. Goodby and safe journey!”
Can you picture this scene in your mind? One of the most powerful men in the world standing outside your door. A man capable of killing. A man that has killed hundreds. A man that has harassed your country, taken prisoners, pillaged villages and towns. A confidant of kings. And Elisha sends a servant to yell out the door “ hey you, go wash yourself!” Not exactly the kind of welcome he expected.
We are told that Namaan was angry.
He was enraged,
incensed,
furious,
sputtering all kinds of epithets. I suppose I would be too if I were in his situation. Namaan had traveled a long way to seek this cure. He didn’t know what to expect but he believed that some common courtesies would be observed. I mean, Elisha didn’t even come out to look at his problem, wave his hand over the spot and utter some type of magical verse. No! He just sent his servant to tell him to go wash himself. Not only that, but wash himself seven times!! What an insult! It was like being told he was a filthy foreigner. He came looking for a miracle and all he got was insults.
Namaan angrily turned his caravan towards home. Disappointed once again. I mean really, wash himself in the filthy Jordan? Let’s be real. He would head home to Damascus and wash himself in a real river. At least the rivers in Syria were clean.
Namaan had come from far away. He practically emptied his bank account to provide for the caravan not to mention all the gold and silver he was going to offer as a thanksgiving for being healed. Namaan was terribly disappointed. All his hopes and dreams were once again dashed to smithereens.
However, his servants did not want him to give up so easily. “Master, if the prophet had asked you to do something really difficult would you have done it?” They asked. “How about if he had asked you to climb a mountain without food or water barefoot in the dead of winter would you have done it?” “If he had asked you to perform a feat of superhuman strength would you have attempted it?” To each question Namaan answered in the affirmative.
“So,” they inquired, “why is it so difficult for you to do something so easily performed like jumping in a river seven times?”
“There isn’t anything hard to do for a man of your stature and strength” they said, “it really is quite simple. All you have to do is go to the river and wash. What do you have to lose?”
Well, now Namaan did not want to look like a fool to his servants. And really, Elisha wasn’t asking him to do anything difficult. Besides, it was a hot day and it would probably feel good to sit in a cool river for awhile.
So Namaan swallowed his pride a little and took a dive into the Jordan. Seven times. No soap or shampoo was used. No brush or washcloth. Just dove in seven times.
When Namaan stepped out of the river for the last time he felt clean and refreshed. And wonder of wonders, the constant itch he had for the last several years was gone. His flesh felt new. The stain of his leprosy had disappeared.
Namaan was giddy with joy! He was ready to celebrate, to ride pell mell for home to share his joy with his family and king. But, first Namaan headed to Elisha’s to thank him and offer the gift of gold, silver and linen.
So what have learned from the story of Namaan? Was he wrong in his actions or right? Was he an opportunist that took advantage of God’s prophet and the Jewish handmaiden?
Not everything that Namaan did was wrong even from the beginning. He identified that he had a problem, leprosy. Instead of hiding it and ignoring it he decided to do something about it. He talked to his family. He talked to his king. He listened to his servants. He acted on their advice. He was willing to humble himself instead of letting his pride take over. Namaan was willing to sacrifice a little to gain a lot.
In essence, Namaan was willing to do something about his problem. He never gave up. If necessary, he was willing to go to the highest authority in whatever country necessary to be cured. When offered a solution he didn’t waste time. He acted on the information immediately. How do you react to your problems. Do you wallow in your misery? Or do you seek a solution immediately?
There are people that can easily spot a fault in someone else. They are like a doctor, an expert in diagnosing problems, analyzing the problem from every angle, dissecting the littlest particle and putting it under the microscope . However, they lack the knowledge in being able to prescribe a cure. What good is it to know the problem and have no clue on how to solve it?
We need to take a lesson from Namaan’s book. After he identified the problem and acknowledged its existence, he was willing to do something about it rather than wallow in self-pity. It did not bother him to take advice from a lowly servant. It did not bother him to liquidate all his wealth to pay for a cure. It did not bother him to enter enemy territory to seek a cure.
He was willing to pay any price,
give any gift,
Make any sacrifice,
Travel any distance to seek a cure. He pulled out all the stops and thereby lay the groundwork for a miracle.
Miracles take many different shapes and come in many different ways. Namaan was put to the test for his miracle. His cure did not come without some effort and sacrifice on his part. It cost him time and it cost him his pride. He had to humble himself before a slave. He had to take the advice from his slave.
In addition, Namaan had to give up control. He had to rely on someone other than himself. Can you possible imagine how difficult it is to rely on a total stranger for your welfare. Remember, Namaan was a very powerful man both figuratively and literally back in Syria. Everybody asked how high when he said “Jump!” Now, he had to put his life in the hands of a total stranger if he wanted a cure.
And where was the cure going to happen? In the River Jordan. He had to bath in this dirty river. Namaan initially refused to jump into the Jordan. Why? Because the rivers were cleaner, larger and cooler back home. If he had gone back to Damascus and taken his bath in the rivers there would he have been cured? Definitely not! If he had only dipped in the river once, would he have been cured? No. Similarly, if after only six dips in the water would he have been cured? Again, no. Namaan had to accept on faith that it required seven trips under the water before a cure would be effected.
Just a little note on the Jordan. The hills of Judea drain down to the Jordan and the Jordan drains into a body of water called the Dead Sea! Pretty inspiring, eh? Therefore, Namaan when told to bath in a dirty river couldn’t see how it would cleanse him of an incurable skin disease. I mean, how do you walk into a dirty river and come out clean?
What lessons can we take from this story?
1. Pride and strength can you take you only so far. All of Namaan’s riches and power were humbled by a tiny little spore that infected his skin. No matter who you are, what position you hold, what size your home or how much money you have it cannot buy you peace of mind. Even the most powerful can be humbled by the smallest thing.
2. Even the powerful should take the time to listen to the weakest. How did Namaan find his cure? He listened to the lowly and seemingly powerless servant girl. To often we get so wrapped up in our personal affairs we forget the ‘little folk.’ How often have you seen a powerful person sweep by the beggar on the street pretending that he didn’t exist? The powerful person was afraid that the beggar might contaminate him. When I worked on the gerontology floor at the hospital I was amazed at some of the stories the patients told me. The individuals had been bowed by age and infirmity and were ignored by family and others. Their eyes may have been dimmed by illness or disease, yet their minds and memories were sharp. We should all be willing to take the time to listen to others. Who knows, they might have the cure for what ails you!
3. Not everything in life is free, automatic and instantaneous. Sometimes we have to work for what we want. Sometimes it takes time. Too often these days people feel that they are entitled. The promotion at work is mine not yours, I have worked here longer and harder than you. I want my car fixed now not next week! Namaan was angry and disappointed. He felt that Elisha should have greeted him at the door and offered him food, drink and respect because of the position Namaan held in his country. He felt that Elisha should be able to just wave his hand over the skin disease and he would be cured. He didn’t think that he would have to work for it. Do you have a sense of entitlement. Do you have certain expectations because of your authority, position or wealth? Trust me in this, when you, me, Bill Gates or President Bush die; we all get eaten by the same type of worms!
4. There is an old saying, “Pride goeth before a fall.” Namaan almost let his pride
get in the way of his cure. Sometimes we let pride get in our way, too. When that happens we might miss out on a blessing that God has in store for us.
5. The grass is not always greener on the other side. How often have we wished that we were someone else? That we had money and prestige? That we lived in a fancy house, had a fast car and a large fishing boat. We only see the exterior of another persons life. We cannot see what goes on inside. That rich or famous person may have an illness we can’t see. The individual may have demons that disturb his sleep and ruin his enjoyment. Or like Namaan, he may have an incurable disease.
So what happens to Namaan after he is cured? He runs back to Elisha’s home and thanks him. He offers him all the gold, silver, and fine linen he brought. But, more importantly, he tells Elisha that he now knows that there is no other God than Elisha’s God.
God worked a miracle in Namaan. Not only did he cleanse the outside of Namaan, He also changed the inside. I don’t think that Namaan expected that the cure he would receive would make such a drastic change in him.
Even more impressive is what is mentioned in Luke 4: 27 There were also many lepers in Israel in the prophet Elisha’s time, yet not one of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."
Why was it Namaan, a gentile, an idol worshiper, an enemy of Israel the only one healed of Leprosy? Was it because he was so strong and rich and powerful? Or was it because he was willing to swallow his pride and take a dip in a dirty river?
God is capable of many things. God can work miracles in anyone. Yet, God wants a willing candidate to work with. Are you willing to swallow your pride? Are you willing to make sacrifices?
Another question you have to ask yourself is how powerless are you? The fact that Namaan finally got the cure he sought would not have happened unless a young slave girl had not witnessed to Namaan’s wife. For all practical purposes that young maiden had absolutely no chance of affecting the course of a powerful man. Yet, she was willing to sing the praises of her God to a person who most likely would never listen. This young maiden put into practice the saying “ Through God all things are possible.” So, how powerless was this maiden. She wasn’t. In fact you could say she was more powerful than Namaan because she believed in her God. Namaan already knew that his god, Rimmon, was powerless to cure him of his disease.
In closing I would like to point you to another verse. Turn with me to Ephesians 2:8, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
The young maiden had faith in her God and therefore saw the miracle of Namaan listening to her and acting on the information. Namaan had faith that he would be cured of his disease if he traveled to Israel and saw Elisha and because of that faith God did cure him of his disease. God awaits your faith to also work a miracle in you.
