1 Now Naaman was 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 valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. 2 Now bands from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”
2 Kings 5:1-3 (NIV)
Who would have foreseen a mighty general’s pilgrimage to the preacher’s house? A loving little girl who knew the mighty God that preacher served.
Though servitude was commonplace in Elisha’s day, the young Israelite who appears in this passage had cause for resentment, for she had been taken from her people. But compassion, not bitterness, ruled her heart. Elisha’s influence remained in her memory even in captivity.
Her master, Naaman, was an outstanding Syrian general. God had blessed him both by shaping his character, which was valiant (v. 1), and by giving him good fortune in battle (v. 1). All, including the king and the servant girl, recognized his stature and wished for him the very best.
As mighty as Naaman was at war, he was helpless against leprosy, and in his weakness, he found deliverance at the prompting of a humble servant girl. Her advice was simply that he meet Elisha, the man of God from her homeland.
The servant girl not only knew that Elisha spoke and acted with power from the living God, she also knew that Elisha’s God was the God of All Nations. The reach of His care extended beyond the borders of her homeland. Jesus Himself noted this when He addressed the parochially arrogant people of Nazareth, just before they attempted to throw him over a cliff: “And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27).
Elisha prescribed seven washings in the Jordan River, and Naaman was not pleased. He wanted instead to tailor his own healing regimen, a common temptation of the afflicted. The general’s servants, however, coaxed him to comply, and he was healed. Naaman’s confession became, “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (v. 15).
The anointed man of God has advocates throughout the culture—admiring and grateful saints who are eager to recommend his ministry to the lost around them. The preacher should be so effectual that saints would not hesitate to interrupt and displace worldly counsel with the suggestion that ultimate answers lie with the minister of God’s Word. His arresting sermons will produce a surprising array of inquirers at his doorstep and in the pews, hats in hand.
The prophet was faithful to his calling; he proclaimed God’s healing truth, even to one in power. The servant girl was equally faithful, connecting a spiritually needy man with the source of truth that would set him free. Blessed is the pastor whose hearers commend his words to outsiders. Blessed is the parishioner whose pastor is a prophet whose words are strikingly commendable.