Theme: The impact of unsung heroes in the Bible.
Topic: Naaman’s Slave: A Nameless Evangelist
Main Texts: 2 Kings 5:1-19; 2 Timothy 4: 2
Key verse: 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.” (NKJV)
Introduction:
The story of the young Hebrew slave girl serving Naaman’s wife is a powerful reminder that God can use anyone, anywhere, for His purposes. Despite being a captive, she earned the trust of her captors so deeply that Naaman’s wife convinced him to seek a favour from a defeated king based on the slave girls recommendation. The “young girl”, taken by force from her family and home became an unexpected evangelist, bringing a mighty general to faith in the God of Israel. God allowed the tragedy of her captivity to accomplish a greater good showing once again that He uses unexpected paths and people, whether they be high or low, to fulfil His purposes (e.g. John 4:1-30). The faith of this unnamed “slave girl” stands as an example to all generations that circumstances should be no barrier to effective witness – whatever her own terrors at enforced servitude in the household of the arch-enemy of her people, who was also a leper – someone to be shunned – she cared enough to speak up about her God and she had faith enough to believe that Elisha would heal him of his leprosy.
Q1. (1a) Read Genesis 45:5 and 2 Kings 5:1-2. Who does the Bible say was ultimately responsible for the captivity of Joseph and Naaman’s slave girl? (1b) How do her actions compare to other heroes of faith like Joseph, Nehemiah, Esther, Daniel and the woman at the well? Genesis 39:1-2; Daniel 1:2-9; Neh 1:11; Esther 4:14-16, John 4: 29-30,39.
Paragraph 2:
1 Corinthians 1:27 tells us that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and … chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty”. He used a young slave girl, a captive in exile, to tell a “mighty man of valour” how he might be healed of the leprosy that made a mockery of his high position. He and his king were desperate for a cure and willing to try anything. However, having listened to the girl, he still had preconceived ideas of how God would heal him. His king sent him off with a lot of money and a letter with a veiled threat to the king of Israel. The king of Judah did not know what his former lowly subject, Naaman’s slave girl knew – he had no relationship with Elisha or the God of Israel and was fearful for his own life. Like the wise men of the East who sought the baby Jesus in the palace of King Herod, Naaman and King Aram assumed that the prophet of God would be found in the palace. When Elisha sent instructions to Naaman on how he would be healed, his pride almost cost him his miracle. How often do our pride and preconceived ideas make us miss our answers to prayer or, at least, delay them?
Q2. (2a) Read 2 Kings 5:5-8 Why was the king of Israel distressed? Contrast his response with the attitude of the young slave in verse 2 and 3. (2b) Read 2 Kings 1:9-14 and 2 Kings 5:9-14 What similarities do you see in the way the two prophets dealt their “important” visitors? What lesson can be drawn from this? (2c) Compare the effect on Naaman of the words of his slave girl in verse 3 with those of the unnamed servants in verse 13. What does this tell us?
Paragraph 3:
“God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5) We do not know if the unnamed slave girl and the servants were rewarded for their part in the healing of Naaman. What we do know is that they were prepared to speak up, at risk to themselves, when God gave them the opportunity. We are enjoined to be ready” in season and out of season” to “do the work of an evangelist” (2Ti 4:2, 5), just like Naaman’s slave. Naaman was healed from leprosy and converted to faith in the God of Israel when he humbled himself to do what his slave girl, the prophet, and his servants told him to. It took courage for the young girl and the servants to speak up. It takes courage for us to speak up when we have the opportunity but that is what Scripture commands.
Q3. (3a) Who knows I am a Christian, and how do they know? (3b) In challenging or hostile situations, do I represent Christ or prioritize my own comfort and convenience? (3c) What legacy did Naaman’s nameless slave girl leave behind?
Prayer: Father, help me to know You deeply and to be prepared and bold in sharing the gospel—both in season and out of season. Enable me to speak up, regardless of convenience, and to make courageous choices that honour You in every circumstance. Whether I am acknowledged or not, remind me that I am storing up treasure in heaven. In Jesus’ name, Amen.