Naaman and the Servant Girl
“Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honourable, because by him the LORD had given deliverance unto Syria: he was also a mighty man in valour, but he was a leper. And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife. And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy. And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.” (2 Kings 5:1-4)
The story of Naaman and the servant girl is another story of what God can do through one person. Naaman was a Syrian military commander. Judging by the Bible’s description, he was apparently a nice guy. Yet he was a leper. The Syrians had invaded Israel and taken a young girl captive. She may have been about ten. The Bible does not say. It must have been awful for her to be taken from her family to a foreign land. Yet Naaman took her to be a servant to his wife, and they apparently treated her kindly.
She also had compassion for Naaman and said the prophet in Israel could cure his leprosy. Technically, it would be God who could cure Naaman, not the prophet, but this was a kid talking. The fact that she spoke so boldly about God also says a lot about how she was raised to obey God and have faith in Him.
This incident happened after the kingdom was divided into Israel and Judah. Interestingly, the girl was from Israel, who for the last eighty-plus years had been influenced by one wicked king after another. Psalm 12:8 says, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” When vile people are in power, wickedness abounds. Yet the people in the girl’s life were determined to obey God and raise her to do the same, no matter how sinful the culture was.
Somehow the girl’s words about the prophet in Samaria (the capital city of Israel at the time) reached Syria’s king. He told Israel’s king that he was sending a man to be healed of leprosy. Israel’s king didn’t see how that could happen, but Elisha said, “…let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel.” (2 Kings 5:8) In other words, “don’t worry, your highness. God is still in control.”
Naaman went to Elisha’s house. Elisha did not come to the door, but sent a messenger to tell him to wash in the Jordan river seven times to be cured. Naaman wasn’t happy. He thought Elisha would come out personally and heal him, not tell him to wash in a river. His servants told him in so many words just to do as Elisha said. Naaman complied. Seven washes in the Jordan later, no leprosy! Naaman was thrilled.
Something else far more important happened. Naaman told Elisha, “...now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel:” and “...thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.” (2 Kings 5:15, 17) Naaman put his trust completely in the God of Israel who would one day send a redeemer. To put it in New Testament terms, Naaman was saved.
Two lessons: First, the little girl was spiritually strong in a heathen land because her people had instilled in her that God is real and worth obeying and serving. If you are a parent and don’t want your kids to follow the heathen culture around them, they need to see by your example that God is real. Attend a Bible-preaching church faithfully. Read and memorize God’s word often. Pray for your family.
Second, Naaman was a nice guy, but he needed to be saved. God used the little girl to reach him. If you are a Christian, you may know many nice people, but are they saved? Someone needs to reach them. Ask God to use you. To see how to have your sins forgiven and eternal life by receiving Jesus as your personal Saviour, please go to www.clevelandbaptist.org,” click “Helpful Links,” then “How Do I Go to Heaven?”
Brian Miller 7/21/2025