Daily Digest: Capstone Capsule

“If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy” – 2 Kings 5:3

Quietly hidden among the Bible’s MODELS of IMPACT from YOUTH was a young Israelite girl: “Then she said to her mistress, “If only my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! For he would heal him of his leprosy” (2 Kgs.5:3). Naaman was a high-ranking Syrian military commander, who was afflicted with leprosy (v.1). The young girl was captured from the land of Israel and serving as a maid in Naaman’s household. Though a person of low status, she played a significant role in Naaman’s healing from leprosy. All she did was to open her mouth and share a testimony concerning God’s Power in His Servant, Elisha.

The young girl, being a slave, could not stand in Namaan’s presence, but at her level, told her mistress of a prophet in Samaria who could cure Naaman. Despite her circumstances, she held strong faith in God and believed that prophet Elisha could heal the leprosy. Her shared testimony sparked Naaman's desire to seek healing from the prophet; hence, he travelled to Israel with letters from the king of Syria and gifts for the king of Israel, hoping to be healed. The king of Israel was initially alarmed by the request (vv.5-7). On hearing about the king’s reaction, Elisha instructed Naaman to go wash in the Jordan River seven times to be healed. After some initial hesitation, he followed Elisha's instructions and was miraculously healed (vv.8-14). 

The young maidservant's simple testimony, based on her faith in God, was the catalyst for this miraculous event. So, what do we learn from all this? Although unnamed, maid’s faith in God, boldness and willingness to speak up about the prophet Elisha’s ability to heal, led Namaan to seek healing in Israel and ultimately experience a miraculous cure. The story highlights the maid's faith, her courage in speaking about her God, her concern for others, even in a difficult situation, and the Impact made!

We see the courageous and compassionate character of this young maid, who refused to let her current status stifle her faith in the Power of God. It was in her place of service that she made the suggestion to Namaan’s wife about her husband’s condition. That this unnamed girl became an unexpected Instrument of God’s Power and Plan, shows that God can work through anyone, however young or seemingly insignificant. We must never look down on anyone. Age, gender, and socio-economic background need never be barriers against our usefulness before God in the fulfilment of His purposes and plans.

Moreover, we learn from this Impactful youth that: little acts can have significant Impact; we must let compassion transcend our circumstances; cultivate courage to speak God’s Word and share testimonies; and be a blessing wherever we are.