Sixteenth Page: What did you say, Anonymous?

It was none of her business. Couldn’t she just keep her mouth shut and get on with the work?

The problem with the girl from Israel in one sense was her very age. She was young. Age of innocence! (I am sure somebody or the other has written a book with that title – due credit to that person…. Googled and found that it was Edith Wharton, 1920.) Age in which you simply accept your lot in life and not ask God uncomfortable questions about His system of justice, His sense of fairness, or His idea of right.

An age in which you do not know what inhibition means, know nothing about political correctness, and are as yet unimpaired by the onset of cynicism. An age when you do not review what you are about to say, in order to check if you are ruffling someone’s sensibilities the wrong way, but just speak what comes naturally. An age when spontaneity delights. Eyes too small to see the big picture, mind not mature enough to develop a rational perspective. A blessed stage indeed!

Hey! Hold on, maybe she wasn’t as young as that, maybe we are over-romanticizing! The Bible doesn’t state her age and that affords us some latitude of conjecture. Perhaps she was a teenager, and quite knew what was happening.

In that case, it is remarkable how she didn’t let life’s unkind blows embitter her. After all she was wrenched from home and hearth; separated from parents, torn away from her friends; uprooted from her native land; robbed of her freedom.

But there is little evidence of cynicism in her conduct; her master was the one largely responsible for the marauding of her homeland, but she isn’t wasting her time sulking, brooding, indulging in self-pity – however justified such action might be.

Instead, we get a picture of a cheerful little lass going about her duties conscientiously. She isn’t quite “dumb”; as we’ve suggested, she seems to have been an “aware” person. She knows about her master’s terrible disease but doesn’t engage in tittering gossip on the subject with her fellow maids in the backyard. Nor is there anything of “it serves him right for what he did to my people”; it is reasonable to suppose that such complicated words of Germanic origin as “schadenfreude” had not entered her vocabulary!

Oh, she could have ignored the issue. After all it was not her problem. Certainly no one asked her for her views, her opinion, her suggestions. Yes, she could have remained indifferent, at best uttering the quintessential Aussie expression “I’m alright Jack,” meaning it “doesn’t affect me personally.”

As an aside, we can let our thoughts wander and wonder how much good goes undone in the world, because of indifference on the part of people, because people couldn’t care less. We are reminded of verses like “Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them” (Prov. 3:27), and Jesus’s parable of the Good Samaritan flashes across our mind.

The option was open to her also to remain a passive spectator or uninvolved observer, merely registering the events as they took place, with no active participation – the journalistic approach that presents the facts as they emerge and lets others take a view, form an opinion, pronounce judgment. Instead, here we find her taking an active and salutary interest in the affairs of the foreign family into which she was suddenly and, no doubt, forcibly catapulted.

Her credit rating might have been dismal in her situation, but amazingly for a slave girl, her credibility rating was pretty high. How did she manage that? No doubt by honest, diligent service. Credibility comes through conduct, through character. It appears that she wasn’t doing her job just mechanically, merely dutifully. She applied her mind, why even her heart, her soul!

How is your credibility? Does it keep going up and down like a Sine wave? Or is it high and steady? Do you make plans and change them umpteen times? Do you mean what you say? Can people take you at your word? Can they trust you? Or does your record of taking them for a ride make them run away from you? Let’s take a step back; do you know what you are talking about? Or are you merely a master at airy-fairy grandstanding with no substance?

Our protagonist was able to think beyond her limited circumstances and alight on the fact that others also had problems, perhaps more severe than hers. Whether she was thinking of a solution to her problem or not, she was certainly thinking of a solution to her master’s problem.

Interesting, isn’t it?

What do we think about most of the time? If we are honest with ourselves, it is mostly about what concerns us. Topping the list probably is our health and its manifold failings – weakening knees, palpitating heart, aching head, falling teeth, balding head…. Next in the list could be our economic woes: inadequate salary, poor pension, mounting bills, escalating costs…and there are relationship issues: dreadful boss, awful colleagues, unsympathetic husband, nagging wife, capricious mother-in-law, flighty daughter-in-law, ungrateful dog…oh, whatever! Our prayers at home quite often reflect what occupies our mind.

There is a lesson, then, that we can learn from this Israeli lass.

“Oh, that’s quite enough by way of a buildup,” you say. Come on, what did she say?

(credit:lavistachurchofchrist.org)

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:3).

And to whom did she say that?

She gently voiced her suggestion to someone who took it seriously – her mistress, Naaman’s wife.

It may be that we too are moved by the plight of others and have some solution to suggest, some worthwhile idea to put forward, but who are the people we are talking to? Some random characters, totally unconnected and not at all interested, or to somebody who has in fact the power and influence to initiate definite action. Some people have the right message but may be addressing the wrong people. Where are we casting our pearls? (Matt. 7:6)

There was simply no one in a better position to act than Mrs. Naaman. The girl pressed the right button straight off.

Then again her solution involves God (2 Kings 5:3).

A simple suggestion, but one that is loaded with faith, brimming with conviction. Nothing forceful there, but her credibility makes sure that those around her take her words seriously. It wasn’t childish boasting – my God is bigger than yours – but something that was said to mature adults in all sincerity.

What about our words?

Are they empty prattle, worthless banter, racy humour, trenchant satire, delicious gossip…. All of which ultimately count for nothing – or what is worse – they actually end up wounding somebody, or rather do they have a healing quality, words running over with blessing? (Prov. 12:18)

Yes, she knew about Jehovah and his faithful prophet Elisha. Even though we don’t find her making explicit and shrill statements about the all-surpassing superiority of Jehovah – a la Elijah (to be fair to the great man, the context in 1 Kings 18 was rather different!) – in her own quite way, she makes the point.

Her little speech was at once a gentle suggestion, a fervent prayer, a confident witness, and an intense plea.

What was her work? Sweeping the floor maybe, or cleaning dishes or washing clothes, or massaging her mistress’s shoulder?

Quintessentially secular! But from what we know, wasn’t she a full-time worker for God, why even a missionary?

You bet she was! So, what’s your work, folks? God calls us and speaks to us, and speaks through us in the situation we are in (1 Cor. 7:20).

Life’s circumstances are largely outside our control. We may not be able to protect our children all the time, we do not know when the enemy might come and take them away. Or they might even leave home for perfectly normal reasons, such as study or work or to set up their own homes. Let’s do what we can, what is within our control, out of what we know, when we have the opportunity (Prov. 22:6).

Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young come tantalizingly close to translating this instruction to modern times in their popular song “Teach your children” but they fail to tell us that the “code” is God’s word. However, they do touch on the point that parents must learn too. Yes, the only thing that will keep all of us – both young and aging – going is the word of God, deep down in our hearts.

We are not told anything about the girl’s parents, but they sure deserve our respect. For they had sown the seed of faith in their daughter, which was now sprouting in a distant land (Eccl. 11:1). Well done, parents! We salute you.

But what are their names?

Nobody knows, as is the case with the name of the girl; at least the daughter is mentioned, unlike her parents and their godliness and exemplary upbringing of their child can only be deduced. Whoever you are folks, rest in peace and sport a smile – your daughter does you proud! And you, her Sunday School teacher, you may beam with pleasure too, for it is evident that the lessons you taught her when she was but a child, are standing her in good stead in difficult times.

Now, Naaman was a General, a Commander in the Syrian army, well esteemed by the king, a valiant soldier. Outwardly he had everything going for him. Why, he was even used by God himself! 2 Kings 5:1 says “through him the Lord had given victory to Aram (Syria).” And from available accounts, we can figure out that he ran a decent, caring household. He showed concern for his wife and provided for her, a personal assistant. And he made sure that the domestic staff was treated well.

It is clear that the slave girl from Israel enjoyed religious freedom and was free to practice her faith; why, she could even talk about it openly! And it was not only the king who esteemed him, but he was also highly regarded by all – more on this later – and the servant girl refers to him in respectful terms (2 Kings 5:3).

Ah, here is someone who made good use of religious freedom – with quiet words born of conviction, proven by experience and understated with meekness!

They were decent folk, but Naaman’s disease had cast a shadow over his household, over their daily life. They couldn’t escape its presence. You might be a good man, a great man, a decent man, a caring man, but is there something in your life – generally not seen outside – that is loathsome? Your status in life may be enviable but your condition personally is abominable!

Everyone from the king down to the servant girl knew that there was something the matter with Naaman, which could only be discussed in hushed terms. Indeed, were it not for the fact that he was of honourable character, such discussion would be laced with derision and spiced up with unholy glee.

We may have traversed far in life, but there may still be a lack, a deficiency, a disease – possibly of a moral, ethical, or spiritual nature – that is preventing us from enjoying holistic wellness (pardon the cliché) in body, mind, and soul.

We need healing.

And that can come only from one source – the one true God. The Afro-American Spiritual puts it well:

 

There is a balm in Gilead

To make the wounded whole;

There is a balm in Gilead

To heal the sin-sick soul.

 

The girl in Naaman’s household knew that.

If you are serious about a solution, it doesn’t help to hide the fact that you have a problem. Sure you don’t want to go in front of a general assembly made up of motley elements and testify in agonizing detail about the maladies that plague you. There is then a danger that the really ravenous among them would run away with the wrong message and tom-tom it from the ramparts!

But you’ve got to seek help; be prepared for some surprises, for it might come from totally unexpected quarters.

Some of us speak a lot! There are pastors who labour under the false impression that a sermon is not worth its name unless it is 45 minutes long and deliciously soporific! George Burns  is quoted as saying that “The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.” Ha, ha, ha!

Just over one sentence spoken by the damsel is recorded for us in the Bible. Let’s look at that again: “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 5:3).

Heartfelt words, laden with truth, uttered in all sincerity into the right ears!

That was enough to trigger an international incident! The machinery of the State of Syria moved (2 Kings 5:5) and caused considerable consternation to the king of Israel.

We’ve all played communication games such as Chinese Whispers, sitting around in a circle with one person beginning the session by whispering a sentence into the neighbour’s ears. The message has to be passed around the circle and by the time one round is completed, words end up being dropped altogether, get chopped up and badly mutilated by malapropism or worse, and the sentence eventually acquires an entirely different – and often humourous – meaning.

But it was no laughing matter for the king of Israel! He opened the scroll and read: “With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:6).

Excuse me!

Governments are typically not the best agencies for implementing God’s scheme of things. They are maladroit, they bungle, they mess up. As it was, not everything was hunky-dory between Israel and its northern neighbor; you could say there was an uneasy calm. The relationship was somewhat strained! This missive only served to raise the temperature. Tense neighbours are incapable of viewing things at face value. They always suspect a hidden agenda.

So it was that “As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!’” (2 Kings 5:7). Charlton Heston could certainly learn a thing or two from this real-life drama!

It is interesting to note that the king of Syria avoids mention of God in his letter. Whatever they are within their country, when it comes to international relations, nation-states do not like to acknowledge God. They pose as though they believe in their complete sovereignty.

Against such a background, the king of Israel actually does well to confess his limitations: “Am I God?” He recognizes that God is the omnipotent one, who can “kill and bring back to life” but sadly he does not appear to know Him, much less have a personal relationship with Him and has little idea how to approach Him. Rather pathetic, considering that the God Jehovah takes such pains to both establish and portray Himself as the God of Israel time and time again, right through the Old Testament.

 

It must be apparent even to the most casual reader of this chapter (2 Kings 5) in the Bible that God is at work; that it was His plan for Naaman to be healed through His servant Elisha and the slave girl in his household was only saying what lay in His sovereign will, to set off a chain of events that will ultimately accomplish His purpose and redound to His glory.

So, where do we stand in the plan of God? Where are our words going today? Do they have far-reaching consequences of healing, restoring, and transforming lives?

We might imagine that once a matter is part of God’s plan, everything along the way would turn favourable, all obstacles would magically disappear, and the passage would be strewn with rose petals and rendered absolutely smooth till the glorious culmination.

Almost never!

Already we’ve seen that kings get in the way. What we have instead of healed skin are only torn royal robes!

However, hiccups have a role! Naaman’s fledgling faith has to be deepened and he needs to learn step by difficult step that God’s purposes cannot be frustrated.

Enter Elisha (2 Kings 5:8)!

It is one of the beauties of the Bible that not everything is explained for us…that there is this wonderful mystique. As though there was nothing amazing about it, the biblical account proceeds with incredible insouciance: “When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes…”

Shouldn’t we wonder how the matter got to Elisha’s ears? Whatever explanation we may advance, this is a miracle in itself. Somehow, God made sure that Elisha got the message that Naaman was on his way! Elisha then directs Naaman to himself.

Things look like falling in place, but the game of snakes and ladders isn’t quite over. But if you are seeking God and His help and genuinely stumble along the way, God is capable of effecting a course correction.

Fear not!

There is never a dull moment with God as director. If you think that tearing off of royal robes was dramatic enough, think again.

Naaman arrives at Elisha’s door with his retinue of deputies and array of gifts – horses, chariots and all.

Perfect photo opportunity, but prophet Elisha does not open the door! Instead, he sends a messenger to say to Naaman, “Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed” (2 Kings 5:10).

Boy, was Naaman incensed?

The general comes all the way from Damascus, carrying  ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing and a letter from the king of Syria to boot, expecting something of a grand ceremonious cleansing; representatives of the media were vying with one another for vantage positions. And Naaman was looking for the prophet to emerge to trumpet fanfare, may be erect an altar, light the fire, offer a sacrifice, wave his hand over his body, and make a long and loud prayer to his God; he imagined the mighty act of healing would then miraculously swoop down from heaven in one spectacular motion, that the TV crew were all set to capture with their high-definition cameras.

Nothing of the sort happened! How perfectly tame.

Just “go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan.”

Naaman was like: Eh? Wash? In Jordan? Why aren’t the rivers of Damascus better? (2 Kings 5:12)

Full of bellicose questions.

Many a time we do not understand how God works. And we question His methods. Okay, if not a grand ceremony, surely one word from Him is enough. What is this business about washing in Jordan, seven times?

Legitimate questions.

But were they, really?

The problem was that he came with some expectations, entirely the product of his mind. Healing was promised by the young prophetess, but not the methodology. We get disappointed because we have allowed our imagination to take off.

Our God works in mysterious ways, not in entirely predictable or expected, or desired ways (Isaiah 45:15). Come on, He is God. You can make your requests to Him, but you don’t give Him a road map, a “how to” manual. William Cowper, writing his magnificent hymn in the eighteenth century, throws some light on this aspect:

God moves in a mysterious way,
His wonders to perform

………………………..

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace.

 

We can understand Him to the extent He reveals Himself to us, but it is not possible to fully fathom God. There will always be things we do not completely understand. That in fact is the very essence of Godhead.

He had heeded to the right message. He had the right faith. He had come to the right place, with the right prayer. Why, he even brought costly offerings. So, where did he go wrong?

Only in his attitude.

Naaman had problems with this, for this is the first time he is encountering God Jehovah. His ego and pride very nearly prevented him from receiving the healing he so dearly sought and traveled so far to attain. Only his goodness intervened. We see his deputies pleading with him: “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” ( 2 Kings 5:13).

Naaman needed to be stripped – not only of his clothes for the dip, but he also needed to shed his ego, his pride, and submit to the power of God in utter humility.

“So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy”(2 Kings 5:14).

(credit:www.bibleexplained.com)

And a beautiful, heart-warming declaration by Naaman follows: “Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel” (2 Kings 5:15).

Come on, what did the girl say?

“If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” (2 Kings 5:3).

Congratulations Anonymous!

All glory to God!