Naaman’s Servant

Naaman was a captain in the King of Syria’s army.  He was a good man who was highly regarded by the king and all who knew him.  Naaman was afflicted with leprosy.  During an incursion into Israel, Naaman’s forces brought back slaves. One of the young women was given to Naaman’s wife as her slave.  Realizing Naaman’s affliction, the young girl told her mistress about Elisha a prophet in Israel who could cure Naaman. Naaman’s wife told him what the girl had said.  Desperate for a cure and with the encouragement of his king Naaman went to Israel and found Elisha.  When Elisha told Naaman to wash in the Jordan River seven times, Naaman resisted Elisha’s instructions. He thought it absurd that washing in the river would cure such a serious disease.  Elisha’s servants continued to encourage Naaman so he immersed himself in the Jordan and was cured of his leprosy.

Naaman’s wife’s servant is one of the nameless women in the Bible. Nothing is revealed about her other than her status and her advice to Naaman.  She could have been angry and resentful because of her capture and enslavement. Knowing that Elisha could provide the cure Naaman needed she could have kept her secret and waited for him to die which may have led to her freedom, and the possibility of a return to her homeland and her people. But instead, she directed Naaman to the person who could cure his affliction and relieve his suffering.  The information she provided led him to the man who saved his life.  She was the only person Naaman knew with the knowledge that would save him from the social exclusion and death that his leprosy would bring.

Who was this servant girl and how did she know what to tell Naaman? She was an Israelite. She knew of this man Elisha who possessed the ability to lead people to their healing. God favored Naaman. He did not want Naaman to die of leprosy. The servant girl was brought into Naaman’s life not only to direct him to Elisha to his cure, but she was also the conduit by which Naaman was given the opportunity to trust Elisha whom God sent to provide the cure for his affliction. In trusting Elisha and following his directions Naaman showed his faith in God, and his belief that God was speaking through Elisha to cure him.

Biblical Principles

• God blessed Naaman with healing through a servant girl who was not even of Naaman’s people. (2 Kings 5:3)
• Although she was a lowly servant girl God worked through her circumstances to achieve His ends. (2 Kings 5:3)
• Although she had been taken from her home and brought to a foreign land as her captor’s servant, she was willing to play an important role in Naaman’s healing. (2 Kings 5:3)
• Initially, Naaman doubted that Elisha’s direction to immerse himself in the river would heal him. (2 Kings 5:11)
• Naaman’s healing led him to believe in God. (2 Kings 5:15)

For Women Today

Naaman was a Syrian.  He was a pagan.  Naaman’s servant was an Israelite taken from her country to Syria to become a servant in Naaman’s house. In spite of being Naaman’s captive, her compassion led her to send him to Elisha to be healed.  There can be a blessing in showing compassion to those who may not reciprocate. She was a servant girl of lowly status, but God can work through anyone for the good of others. He can use us just as He used the servant girl to save Naaman.  Nurturing and growing our relationship with God strengthens our faith. We will receive His blessings, and he can bless others through us. 

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified useful to the Master, (2 Timothy 2:21)