
Perseverance in Faith Regardless of Opposition!
Scripture Reference 2 King 5 : 1-3
Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the Lord had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
2 Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.
Today’s account focuses on two individuals, an army commander and a young Israelite slave girl. What I find amazing about the introduction to this story is how the young girl responds to her master’s infirmity. Remember, this girl had been taken from her home, her parents, her community and her people. She had been abducted and forced against her will to go to a foreign land and to live as a slave in Naaman’s household.
Who could blame the girl for having ill feelings toward Naaman and his people given her predicament? Who could blame her for feeling that Naaman’s illness was perhaps divine retribution? Instead, the girl dared to speak of her faith and the power of God that was at work through the prophet of God, Elisha.
Many of us have been intimidated by the secular culture around us to keep our faith to ourselves instead of sharing what we know with people who need to hear it. This girl had every reason to keep her faith to herself. She could not possibly know what ramifications she might face by daring to speak of her faith, yet she spoke openly and boldly saying with conviction that her master would be healed if he went to see the man of God!
You cannot help but be totally impressed by this girl’s reckless abandonment to faith in God! How many of us today would share her conviction that God still heals?! Where today is faith in the God of miracles and wonders? I’m not speaking of the disgraceful fakery that often times tries to pass itself off as divine healing on our televisions. I believe these charlatans have done a great deal of damage not only to the credibility of biblical miraculous healing from a secular understanding but also to the modern Christian’s belief in and profession of divine healing.
There is no such thing as name it and claim it in God’s economy of divine healing. Divine healing is a spiritual gift from God! Divine healing is empowered by the Holy Spirit as well as led by the Holy Spirit! The vessel does not decide who should be healed and not healed, God leads the believer and directs the believer as to when and to whom He will heal.
Like the young girl we need to embrace the fact that God still heals! Like this young girl we need to boldly announce that God still heals and that there is deliverance for those who seek after Him! God led this girl to stand up and to speak up in His name! May we be so led in our dealings with others and without shame or any doubt declare healing in Jesus’ Name!