Verse of the Day 1/21

Verse of  the Day 1/21

 2 Kings 5:3^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." New King James Version (NKJV)

Many of us are probably familiar with this passage and the events that are recorded here in 2 Kings 5.  The main characters are Naaman and Elisha the prophet.  You may also consider Gehazi who sought to profit financially from the healing performed by God throiugh the prophet.  But today's verse should cause us to stop and look back to the beginning of the story.  The whole series of events can be traced back to the acts of a "little girl" from verse 2.

She had been carried off from the land of Israel  in a raid conducted by the Syrians.  Yet when she learned of the illness of Naaman she freely recommended the help of one that she believed could bring about the healing.  She acted on what she knew and believed.  Political correctness or thoughts of aiding the enemy were not in her mind.  She acted by what she knew and because of it we have this "story" recorded in scripture.

God wants to use us—just as he used a humble slave girl—to further his

purposes. Even to change history. We might not be rich, famous, powerful

or important. But if we're available, God can work through us to change

situations and the hearts of individuals—even through a simple act of

kindness.       Taken from Men's Devotional Bible

Read through the passage again and what occurred because of the heart of this child.  You many consider Naaman's pre-conceived ideas of how he should be healed.  You many consider how Gehazi tried to take advantage of the situation to his own downfall.  But don't omit to consider the acts of this little girl and the string of events that followed through her actions.

--

In Christ,

Mike

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,

in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

2 Kings 5 New King James Version (NKJV)

Naaman's Leprosy Healed

5 Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man in the eyes of his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was also a mighty man of valor, but a leper. 2 And the Syrians had gone out on[a] raids, and had brought back captive a young girl from the land of Israel. She [b]waited on Naaman's wife. 3 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." 4 And Naaman went in and told his master, saying, "Thus and thus said the girl who is from the land of Israel."

5 Then the king of Syria said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel."

So he departed and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 Then he brought the letter to the king of Israel, which said,

Now be advised, when this letter comes to you, that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, that you may heal him of his leprosy.

7 And it happened, when the king of Israel read the letter, that he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and make alive, that this man sends a man to me to heal him of his leprosy? Therefore please consider, and see how he seeks a quarrel with me."

8 So it was, when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, that he sent to the king, saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Please let him come to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel."

9 Then Naaman went with his horses and chariot, and he stood at the door of Elisha's house. 10 And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." 11 But Naaman became furious, and went away and said, "Indeed, I said to myself, 'He will surely come out to me, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place, and heal the leprosy.' 12 Are not the [c]

Bible Gateway passage: 2 Kings 5 - New King James Version Naaman's Leprosy Healed - Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great and honorable man ...

Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage. 13 And his servants came near and spoke to him, and said, "My father, if the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, 'Wash, and be clean'?" 14 So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.