A girl was taken captive by Naaman the Syrian. She spoke of a prophet in Israel who could heal Naaman’s leprosy. Naaman found the prophet Elishah and dipped in the Jordan River seven times, according to Elisha’s command. He was healed as a result of this young girl who, like Joseph in Egypt, displayed good will through adverse circumstances.
Who was she? Who were her parents? She was a young girl taken captive from Israel. This is all that is written about her. However there is much to surmise. She did a good thing for her captor. Not only was he healed of his affliction, but he came to acknowledge God. “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel. .” (II Kings 5:15) Also, Naaman was consoled by Elisha about having to accompany his master (the King of Syria) to the idol’s temple. He was told to “go in peace.” The root of this goodness is found in the little girl. She was a vessel of God.
Who were her parents? Previous to this event, while the predecessor to Elisha was still in the world, Elijah challenged Jezebel’s arm of propaganda, the prophets of Baal. They were utterly humiliated and destroyed. Jezebel was out to kill the prophet so he ran to Horeb and hid. Elijah lamented being all alone in Israel. (That is to say, he thought he was the last man of faith in the land.) The LORD told him; “. . I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.” (I Kings 19:18) It does no injustice to say the girl’s parents were among those who did not bend the knee to Baal.
If anyone could have seen and known the faithful, it surely would have been Elijah. Yet, he was certain of being the only one left. Jesus taught about “the salt of the earth.” The lesson was of people who are invisible to the vision of pride. Just as salt is dissolved into food and its properties aren’t appreciated until tasted, so are people who serve God well. They make a difference without publicity. We trust Elijah was the kind of man who could learn, and did just that.
In faith, there is a generation in Israel which will come to light. They probably won’t be among the big players; the power brokers of the religious world. Surely the innocent will remove themselves and avoid the stink of the big man ministries found among Jews and Gentiles alike. The innocent don’t need to be celebrated through the media, or need the name of a man other than the Messiah. The Lord will equip them to do the things that need to be done; charitable deeds done in quietness, kindliness carried out in humility, the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. I believe this is/will be the character concerning these of whom is is written; “Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!” (Rom.11:12)