Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Kings 5:1-6 (New Living Translation)

The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories. But though Naaman was a mighty warrior, he suffered from leprosy.

² At this time Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid. ³ One day the girl said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy.”

⁴ So Naaman told the king what the young girl from Israel had said. ⁵ “Go and visit the prophet,” the king of Aram told him. “I will send a letter of introduction for you to take to the king of Israel.” So Naaman started out, carrying as gifts 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothing. ⁶ The letter to the king of Israel said: “With this letter I present my servant Naaman. I want you to heal him of his leprosy.”

Notice two little phrases here:

The king of Aram had great admiration for Naaman, the commander of his army, because through him the Lord had given Aram great victories

Aramean raiders had invaded the land of Israel, and among their captives was a young girl who had been given to Naaman’s wife as a maid

Hmm, the LORD had given the Arameans victories over Israel. Okay, that had happened many times as the LORD had used foreign armies to punish Israel (and Judah). Note, however, that the Arameans had taken Israelites prisoner and brought them home to be slaves. Such was the young girl in Naaman’s household.

Slavery? The LORD had allowed His people to be taken as slaves?

Yes. And the LORD used the little slave girl to proclaim His glory in Aram.

The LORD moves in mysterious ways. I know, an over used cliche, but it seems to be true often.