For years, a little girl lived and thrived in the care of her Israeli parents, who taught her the word of God. But then the Arameans came. They abducted her, ripping her away from her family and the only home she had ever known.

She became a slave in a foreign land. Her master: an Aramean army commander.

Had she seen her parents slaughtered? It’s possible. Was she well treated and well fed? Was she comfortable? Was she comforted as she said goodbye to her life, her loved ones and any vestiges of childhood? We can’t say.

But one thing we can say. Though her circumstances were far from ideal, this little girl displayed faith, courage and kindness to those who enslaved her.

Compassion Without Boundaries

This little girl might have lost everything that was familiar to her, but she didn’t lose her compassion. She could have looked at Naaman through eyes tainted with bitterness and jealousy.

After all, he had power, wealth and authority. In fact, he usurped her parents’ authority over her, in effect orphaning her and leaving her completely dependent upon his family for her survival.

She saw him as her authority figure, yes. But most of all, she saw him. She saw leprosy overtaking his skin. She saw his desperation. She felt his isolation. Instead of celebrating the suffering of the person who enslaved her—as many would be tempted to do—she demonstrated compassion.

She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.”—2 Kings 5:3 (NIV)

She was no longer living under the roof of her parents, but clearly she still lived under their godly influence.

Ahead of Her Time

The girl modeled the kind of countercultural kindness Jesus would later prescribe.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?”—Matthew 5:43-47

Her concern prompted action. This fact speaks not only to the girl’s conduct in this particular situation but to her overall character. She had already earned the trust of Naaman and his wife. Her mistress respected the girl enough to tell her husband what the girl shared.

Naaman took notice and sought out Elisha, the prophet to whom the girl referred. But Naaman did not receive the kind of welcome or remedy he expected. Instead of Elisha greeting Naaman in the way fitting of a noble, the prophet sent his messenger.

And instead of Elisha simply waving his hand over the leprosy and curing Naaman, as he expected, the prophet sent the army commander to be cleansed in the Jordan. All of this was beneath Naaman.

But he did it—with persuasion. And he was healed.

As a result, the bigger miracle happened in his heart, which he yielded to the God of Israel. He would no longer bow his heart to idols.

Lessons from a Child

All of this resulted because a slave girl spoke up, modeling the childlike faith that Jesus calls each of us to have.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.—Matthew 18:2-4 (NKJV)

We adults make things complicated. Does someone deserve my help? Would that person do the same for me?

Instead of evaluating her master’s worth, this child saw her master’s pain and his need. Because she did, God met Naaman at his greatest need of all.

My prayer for each of us is we will do good and love well, as from the heart of a well-meaning child.

________________________

This is Part 10 in a series about biblical women—some named, some not, some honorable, some less so. But all have earned a place in scripture, and all have important lessons to teach us.