This is a
story of Naaman, a high ranking military commander, two kings, and a great
prophet. The great prophet is Elijah. But, there is a girl.
A young woman, captured as a slave as
men squabbled for power and control and territory. She is not a cast-away, and
she certainly is not a citizen of this belligerent nation. She is an Israelite,
of full blood!
Her dream of
running through the walk-ways, of picking lilies and chasing butterflies at the
stream was abruptly terminated. She, like most girls, dreamt of love and beauty
and affection. But she was captured by the Syrian army led by the great and
valiant Naaman. She is ‘conscripted’ into service at the Generals’ household. Helpless. Unfortunate. Lost.
But this is
not the end.
Taken from her kind, lost in a strange land
with no hope of reunion; the situation couldn’t be worse. And the most
appropriate and sanest thing, as we imagine, to do is recoil into self-pity.
But she didn’t.
She still
remembered her God amidst the crowded tradition of idolatry, had unwavering
faith and conviction about what God could do. Her faith is steady and
unyielding. The doctrine of piety etched in her frame still was visible. She
didn’t lose her identity and played along. The terrain had certainly changed,
but her faith hasn’t.
Her story teaches us that our
environment does not make us, we make us. Against the backdrop of corruption;
where what is right is whatever happens to appeal at the moment, where greed
and deception are vivid images in our reality, our convictions-integrity,
selflessness, truth, should be displayed vigorously. Every corner is lit up
with the surpassing power of the Christ and His kingdom. As society plunges
into the dark abyss of sin and rebellion, our light must shine all the more.
We’re in a
hellishly dark time. Evil (every vice closely or widely associated with it) is
the norm rather than the exception. We’re in dire need of light, even in
unlikely places.
A little
Israelite girl did shine to great effect, and she’s read today. And this girl,
we don’t even know her name.
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