A Purpose

And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 
II Timothy 3:15

We often wonder if God has a purpose for our lives. We may think we wander about life aimlessly. Perhaps we need to reexamine our circumstances and see what God is trying to do through us. 

Today I want to examine a story in II Kings 5:1-19. Most of the story is about Naaman, a leper. The part I most want to concentrate on is the little maid. Not a lot of information is given about her, no name, no age, no duties as a servant (read that "slave"). The one important thing about this little girl is her care for others. She told her mistress that she wished her master was in the land of Samaria with the prophet who would heal him. That's all. The message gets passed along and mixed up. Naaman ends up at the King of Israel's doorstep and upsets the whole kingdom because the king can not help. When Elisha hears of the visit, he sends for Naaman. Even when Naaman returns home a healed man and a saved man, nothing more is said of the little maid. She was second only to God in this story because had she not started the ball rolling, Naaman would have never gone to Elisha or been healed or gained faith in the one true God. Parents, join your kids in jotting down a few notes to help us understand how God uses even us in the worst of circumstances to bring others to Christ.

Hey Kids - Go get a paper and pencil. We can make a few educated guesses about the little maid and cover a huge writing, math, geography, science, and history/ social studies assignment with the help of this one little maid. 

Science - What is leprosy?

History - When did Syria take slaves from Israel?

Math - How far would the Israelite captives have to travel to get to Syria?

Creative writing - using your 5 senses jot down the little maid's capture and travel experience. 

What sounds did she hear? Screams? Pleadings? Clashing of swords? Horses neighing?

What smells were there? The smell of sweaty animals, cooking fires, dust, etc.

What tastes? Dry mouth, a sip of water (hot or cold?) What foods? dried meats, cheese, raisins or figs, yogurt from a pouch.

What did she see? Wounded people, tear-stained faces, dirt-streaked faces, tangled hair, sadness?

What did she feel? The heat of the sun, the cold of the night, fear?

Was she still with her parents or had she been separated? Did she travel with a friend? Was she injured or mistreated? 

What about when she got to Syria? Was she sold as a slave or simply taken by Naaman for his wife? How long before she knew the language? How was she treated?

Through all of this, the little girl kept her faith? How had her parents instilled God's word in her so that through all of this she was still able to see that her job in life was to serve God and serve others? 

Kids, what story can you write from these notes? What do you think happened when Naaman returned? Was she reunited with her family? Did she grow up and have a family? Did she die in a plague or from an injury? Was God's purpose for her life fulfilled in this one assignment?  What further research do you need? How is God showing you your purpose through this little girl? 

Parents, what ideas do you have to increase the faith of your children? This little girl surely demonstrated her faithfulness in her daily work for the Syrian mistress to believe her idea that Elisha could heal Naaman. Her parents first instilled the faith in their child. Then a witness went out to "all the world". Can we do no less? Is this not our purpose to love and teach our children to love and teach others of Christ?

Blessings,

Gail