Three Servants

II Kings 5 tells the story of Naaman, a commander of the army of Syria who was great and honorable. He also had leprosy which was a death sentence in those days. Throughout his story, we see a picture of three different servants.

First Servant

A young girl was taken hostage in a raid on Israel by Syria—a raid probably led by Naaman. This young girl was chosen out of all of the hostages to be a servant to Naaman’s wife. We’re not told her age or how long she’d been held captive. But she knew her master had leprosy and told his wife that she wished Naaman could see the prophet in Israel—he could heal him! We never hear of her again—but Naaman uses her information to go to Israel for healing. 

Second Servant(s)

These were Syrian soldiers under the command of Naaman. They went with him to Israel and were with him when he went to the prophet, Elisha. Elisha didn’t come out to see Naaman but sent a messenger to tell him to go dip in the Jordan seven times to be healed. Naaman became highly offended that Elisha didn’t personally come and talk to him. He then became angry and refused to go to the Jordan—but his servants convinced him to go by reasoning that he would do something much harder if Elisha had asked him. He dipped in the Jordan seven times and was healed.  We never hear of these servants again. 

Third Servant

We’re given this servant’s name—Gehazi, the servant of the prophet, Elisha. Naaman had offered gifts to Elisha for healing him, but Elisha refused them. Gehazi saw an opportunity. He chased Naaman and told him Elisha needed garments and silver for two sons of prophets—when he really only hoped to profit himself. Elisha confronted him upon his return and cursed him and his descendants with leprosy. 

You’d think the servant closest to the prophet of God would be the most honorable. But he wasn’t. We have three different servants:

1. Believing servant in unbelieving country

2. Unbelieving servants in unbelieving country

3. Believing servant in believing country. 

And yet it was the first two who served God which led to the  healing of Naaman. They received their reward just by seeing their master healed. 

It doesn’t matter who you are, your age, race, gender, or whom or where you’re serving. It doesn’t matter if you’re a captive servant or a willing servant. You will either serve God or you will serve yourself in any and all circumstances. 

We are all servants. And we all have a choice.