Unnamed captive Jewish maid

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I would like to tell you my story. My name is not important. I was born in Israel. I had a wonderful life and I was taught the things of God. I looked forward to one day getting married and raising a family. I had a wonderful life.

I cannot totally comprehend why things happen the way they do. Sometimes, it is just too painful to remember this part of my life history. It was during the time of unrest that my country had with Syria. Although I tried to stay hidden, there was a skirmish and I was stolen away from my people. Everything and everyone that I considered special, wonderful and loving to me was torn away. One moment I was playing with my friends; the next moment I found myself held captive, taken to a land far away from my own home.

Have you ever been taken captive against your will? It happened to me. I was taken to a marketplace and sold to the highest bidder. The only thing that I knew about slavery was that my people, Israel were held in slavery in the land of Egypt, long long ago. Now I found myself, bound as a slave. I became a servant to a family in Syria.

How did this happen? Where was my God? Where was my family? I became servant to a woman whose husband was a soldier for the Syrian army. I felt sorry for him because he had leprosy. His name was Naaman. In Israel, people with his ailment had to remain separated from others. They were considered unclean and had to keep among themselves. However, this man, Naaman, had no such rules. In fact he was a very important man; he was the captain of the Syrian army. He had a very important reputation and he was known as a valiant warrior (2 Kings 5:1). He was very close to the King of Syria. Even know he had leprosy, he had a magnificent reputation and was respected.

One day as I was serving my mistress, conversation arose between us about her husband’s leprosy. I said “I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would cure him of his leprosy.” (2 Kings 5:3) I remembered that there was a very important man, Elisha the prophet, who did miraculous works in our land. I did not really think anything more about my statement. However, the next thing I knew, Naaman had received permission from the king to travel to Israel. The king fully endorsed this trip by giving him letters of recommendation to the king of Israel.

I was very excited and could not wait to see Naaman upon his return. Although he had incurable disease, would you believe that he got healed! He did exactly what the prophet told him to do, (Wash and be clean!) He dipped himself seven times in the Jordan River (So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child and he was clean.2 Kings 5:14)

Finally, Naaman returned, he had skin as white as snow! What celebration there was! Here I was, an unnamed captive Jewish maid. I had been taken from my people but God still saw me. Although I was in an obscure place, living an obscure life, living without my family, doing servitude work, God never left me. God knew of my circumstances! He placed me here, for such a time as this!

Perhaps you find yourself in a strange place. Perhaps you find yourself in a place that you do not like. Perhaps you have been taken to a place against your will. Perhaps you are languishing away because of an illness or a divorce or a skirmish. Day after day, you pray; day after day, you love God but heaven is silent.

Be encouraged, dear saint, God is true to His word, when He says:

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified;
Do not be discouraged,
For the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

The LORD will work out His plans for my [your] life— for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.
Psalm 138:8 NLT

He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Messiah Yeshua, Christ Jesus.
Phil. 1:6


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