Not Too Timid To Speak Up

Not Too Timid to Speak Up

A Young Israelite Maid

Read: 2 Kings 5:1-19

Arlene saw the ambulance pull into her neighbors’ driveway. Had something happened to their son? Everyone knew that the little daredevil was always pulling crazy stunts. Only two days ago, Arlene had seen him climbing on his roof while his parents were at work. She had thought about calling his mom, but she didn’t. Suddenly, she gasped. What if . . . Arlene stood with her eyes strained toward her neighbors’ front door.

The girl in today’s passage wasn’t too afraid to speak up. She’d been taken from her home in Israel and given to the wife of Naaman, the king of Aram’s army commander. When Naaman contracted leprosy, the girl remembered the prophet Elisha and the miracles he had performed. But would a powerful army captain listen to the suggestion of a young slave girl? Besides, Naaman worshiped other gods, not the God of Israel. The girl’s longing to help her master overcame any intimidation she felt, and she told her mistress about Elisha. Her boldness led to Naaman’s healing and to his new faith in God. The event must have influenced many others as the story spread throughout Israel and Aram.

It’s easy to feel intimidated about talking to other people about God because we don’t know how they’ll react. Will they be offended, mock us, or accuse us of trying to cram our beliefs down their throats? If they are highly educated or in prominent positions, we may wonder why they would listen to us at all. The same God who gave boldness to a young Israelite slave girl wants to help us overcome our timidity. Each of us comes in contact with people who need to hear the good news of God’s love and forgiveness. If we ask God to give us the right words, we may be surprised at what happens when we speak up.

Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.

Ephesians 6:19 (NIV)