Naaman’s Servants: Speaking Truth to Power
Scripture Reading — 2 Kings 5:1-15
Naaman’s servants...said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it?”
When we think of mentors, we often think of an older person mentoring someone younger or a wise person mentoring someone who has much to learn. But mentors can come in many forms.
Naaman’s servant girl had no standing. She was a child, a female, and a slave. She had no training and no stature, but she knew the power of God. She was bold in sharing what she knew about God. If she had kept quiet, Naaman might never have received his miracle.
Later Naaman’s own pride nearly derailed the blessing that Elisha, as the prophet of God, had promised. But Naaman’s servants spoke up to redirect him to the purpose of their visit.
It was quite a risk for those servants to speak up to correct their commander, but God used their words to draw Naaman back to the instructions of the prophet.
Each mentor in this story spoke God’s truth into the life of someone in authority over them. That required courage. They spoke the truth with care and concern, and God used them to carry out his miracle of healing.
Even the weak can speak God’s truth into the lives of others, pointing them to God.
Lord, give us boldness to share your truth even when do-ing so seems difficult. Give us courage to speak your truth in love each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Steven and Deb Koster
Steven and Deb Koster have a passion for marriages, families, and spiritual growth in the home. Both are ordained ministers in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Steven formerly served as editor of Today and director of ReFrame's English-language outreach. Deb leads Family Fire, ReFrame’s family ministry at FamilyFire.com and on Facebook. The Kosters have three children.
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