leprosy

Naaman

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

‘Bands from Aram had gone out and taken captive a young girl from Israel and she served Naaman’s wife.’ 2 Kings 5:2. This unnamed girl is recorded as such an insignificant person. She was only a young girl and was a slave in a foreign country. It could be thought if we didn’t know our God and had then been able to read the story in the Bible that she was of no significance at all.

But a different country, the life of a slave,and probably apart from her family did not stop her being used by God. When she heard that her mistress’s husband had leprosy she was pleased to say that her God could heal him. By speaking out, the wheels were set in motion. Naaman was allowed to go to Israel to seek healing, which after a few false moves he obtained. Naaman was cured and all because of a small servant girl who had a faith and the courage to speak out..

Do we sometimes feel insignificant? Do we believe that we can’t say anything of worth and be used by God? I’m so pleased that often we don’t know the impact we’ve had on another person by speaking out. By knowing we might become proud. Maybe in heaven, it will be revealed to us, when we can’t be spoiled by pride.

Who is our Leper?

Carol Purves Carol's Blog ,

Leprosy wasn’t just a first century scourge, there are still sufferers in the world today and millions are permanently disabled by the disease. The cases today are mostly in Africa and Asia where there are cures if treatment is started early enough and continued. In biblical times there was almost no cure and because of the contagious nature, lepers were shunned and isolated

In Matthew 8 Jesus comes into the picture. We read the amazing words, ‘Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man.’ This was unthinkable, surely He would now catch leprosy! Jesus didn’t just heal by a word as did with many of His miracles. He actually placed His hand in the hand of the sick man.

Do we have lepers in our own lives; people we don’t want anything to do with. The list will be different for every one. – the physically dirty and smelly, the down and outs, or as we call them today, the homeless. Do we avoid people with different political beliefs, people with different religious beliefs or no beliefs at all. Do we keep away from people who will cause us problems? Part of our calling is to touch the untouchables.