Introduction

By Soul Sisters

The Soul Sisters class is for 3rd-5th grade girls and meets on Wednesday nights from January to May. This year their study has focused on being whom God made them to be.

Throughout the class the girls have studied God’s word together, completed service projects, and gained more of an understanding of their identity in Christ. Their favourite part of every class is singing and praying together. This lesson was prepared by the Soul Sisters class.

‘Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy. Now bands of raiders from Aram had gone out and had taken captive a young girl from Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, ‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’ Naaman went to his master and told him what the girl from Israel had said. ‘By all means, go,’ the king of Aram replied. ‘I will send a letter to the king of Israel.’ So Naaman left, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold and ten sets of clothing. The letter that he took to the king of Israel read: ‘With this letter I am sending my servant Naaman to you so that you may cure him of his leprosy.’ As soon as the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his robes and said, ‘Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? Why does this fellow send someone to me to be cured of his leprosy? See how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me!’ When Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his robes, he sent him this message: ‘Why have you torn your robes? Have the man come to me and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel.’ So Naaman went with his horses and chariots and stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. Elisha sent a messenger to say to him, ‘Go, wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be cleansed.’ But Naaman went away angry and said, ‘I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?’ So, he turned and went off in a rage. Naaman’s servants went to him and said, ‘My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!’ So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’ The prophet answered, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not accept a thing.’ And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. ‘If you will not,’ said Naaman, ‘please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry, for your servant will never again make burnt  offerings and sacrifices to any other god but the LORD. But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant for this.’ ‘Go in peace,’ Elisha said.’ 2 Kings 5:1-19

Think back to when you were young. Did you ever tell an adult/authority figure what to do? How did that turn out?

Can you think of any experiences where the advice of a child has changed your life?

Naaman’s wife’s servant is a character that barely makes it into the Bible. There are 31,102 verses in the Bible – she’s mentioned in 3. She’s the nameless servant of a nameless character. While her representation in scripture is minimal, her impact is great! While studying this character, the Soul Sisters recognized three lessons worth learning.

1. She knew God.

How do you think she knew about Elisha? How do you think she knew about God? How did God command his people to teach their children? Deuteronomy 6:1-2 / Deuteronomy 6:6-10 / Deuteronomy 6:20-25

When asked how someone could help them learn about God, the class members shared ideas like family Bible reading, family prayer time, and talking to their parents and other adults about righteous living. What are you doing to increase your knowledge of God and his word?

2. She had faith.

She said to her mistress,

‘If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’

What does this declaration say about her faith?

What is faith and why is it important? Hebrews 11:1 / Hebrews 11:6
How does her faith compare to the faith of the other characters (Naaman, the king of Israel, Elisha) in this story?

Thinking back to your childhood, what examples of faith do you remember? How did they impact you?

3. She shared her faith.

After reading this story one of the class members said,

‘She was a servant and had been taken away from her home, right? So, she didn’t have to tell about Elisha, did she?’

No, she didn’t have to tell anyone about Elisha, but Naaman’s life was changed because she did!

‘So, he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.’ 2 Kings 5:14-15

How was Naaman impacted by the servant girl sharing her faith?

‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’ Matthew 5:14-16

‘But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.’ 1 Peter 3:15-16

‘For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So, do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.’ 2 Timothy 1:7-8

What does Scripture say about sharing our faith?

What is one intentional thing you can do this week to share your faith?