A Maid that Made an Impact
You are a solution to someone’s problem; you have the information that will sort out the challenge of others; don’t hoard the information, make that impact in a life today.
There is a story of a maid that made an impact in the life of an Army General, his family and his nation. She became a maid to the Army General’s wife when she was captured in a military raid. In her role as a maid, she was inconsequential; her family background was completely forgotten, her individual identity completely erased, yet she became relevant.
She had her own Problems As a little girl, she became a maid when she was taken as a slave on one of her mistress Army General husband’s military raid. She became separated from her family and was taken to a foreign land to live with strangers. She had every reason to be wrapped up in her own personal worries; concerns for her family and her future. She would have experienced periods of sadness and worries to the point of thinking about escape plans from her captors. What a miserable experience for a little child to be taken captive. She definitely had her own problems.
She was concerned about another Problem In spite of her personal concerns, worries, troubles and challenges, this little girl was diligent in her chores, committed to her duties and did not forget her prestigious heritage. Although, she did not have answers to her own personal problems, she was concerned about the problem of her mistress husband – the Army General, who had a debilitating skin disease.
She must have seen how her master tried day and night to hide this embarrassing skin disease from dignitaries. It was a depressing experience, her master, an Army General was a mighty champion and victorious warrior – when kitted in his armour. However, at night when he is stripped of his armour, it is a different story. The worries and concern of his sickness sets in; no degree of victory in the battlefield could drown these feelings of fear and hopelessness; her master, the victorious Army General had leprosy.
While going about her daily duties, this little girl will observe, how her master tried all manner of medication and remedies all to no avail.
It eventually got to the point that she could no longer cope with the pain and shame her master was enduring. This young girl remembered her heritage; she knew she had vital information that can solve her master’s problem. She knew of a prophet in her home country that can provide the healing her master so desperately desires.
Not knowing how to pass the information to her master, she blurted out the information to her mistress. Another servant that heard passed the information to her master.
Trembling she was ushered into the presence of her master; she re-affirmed her conviction, “There is a prophet in my home country that can heal you, master”.
Her master thought deeply, a young servant girl taken captive in battle, “What does she know?” Somehow her master believed her report; thinking, “What do I have to lose?” “If I visit this prophet in a foreign country and return healed from my leprosy; it is a better prospect than disbelieving this young servant.”
He debated further with his wife and aides; “This young girl has more to lose if I return without been healed of my leprosy”; “She must truly be convinced of the ability of this prophet to heal my leprosy.”
The information she gave solved her Master’s Problem Her master, being an Army General, used the diplomatic services of his country to journey to this foreign country in search of the prophet. His first encounter, with this foreign country’s leader would have discouraged him; however, the prophet heard of his visit to the palace and requested the Army General to come to his house.
On arrival at the prophet’s house, the prophet sent an aide to meet the Army General with specific instructions to wash seven times in a river in the foreign country.
The Army General felt belittled by this encounter; the prophet did not attend to him personally and is requesting he washes in a river in a foreign country. However, to the Army General’s credit, it took another servant to persuade him to follow the prophet’s instructions, reasoning with him that the primary purpose for making the journey to the foreign country was to get healed from leprosy; that he might as well take his chances with washing in a river in a foreign country than returning home without been healed.
The Army General obeyed the instruction, he washed in the river the first time, nothing happened; the second time nothing happened, the third time nothing happened…he continued and washed the seventh time and miraculously he was healed of leprosy.
How joyous the Army General and his men felt. They were completely overjoyed at the wonderful experience of becoming completely healed of a limiting disease. A long standing problem was brought to an end and the Army General was most grateful to the prophet. Although, the prophet declined to accept the Army General’s gifts, his joyous appreciation was enough.
The Army General was full of praises for the young girl who despite her own personal problems, volunteered vital information that led to his healing.
She became a Blessing You can only imagine the reward the Army General would have given this young girl on his return home. Who knows, her singular action could have resulted in her freedom from captivity; she might have been sent back home to her family with countless number of gifts with a military escort leading her home.
This little girl has taught us great lessons: Never be so wrapped in your own little world of issues, challenges and worries that you cannot be bothered about what is going on around you.
Do not withhold information that will be a blessing to someone else. You never know what blessing awaits you. Remember the saying, “what you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.”
You are here to solve a problem. Don’t let the issues of life weigh you down and blindfold you to the real essence of your existence. You are a solution to someone’s problem.
Now go ahead and make it happen, for in the process you with obtain your own reward.
This story of a maid that made an impact in the life of an Army General, his family and his nation is documented in 2 Kings 5:1 – 19.
