Sunday 5 August 2012

Mini novel Ziva 4 - The Miracle

Ziva finished speaking and Naaman was already with a different face, all those words had lifted his mood, and he told his wife: - "Do you believe the things that she says?"

- "She speaks with great conviction; everything makes sense, I have heard of the fame of the God of Israel."

- "I'll talk to the king, I will ask permission to go to Israel, I need to know that prophet."

Naaman was determined to speak to his master that same day. He told him all that Ziva had said.

To which the king replied: "Go as soon as possible, I will send a letter to the king of Israel telling him that that I’m sending you to be healed of your leprosy and that you will take some gifts."

Naaman was encouraged by the journey, he sent his wife to prepare whatever was necessary, she and Ziva would be going with him; he couldn’t wait to meet the prophet.

So the big day had arrived, the cart was ready with what was necessary, they would leave very early.

When they entered Israel, Ziva could not contain the joy to see her land again, she was hoping to see her parents and siblings, that would fill her with joy, but she was focused on the purpose that brought her to Israel, her master would be cured and would get to know the God of Israel, just as the people of Syria.

Finally they arrived at Elisha’s house, but to the surprise of Naaman, Elisha did not come out to greet him, he send a messenger to say: - "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River, and your flesh will be restored, and clean."

Naaman was important and influential he got offended 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’!”

Naaman thought about it better, he had to be humble, 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.

Elisha said: - "Go in peace."

They all returned very happy, Naaman had been cured and that was wonderful.

"Thanks for telling me about your God Ziva, I have no way to thank you." Said Naaman looking radiant.

Ziba was with her head out of the carriage, her hair moved with the wind; she closed her eyes and remembered how she once told her sister that she would like to be used by God to help people, like the prophet Elisha.

She was young, but her faith and trust in God made all the difference in the lives of her masters and collaborate so that one of the greatest miracles of the Old Testament happened.

Ziva managed to prove the superiority of the God of Israel in relation to the pagan gods of Syria.

Instead of being bitter and angry about the situation that she lived, Ziva fulfilled the purpose of God in the midst of difficulties and was largely used to carry the God of Israel to people who didn’t knew him.

What would we have done in her place?

This story was based on 2 Kings 5. The Bible does not tell the name of the servant of Naaman, I chose the Hebrew name Ziva because it means brightness and splendor, which was what she took to the house of Naaman.

The End

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