👧a servant girl✉️a letter🐎horses and a chariot🌊the river Jordan🙏a thank you
Naaman's story.
The big ideaThe Bible tells how a girl's kind words and a simple river sent Naaman home well.
How it works
The Bible tells how Naaman was the commander of the army of Aram, a land north of Israel. He had a skin disease that would not go away, and no doctor could help.
A young servant girl from Israel told her mistress that the prophet in Samaria could make her master well. Naaman set out with a letter from his king, gifts and servants.
The prophet Elisha did not come out. He sent a servant to tell Naaman to wash seven times in the river Jordan. Naaman was angry, but his servants asked him to try the easy way.
So Naaman went under the water seven times, and his skin was clean and new. He went back to say thank you.
Seven dips in the river.The story in order.
Example 1: Count the dips
Elisha's servant said to wash seven times.
After the third dip nothing had changed, and Naaman was not done.
7 - 3 = 4
So four dips were still to come.
Example 2: Why Naaman was angry
He had thought the prophet would come out and call on his God.
He asked why he should wash in that little river when there were better ones at home.
His servants said that of course he would have done something hard, so why not do this easy thing.
Example 3: What a kind word did
A young servant girl could have been bitter, but instead she was kind.
She told her mistress about the prophet.
That one kind word, said bravely, started something very good.
Example 4: What was packed
Naaman packed gifts: heavy bags of silver and gold and ten fine robes.
He took a letter from the king of Aram, sealed with a ring in soft wax.
In the end Elisha would not take anything at all.
Words to know
commander
A leader of soldiers in an army.
servant
Someone who works in a house and helps the family.
prophet
A person who tells what God has said.
Watch out
Elisha did not come out. He sent a servant to the door.
Naaman washed seven times, not once or three times.
The servant girl told her mistress, and the mistress told Naaman.
Naaman listened to his servants, even though he was cross.
Try it
Who told Naaman's wife about the prophet?
How many times did Naaman go under the water?
Why was Naaman angry at first?
Who helped Naaman try the easy way?
A friend is cross. What helps most?
Answers: 1. A young servant girl from Israel · 2. Seven · 3. He expected the prophet to come out himself · 4. His servants · 5. Speak kindly and wait
Try at homeWith a grown-up, talk about a small, kind thing someone said that helped you, then say one kind thing to someone today.
For grown-upsAsk who in the story helped, and who listened. Then find one kind thing for your child to say to someone today, as the servant girl did.
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