READ: EXODUS 34:6; 2 KINGS 5:1-16; EZEKIEL 36:26; LUKE 6:27-36

Aiyanna huddled behind a barrel as the raiders galloped into town. They were looking for slaves to take back to their tower cities. She had to get out of town—to the forest hut, the home of the prophet of Elohim.

Hands grabbed her from behind, and the world turned upside down as she was slung over a raider’s shoulder. Immediately, a sweet smell smothered her into darkness.

The next time her eyes opened, she screamed. She stared into cloud space.

“Turn her away from the window,” a woman commanded.

Rough hands pushed her onto her side, and she faced into a room where a woman stood.

“I will untie you. But first, rules. You will obey. You will not leave my residence or visit other tower city levels. You are a rank zero servant. If you cooperate, you live. If you cause trouble…” She waved toward the enormous windows. “The sky scavengers may have you.”

Aiyanna gulped. Elohim, protect me.

Her days fell into a pattern of cleaning, washing, and repairing for the Mistress and her husband—a captain raider.

Then one day, Mistress shrieked loud enough for citizens a tower city away to hear. Aiyanna found Mistress leaning over Captain. He raised one hand covered in green scales.

“Two weeks,” Captain moaned. “Two weeks until I will be covered in scales, and you must expel me to dwell with the crawlers.”

“No!” Mistress wailed. “Someone, help!”

Aiyanna shrank back. The forest hut flashed across her mind, and she thought of the prophet—the one from whom she’d just begun to learn. Well, now Captain would know what it was like to be dragged from home.

“Someone, help us!” Mistress wept.

Aiyanna clutched her knowledge close. A new prison hardened around her heart—the last stronghold of her freedom—and she could feel herself beginning to sink into shadow.

But then, another memory came to her, of the prophet telling an old story. He said when Elohim told us His name, He called Himself, “the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

Elohim, she prayed, is your love truly for these people too?

Aiyanna took a deep breath and stepped forward. “The prophet back home. He has a cure for the scales.”

Mistress and Captain stared at her, disbelief in their eyes. And wonder.

Aiyanna felt the threat of darkness flee from her heart. Because she belonged to Elohim, she would always be free. • Judith DeStefano

• Today’s allegorical story is based on 2 Kings 5:1-16. Consider taking some time to read this passage, and let the gravity of the situation sink in. How difficult do you think it was for this girl to offer help to Namaan? Why do you think she did it?

• When Jesus came and lived among us, He called us to love others, even our enemies. The truth is, apart from Jesus, we are all God’s enemies. And yet, God loved us so much that Jesus was willing to give up His life for us on the cross. Because Jesus died and rose again, our sins can be washed away and we can become God’s friends (Romans 5:6-11). Once we experience God’s love for ourselves, His love overflows from us to others through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5; 1 John 4:19). Consider taking some time just to rest in Jesus’s love for you and thank Him for His sacrifice for you.

• Is there someone in your life who feels like an enemy to you? God calls us to love and pray for our enemies, and He also helps us set up good boundaries (Luke 6:27-28). If someone has hurt you deeply, who is a trusted Christian adult who could help you discern how God might be calling you to love this person?

[Jesus said,] “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Luke 6:35 (NIV)