Behind the Scenes – Greg Laurie Devotion – May 07, 2026

Biblical Context

The book of 2 Kings tells us about the kings of Israel and Judah, continuing the story from 1 Kings. It covers a difficult period in Israel’s history, marked by moral decay, political instability, and foreign threats. The book also highlights the work of prophets like Elijah and Elisha, who spoke for God during these turbulent times. The main writer, or at least the compiler, is traditionally thought to be Jeremiah, though the book itself doesn’t name an author. It pulls from different historical records and prophetic traditions. The stories in 2 Kings, like the healing of Naaman, show God’s power working even when His people are disobedient, and that His care isn’t just for Israel but can reach others who seek Him.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “prophet” from our scripture. In Hebrew, the word is navi (נָבִיא). It means someone called by God to speak His message, a spokesperson for the divine. A navi wasn’t just a fortune-teller; they brought God’s words to the people, sometimes warning them, sometimes offering hope, and often showing His power through miracles. The prophet acted as an intermediary between God and humanity, delivering specific instructions or warnings. They weren’t speaking their own ideas; they were delivering what God had given them to say.

God Works Behind the Scenes

Often, the biggest spiritual chances, the ones that change so much, are those that happen “behind the scenes.” You might think the person everyone sees as the main player is the one God uses, but that’s not always true. God picks all sorts of people to work through.

Nehemiah: The Cupbearer Who Took a Risk

You can see a great example of this in the book of Nehemiah. King Artaxerxes was definitely the most powerful man in his day, ruling over Babylon and a huge part of the Middle East. What he said went. Nehemiah, though, worked as the king’s cupbearer. His job was a few steps down from the king, but it was really important and kept him close to Artaxerxes all the time. A cupbearer had to taste the king’s drink before he did to make sure it wasn’t poisoned. If it was, that was the end of the cupbearer’s job—and his life. But cupbearers did more than just sip drinks. Because they spent so much time with the king, they often became trusted advisors, someone who had real sway with the monarch. Being a cupbearer was a very respected job in the palace. A cupbearer lived with lots of money and a lot of sway.

But Nehemiah had another loyalty. He was, after all, an exiled Jew—someone who really cared about his old home. He knew that Jerusalem’s walls were burned down and just lay in ruins—and something had to be done. So, he used his position, even though it was a big risk. He asked the king to let him go back to Jerusalem with some other exiles to rebuild the walls. He really could’ve lost his life just by asking. But he saw a spiritual chance to work quietly to get something big done.

The Young Girl: A Quiet Suggestion That Changed Everything

There’s another story like this in 2 Kings 5. It talks about a young Jewish girl, whose name we never learn. She said to her mistress, “I wish my master would go to see the prophet in Samaria. He would heal him of his leprosy” (verse 3 nlt). Her master was Naaman, the commander of the Aramean army—one of the really important people of his time. This young girl was a maid who worked for Naaman’s wife. She, too, saw a spiritual chance to work without being noticed and she took it. Her simple suggestion led Naaman to go look for the Israelite prophet Elisha. Naaman made the trip to Israel and was healed of his leprosy.

God Uses Anyone Who’s Ready

These stories tell us that God can and does use anyone to get His plans done. And even if the names of the people He uses are lost to history, He never forgets them. He’ll surely reward everyone who makes themselves ready for Him. You might be asking, how can I make myself ready for God? It starts with being open to His leading, even in the smallest ways, and trusting that your quiet efforts matter deeply to Him.