NAAMAN
[Illustration] "THE leper story which has always interested me most
is that of Naaman the Syrian," said Lucius, when he had put back Dr.
Kitto's large volume in its place in the book-case.
"Oh yes, yes," interrupted little Elsie; "I know that story too quite
well. I know that Naaman was a great man, and rich, and a famous
general besides, but he had the dreadful sickness which no doctor could
cure. I remember how Naaman came in a grand chariot with prancing
horses to the house of the good prophet Elisha, and how angry he was
when only a servant came out and told him to wash seven times in the
river Jordan."
Elsie stopped almost out of breath from the rapidity with which she had
spoken. All the young Temples were familiar with the account of the
cure of the Syrian, which was one of their favourite Scripture stories.
"Was the leprosy of Naaman also a type of sin?" inquired Lucius.
"I believe that it was," answered Mrs. Temple, "and I am strengthened
in this belief by Naaman's leprosy coming upon Gehazi as a direct
punishment for his sin."
"Ah! That wicked Gehazi!" exclaimed Elsie. "He told a lie, a dreadful
lie! It was right that he should be punished, was it not?"
The question was asked of Dora, Elsie's favourite sister. The child
wondered at the unwonted silence which had come over Dora, and wanted
to draw her into conversing like the rest of the party.
Dora winced at the question, and only replied by a slight movement of
her head.
But little Elsie was not satisfied by this. "Why don't you speak?" she
said bluntly. "When people are so very naughty as to tell lies, and say
that they are doing nothing when they are doing something bad, don't
you think that they ought to be well punished for it?"
Forced to reply, for Elsie's question had drawn every one's attention
towards her, Dora answered, "Of course they should be punished."
And having thus pronounced sentence upon herself, she relapsed into
silence, feeling much inclined, however, to start up and escape from
the room.
"Are you not well, my love?" asked her mother, who could not help
noticing that Dora's manner was different from usual.
"Quite well, mamma; only a little tired," was the evasive reply.
"Tired of doing nothing," said Lucius.
The conversation on the subject of Naaman was then resumed by Agnes.
"When Naaman was cleansed of his leprosy, mamma, how was it that Elisha
did not tell him to go and show himself to the priest, and that we hear
nothing about a sin-offering, nor of a bird being set free?" asked the
elder twin.
"You must remember," replied Mrs. Temple, "that Naaman was not an
Israelite but a Syrian, a Gentile, and, that he was therefore not bound
to observe the ceremonial law of the Jews. I think that Naaman was a
type of a Gentile church, to which belong all Christians who are not
descended from Abraham and Isaac."
"To which we then belong," observed Lucius.
"Notice, my children," continued their mother, "how we see the history
of a converted soul in the story of Naaman's cure. First there is the
man possessing all that earth can give him, but afflicted with a deadly
disease."
"Like the people who were bitten by the fiery serpents," interrupted
Lucius.
"Here in the leprous Naaman we behold a type or picture of a soul with
unforgiven sin staining and corrupting it," said his mother. "Next we
find the leper at the door of the prophet. Can any one of you tell me
of what Naaman now is a type?"
"A seeking soul," replied Agnes, after a little pause for reflection.
"Ah! But the next picture is of the leper turning away quite angry
because he was told just to wash and be clean," cried Elsie.
"Then Naaman is a type of a proud soul, not content with God's simple
but wonderful plan of salvation," continued their mother. "There are
some persons now who think that they can earn heaven by doing some
great thing, who believe that because of their own goodness they can be
clean in the sight of God. Such persons, like Naaman, are offended and
hurt when they are told that all their good works cannot take away sin;
that the leper can only be saved by living faith in Him whose blood is
the fountain opened for all uncleanness."
"But Naaman did go and dip down seven times in Jordan as he was
bidden," cried Elsie; "and then he was made quite well, his flesh all
soft and clean, just like a little child's."
"This is a picture or type of a believing, forgiven soul," said Mrs.
Temple, "the picture of one who has become a child of God, and who is
resolved, by the help of His Spirit, to lead from henceforth a new
life."