The farmer and mechanic., 1915-10-12
In The Religious World


The General at the Preachers Door.
While panic possessed the Court,
Elisha, the successor to Elijah. step
ped forward with the audacious word |
which nevertheless brought relief to |
the king-"Let him come now to me. |
prophet in Israel" Whenever the |
representatives Of religion are prompt |
and bold and outstanding, and ready
to assume their obligations ard lead |
ership, the good repute Of the Cause
rises at once. Elisha, like true
prophet, seized every opportunity to
vindicate his God.
Now let us summon our imagina-
ton as we look upon what followed.
Elisha was more of a settled prophet
than Elijah and he had house. 1t
was not much Of house-the preach
er'S residence Is not likely to be point
ed out for its pretentiOuSneSs-pr
ably it was a single-storied, mud
brick dwelling, without windows. 1t
was an average home for those days.
but we have nothing poor enough to
compare it with. OF course the leigh
borhood was not "select' and the
neighbors were the common people.
What a sensation was created one
day when in front Of this house halt
| ed a magnificent professional! There
were Syrian soldiers in brave array,
as a glittering escort. There were
| servants besides. and splendid cam
els bearing gifts. In the center of it
all was the golden chariot Of the
great Naaman himself. Was ever be-
| fore such call upon poor
preacher?
But. look! The prophet does not
rush out and PROSTATE himself be-
fore all this pomp and power and
wealth. Elisha belonged to that lar
ger body Of preachers who have never
learned how to grovel before worldly
position. He bowed much before
God, but he stood upright before men.
So the naughty Naaman is kept stand
ing. After a time there comes out
from the humble dwelling q message
mot the prophet himself, but only
a message-to the effect that the
Ileper should go and wash seven times
in the Jordan.
A Patient Angry With The Doctor.
Now we come to the nub Of the
story. The great lesson is in what
followed. For Naaman was wrOth
that he, the mighty general, should
have been treated in this casual man
ner. This Hebrew prophet had not
paid due honor to his position. He
has expected great hocus-pocus
over his leprosy-signs. incantations,
charms, exorcisIns, medicines and
, what not. And here the only salts
, faction given him was a curt word,
, sent by a messenger, to go and bathe
!, seven times in a dirty Jewish river.
Abana river, which flows through
the streets Of Damascus, and he con-
, trasted it with the muddy flow Of
the Jordan, and his Indignation III
= creased.
!, Right here comes the sticking
y point in all matters Of personal dis
= cipleship. Men want Gods healing
: from sin, but they want it in thei1
Town way, with full recognition OF
their rank. We who are in any wise
distinguished-and everybody thinks
that he is-do not want salvation IL
!, the same way as the heather. W.
- would have God show Himself sensi
;. BILE of the honor we have done Hin
: by calling upon Him, Naaman fash
: ion. And we would have Him pa,
: especial heed to our case. No sim
:, pie "Go--wash" will suffice for us
- a Most Of us prefer to seek healing i,
. the clear and convenient waters o
:; damascus.
'Ha Ah, Naaman, they who seek Cod
n favor must accept it on His terms
With Him the great general is o.
u the same plane as the little chile
q Salvation is simple. But it can b
. got only in Gods way. Naaman woul
first went to the Jordan and wash
ed seven times, in token Of fu
- obedience and faith. And still tn
- worlds cleansing from sin is in tn
~ crimson stream that flows from Cal
:, vary And. thanks to servants wise
w than himself in this matter, Mama
~ decided TO follow the prophets In
- -, structions, and so he was made clea
~ and whole.
a What q combination of circum
90 stances go into this one healing
"a "a as into every other work of God 0
earth. There was the srnitten sol
,o der, directed toward healing by th
,e sympathetic servant Thus he foun
- Gods man and Gods plan and
=" new life.
ENDEAVORERS STANDING TO.
GEyTHER
al ~, aHne'.I on u.e OnIor1