Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-18

Golden Text: "BIess the Lord, o
my soul. and forget not all His BEN
efits. Who fOrgiveth all thine in
iuuities, Who healeth all thy dis
cases." Pisa. 1903: 2, 3.
When Ahab fought ineognito
against Benhadah, king of Syria,
Gods arrow found him in spite Of
his disguise. One drew a bow at q
venture, and the arrow went be-
tween the joints of Ahab's arnor
and killed him, as Gods man had
phopheside. Josephus says that the
ore who drew the bow was Naaman,
and that Benhadad promoted him
to the post Of commanding genera
of his army as a recognition for this
signal service. 1t was by him at
any rate that the Lord had given
victory of Benhadad, although nei-
ther he nor Benhadad then recog-
nized Gods hand in the victory. Not
many men recognize the fact that
God still controls the world. and
makes all things work together for
good tc them that love Him, to them
VINO are the called according to His
purpose; but it is a fact, neverthe-
less.
Naa,nan had risen to the top. He
was a great man in the sight OF his
king. and an honorable mamie
really had worth; for some men may
be great in the eyes Of the world,
| and not have any real worth. But
he was a leper!
If YOU look closely enough into
| every mans life you will find a but:
Fine man, but; clever fellow, but
-: beautiful woman, but; lovely
| girl: but Have you looked for
the flaw in your life yet? What
is the fly in the ointment that keeps
! your life from being the effective
one God wants it to be?
| What mattered all of Naaman
| success, and position. and wealth.
if he was a leper? Afflicted with the
most virulent form of that dreadful
/ malady which was incurable then'
he had to look forward to nothing
but suffering, seeing this nemper
and that rot off, to be cut off from
association with everyone lest ne IN,
feet them also, to waste away anu
! die a horrible death.
! He had tried everything; the mat
! ter had been discussed in his nome
! # finally became the talk of his
4
tie Jewish maiden as her personal
servant. In one of the border raids
on Israel, some of the Syrian 500.
| diers had kidnapped this beautiful
( child. and because Of her beauty ct
her socia! position she had been
handed over ITO the generals wife.
She might have been resentful; she
might have been moroSe because OF
her unacCustomed surroundings, but
she was not; for she was one OF
Gods seven thousand who had not
| bowed the knee to Baal, and VINO
trl1sted in Jehovah. Why, SONS
might ask, did God allow her to SUI
fer? Maybe her mother wondered
Iwhv God had allowed her to be cap
tured. Well, it was not to punish
her for something wrong she hao
done Chat is thef explanation mos'
people have for trouble), but to use
her for His glory.
she told her mistress of Gods
/, prophet; she just knew ne couiC
cure her master. 1t was a little
filing to do; and yet it is ALI Goo
exnects of any CT us-just to tel
somebody else what we know about
Him. 1t set the court a-talklng. The
king heard of it; he fitted up an e :I
petition, and sent his genera VIII
the gift of $4,000 and letter tt
the King Jehoram of Israel, asklns
that he cure his favorite officer o.
his leprosy He supposed the prom
ct was under the orders OF th'
king as all of his subjects were un
der his orders, and was doing the
tSourteous thing in addressing the
kss>g directly.
Naaman and Elisha
When this splendid cavalcade ar
rived at the palace in Samarla ant
! the letter was presented, the klns
went up in the air. He just knew
Benhadad was trying to pick
ouArel with him and get an excuse
| for invasion of his kingdom. HI
never thought of Elisha, and of Coo
only as a god. Benhadad did no
know about God; Jehoram knew
lbut did not have faith. Which was
worse?
Jehoram was like a good many
felix's today; he entirely misJudget
Benhadad's motives. How much
happier you would be if you Woul'
give the other fellow the benefit o
the doubt until you understand full
Iy what his real motive is.