Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-02-18
SABBATH SCHOOL LESSON
For Feb. 1911 Kings 5I-27
BY DIR. MARION NTH. HULL

Elisha heard of Jehoram's fix and
sent word to him to send his distin-
guished visitor to him; he would let
him know that God was not dead.
So it came to pass that the great
and honorable commanding general
of the victorious Syrian army drove
up in his chariot, accompanied by
his suite, Sand stopped before the
door of the prophets humble home,
and was announced. Elisha simply
sent this word out to him, Tell him
I say to go and wash in the Jordan
river seven times and he shall be
healed.
My! but General Naaman was
furious! He had meyer been treated
so discourteously; and besides, it
was. so entirely different from what
he had thought the prophet would
do. Was Elisha discourteCus? Mac
laren says Naaman expected Elisha
to- treat him as a gentleman who
happened to have leprosy, while he
really treated him as a leper who
happened to be a gentleman. True,
the laws Of Israel allowed no COM
munication with a leper; and Elisha
may have just been acting within
the law. We think, however, Elisha
had another purpose. The first step
| in Naaman;s cure had to be humil-
| ity; he must come to realize that
he was nothing even though he was
| the great and honorable general. He
had to learn that he, as the repre-
sentative Of the Syrian king, was
| inferior to Elisha, as the represent
alive of the King of Kings. 1t hurt
| him; he resented it; he lost control
of himself, and went away in a
| rage
But he had some sane servants
with him. They let him cool down
a little. and then suggested that he
at least give the thing a trila. 1t
was very simple; if it had been hard
err he would have at least attempted
| it. n
He thought of what they said, and
then there was his disease constantly
confronting him. So he obeyed. He
drove down the steep mountain road
to the Jordan valley dipped himself
seven times in the muddy turbulent
waters of the Jordan and came up
with flesh like a little child's. Each
time it was test of his faith--sup-
pose. he had stopped after the sixth
! dip? But he obeyed and went under
! the seventh time! 1 wonder if he
| didn't shout when he saw the result!
He did everything according to
| the word of the man of Cod" and
everything turned out exactly as the
man of God had said. Often the
very simplicity Of the gospel is the
greatest hindrance. We have pre-
! conceived notions of what ought to
be done, and when we find that to
be healed of the dreadful disease of
sin, the only thing necessary is to
| believe and obey, we stumble over
it. We think we must do something
when we only have to receive what
! has already been done by another
| for us.
4 Naaman was not only cured but
\ he was also converted. He came
back to Elisha in different spirit
he told him he knew now that there
was only one God, and that he in
tended to serve Him henceforth. He
asked the privilege of making him a
present, but Elisha refused. Both
men insisted. 1t was to their credit
that they did. Elisha was right for
he wanted Naaman, not Naamap S
money. It was no time to let this
| newly converted heather think that
he had any other motive, or that he
was his benefactor rather than God
| His wholel idea was to put Naaman
in touch with God.
I Naaman's next question showed
| that Elisha was right. He wanted q
| little Israelitish earth to worship on
and he wanted the privilege of bow
ing in the house of Rimmon wher
his political duties required it
Elisha's answer was $50 in peace
He did not condone this conduct or
the part of Naaman, but rather left
it to Naaman to find out for him
self how wrong it would be. Moth
ing but whole-hearted one hun
bred per cent surrender will be pleas
ing to God. There are lots OF
Naamans in the church today who
are willing to go the whole way il
it doesn't interfere with their poll
teal plans or business successes
Nothing but clear sweep will do
But if the heart is right, and there
is real desire to know the will Of
God we can say to such as Elisha
said, go in peace" knowing thai
they will not do it but once.
How much of yourself does Goo
own rs per cent, SO per cent, OF
100 per cent?
GEO No Cont1nued.)