Evening star., 1939-08-12


family and friends expect much
but he is lazy and purposeless.
There is but" after the name of
almost every Naaman. The most
loathsome of diseases clanked like
captive chain at every step the
famous soldier took The but" was
bigger than his palace, his power
his possessions.
One of the by-products of Naa-
mans innumerable campaigns was
the captives he took back to Syria.
Among the least of these was lit
tie Hebrew maiden, who had been
given to Naaman's wife as a per-
sonal servant With its usual
brevity, the Scripture says Moth
ing of the homesickness of the
lass, or of the bitter tears that
nightly wet her pillow. Desolate in
deed was her lot, as she served in
the sumptuous boudoir of her
wealthy mistress, her thoughts ever
turning to her home in Israel.
This little girl becomes the heroine
>of the drama; because she had a
kindly, magnanimous spirit. She
rose above bitterness and petty spite.
Instead of rejoicing over her alien
masters affection, she felt sorry for
him. And in the intimacy of per-
sonal servant with mistress, she told
of wonderful prophet in Israel, who
could heal even leprosy. Her faith
made dent upon the proud wom-
ans consciousness, for her husband 5
aff1iction was her greatest sorrow.
So she repeated the servants tale,
and eventually it came to the ears
of the king.
Great events hinged upon the COM
passionate interest of this one little
slave girl. Nobody can foresee the
consequences of a single word or act
of kindness. This fear-flled and
suffering old world sorely needs that
Hebrew maidens spirit of good will.
The King Speaks.
clustering like Mussolini, the King
of Syria, confident in his authority.
gave peremptory orders as soon as
he glimpsed this gleam of hope for
his favorite general. Prideful as a
japanese ultimatum. his letter to the
King of Israel directed the latter TO
heal Naaman, who bore the message.
1t was typical utterance from a
self f-inflated autocrat The rich
gifts which accompanied it did not
lessen the CONSERVATION of the He
brew court which saw in the strange
demand an excuse for war. Am l
God to kill and to make alive, that
this man doth send unto me to re-
cover man of his leprosy?" There
were the makings of grave Incl
dent" in the proud letter of Syria S
King. Meanwhile. Naaman waited at
the court of the Israelites, and was
feted the while.
A Prophet to the Rescue.
News travels fast in court circles,
and soon Elisha learned of the
Syrian letter and of his kings dis
tress. Let him come now to me, "
he said to the King, and he shall
know that there is prophet in
Israel What royal might could not
do lay within the province of man
of God.
With a vivid touch the narrative
pictures the arrival of Naaman at
the door of the prophets hubble
dwelling, his horses and chariots and
outriders attending him. Elisha was
not impressed. He did not even
deign to 60 out and speak in person
to his visitor. Instead, he sent word
that the distinguished general should
go down to the Jordan and bathe
seven times.
Cannot you hear the snort of in
dignation and contemptuous pride
with which Naaman greeted the
message! He, the great warrior, to
go down to Israel's muddy Jordan
and immerse himself! He had ex-
pected an elaborate ritual of healing
with his own proud self the impor-
tant center of proceedings. Instead
he was hidden to go wash in an un-
attractive stream Were not the
Abanah and Pharpar, rivers OF
Damascus, better than all the
waters of Israel? so he turned
and went away in a rage" Thus
the world in its pride has often
rejected the incredible simplicity of
the Gospels offer of salvation. Yet
there is no other way of soul-healing
than Gods way.
The Warrior Leper Cleansed.
His retinue. however, had more
sense than Naaman had shown in
his affronted dignity. They at least
persuaded him to try the Israelite s
simple expedient. So, reluctantly
and muttering the while, he went
down and dipped himself seven times
in the Jordan; and, 10! his flesh be-
came again as the flesh of a little
child.
Naaman, with all his arrogance
was still gentleman: so he re.
turned to render thanks to Elisha
and to offer him rewards, which the
prophet would not touch. He hac