THOSE who are accustomed to read the placards of the daily papers must often have observed with interest their announcements during war times, such as "GREAT VICTORY," "SO MANY GUNS CAPTURED," and "SO MANY THOUSAND PRISONERS TAKEN," etc.
Now God's word gives us the name of a very celebrated general, by whom too He had wrought deliverance for a people, but the only captive or spoil of which it speaks is that of "a little maid." Truly, a not very wonderful announcement for a daily paper, but yet a fact fraught with momentous consequences for the captor, and like God's blessed ways, causing the man to know that "no flesh shall glory in His presence," whilst giving him to the full that which he so sorely needed.
Now this Syrian general's name was Naaman, and he stood well with his king, for, in addition to his victories, he was what all generals are not, an honorable man; but he was a leper, and as such, his place was apart from those who were clean. This is what sin has done for us. It has shut us out from God; “I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, and I hid myself," said our first parent. And we are all by nature like him; "there is no difference for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
However, God had thoughts of mercy towards Naaman, unknown to him as He was, and God has the same towards you, my reader, for it is written, "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
When the little girl became lady's maid to the general's wife, her heart was not so overcome with sadness for her own captive condition as to be without sympathy for her own poor master's state, and whilst she could not speak to him, she could to her mistress, of that which filled her heart in these words, "Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria, for he would recover him of his leprosy." No wonder that they were repeated to the king, full of importance as they were. And yet there are words more wonderful, such as the Lord Jesus spoke to the guilty Samaritan woman at the well, when He said, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of Him and He would have given thee living water." This message is good for you, my reader.
Now the king of Syria thought his servant, in going to this channel of blessing from God which the prophet then was, ought to be fortified by a letter from him to the king (mark, not to the prophet), of Israel. How the little maid's word was overlooked, which made everything of the prophet and his grace; and so it is to-day. Had the message been given by a general, say from the land of Israel, it had according to man's notions, been better heeded, but this is just what God will not do, that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. And if they list not to His word, "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." Naaman was as foolish as his monarch; off he went with the letter and ten talents of silver, and six thousand pieces of gold and ten changes of raiment, to pay for his cleansing forsooth.
No wonder the king of Israel was very indignant at being put in the place of God, "to kill and to make alive;" and mercy it was to Naaman, that Elisha, of whom the little maid had spoken, sent him a message, saying, “Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel." And good it is that Jesus says to you, without any question of merit, feeling, or payment of any kind by you, "him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."
Well, Naaman gets at last to the right person, but with all his gifts, and instead of Elisha coming out to receive them, and heal him by putting his hands on him, as Naaman thought he would do, he sends him a message, "Go and wash (very humbling no doubt) in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.”
In such a river too, so despised in Naaman's eyes, and so unlike those of his surroundings! He turned away in a rage. Graciously for him, his servants now speak, "My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?”
“The preaching of the cross is to them that perish, foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." I Have you looked to Him who once hung there, my reader, but who is now at God's right hand? and who says, "Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is none else." Look now; there is no time to lose.
“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God, and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." This was the best journey he ever took when he went down; letter, gold, silver, garments, all left behind, and self-judged as worthless.
"Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling."
"He dipped himself;" self-buried, put out of sight perfectly, seven times; no wonder he became like a little child and he was clean! There was, and is nothing surprising in it to faith; the result was "according to the saying of the man of God." God cannot deny His word; He cannot lie.
Oh, my reader, if you feel yourself ever so sinful, and God grant you may, be sure of this though your sins be scarlet you shall be white as snow, for God says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," and, " If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved, for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." W. N.T.