Chapter XII: Naaman

"THE leper story which has always interested me most is that of Naaman the Syrian," said Lucius, when he had put back Dr. Kitto's large volume in its place in the book-case.

"Oh yes, yes," interrupted little Elsie; "I know that story too quite well. I know that Naaman was a great man, and rich, and a famous general besides, but he had the dreadful sickness which no doctor could cure. I remember how Naaman came in a grand chariot with prancing horses to the house of the good prophet Elisha, and how angry he was when only a servant came out and told him to wash seven times in the river Jordan."

Elsie stopped almost out of breath from the rapidity with which she had spoken. All the young Temples were familiar with the account of the cure of the Syrian, which was one of their favourite Scripture stories.

"Was the leprosy of Naaman also a type of sin?" inquired Lucius.

"I believe that it was," answered Mrs. Temple, "and I am strengthened in this belief by Naaman's leprosy coming upon Gehazi as a direct punishment for his sin."

"Ah! That wicked Gehazi!" exclaimed Elsie. "He told a lie, a dreadful lie! It was right that he should be punished, was it not?"

The question was asked of Dora, Elsie's favourite sister. The child wondered at the unwonted silence which had come over Dora, and wanted to draw her into conversing like the rest of the party.

Dora winced at the question, and only replied by a slight movement of her head.

But little Elsie was not satisfied by this. "Why don't you speak?" she said bluntly. "When people are so very naughty as to tell lies, and say that they are doing nothing when they are doing something bad, don't you think that they ought to be well punished for it?"

Forced to reply, for Elsie's question had drawn every one's attention towards her, Dora answered, "Of course they should be punished." And having thus pronounced sentence upon herself, she relapsed into silence, feeling much inclined, however, to start up and escape from the room.

"Are you not well, my love?" asked her mother, who could not help noticing that Dora's manner was different from usual.

"Quite well, mamma; only a little tired," was the evasive reply.

"Tired of doing nothing," said Lucius.

The conversation on the subject of Naaman was then resumed by Agnes.

"When Naaman was cleansed of his leprosy, mamma, how was it that Elisha did not tell him to go and show himself to the priest, and that we hear nothing about a sin-offering, nor of a bird being set free?" asked the elder twin.

"You must remember," replied Mrs. Temple, "that Naaman was not an Israelite but a Syrian, a Gentile, and, that he was therefore not bound to observe the ceremonial law of the Jews. I think that Naaman was a type of a Gentile church, to which belong all Christians who are not descended from Abraham and Isaac."

"To which we then belong," observed Lucius.

"Notice, my children," continued their mother, "how we see the history of a converted soul in the story of Naaman's cure. First there is the man possessing all that earth can give him, but afflicted with a deadly disease."

"Like the people who were bitten by the fiery serpents," interrupted Lucius.

"Here in the leprous Naaman we behold a type or picture of a soul with unforgiven sin staining and corrupting it," said his mother. "Next we find the leper at the door of the prophet. Can any one of you tell me of what Naaman now is a type?"

"A seeking soul," replied Agnes, after a little pause for reflection.

"Ah! But the next picture is of the leper turning away quite angry because he was told just to wash and be clean," cried Elsie.

"Then Naaman is a type of a proud soul, not content with God's simple but wonderful plan of salvation," continued their mother. "There are some persons now who think that they can earn heaven by doing some great thing, who believe that because of their own goodness they can be clean in the sight of God. Such persons, like Naaman, are offended and hurt when they are told that all their good works cannot take away sin; that the leper can only be saved by living faith in Him whose blood is the fountain opened for all uncleanness."

"But Naaman did go and dip down seven times in Jordan as he was bidden," cried Elsie; "and then he was made quite well, his flesh all soft and clean, just like a little child's."

"This is a picture or type of a believing, forgiven soul," said Mrs. Temple, "the picture of one who has become a child of God, and who is resolved, by the help of His Spirit, to lead from henceforth a new life."