THE story of the healing of Naaman from leprosy, besides the very obvious lesson of the necessity for humility, presents one or two points of special interest to the Christian Scientist; for from it we learn that the human mind was the same in far-away lands and bygone ages as it is in our midst to-day; and that antagonism to any message of Truth which does not come in expected ways, or fit in with preconceived ideas, has always been, as it is now, one of its phases. That "it is the unexpected which happens" is a well-known saying; and the history of God's revelation of Himself to mankind seems to justify it, for it is certainly true that such revelation has invariably come through most unexpected channels.
The first great religious teacher and leader was, we are told, the meekest of men, though it is not from among the meek of the earth that the world chooses or expects to find its national, social, or religious leaders; yet Moses combined in one these three offices, and led the children of Israel in each of these capacities. When Israel was expecting its Messiah, it looked for him to come as a great king or military commander, who would restore it to all its ancient material splendor, position, and power; but he was found as a "babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger."
Although in the first instance Naaman did not reject the message of God's healing power, he resented the demand of Truth as presented to him by Elisha, and argued with him about his method of healing because it was unconventional, unexpected, and failed to fit in with his sense of the requirements of his case. Had he continued in this mental attitude he certainly would not have been healed of his leprosy. History repeats itself, and the old cries, "Is not this the carpenter's son?" and, "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?" are being repeated to-day; yet surely our chief concern should be not how the message of Truth is sent to us, but how we should receive it. Those who really want "the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth." do not quarrel with the how, when, or whence of its coming, but accept it with unquestioning obedience and with grateful thanks to God and to his Messenger.
