Notes on the International Lesson.
By C. P. B.
THE story of the healing of this woman affords one of the most striking examples of faith to be found in the sacred word. We often hear the remark, "If you only have faith to touch the hem of His garment you will be saved." But this is only saying, If you have great faith you will be saved, for it is only great faith that prompts to such acts of trust. Pride and unbelief (and the two are rarely separated) lead men to desire to do some great thing that they may merit the favor of God and gain applause. THE case of Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5:1-19) is a good illustration of this truth. Prompted by a captive maid, Naaman went into the land of Israel to seek the prophet of the Lord that he might be healed of his leprosy. He evidently believed that he could be healed; but when he came to the prophet's house and Elijah sent unto him saying, "Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thou shalt be clean," his faith failed, his pride rebelled, and he turned away, saying, "Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper." Had the prophet done this, Naaman would have had no difficulty in believing that he could be healed; but when the prophet said, "Go, wash," the very simplicity of the means wounded his pride and weakened his faith, and he almost lost the desired blessing. BUT Naaman's servants were more wise than their master, and said: "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?" 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. THE very simplicity of the means staggered Naaman's faith, and had it not been for the counsel of his servants, he would have returned to his own country a leper still; but in obedience to the prophet's command he found healing. As it was the simplicity of the means that staggered Naaman's faith, so it was the simplicity of the means that marked this poor woman's faith as great. Probably many would have had the faith to be healed had the Saviour stood and with uplifted hand and solemn voice rebuked their disease in the presence of the multitude; but how few believed like the poor woman, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole"? She wished for no demonstration of power beforehand; she sought no notoriety; she simply desired to be healed, and believed that a touch was sufficient. The sequel proved that she was correct; she touched and was healed. THERE is in this an important lesson for those who would be healed of the disease of sin. The lesson is one of humility and faith. Those who hunger and thirst shall be filled; those who believe shall be saved. But pride shuts out faith; before faith comes, the sinner must feel his utter helplessness; he must feel that in Christ alone is healing to be found. Then, and not till then, is he prepared to put forth his hand for the touch which brings spiritual soundness. The statement, If you have only faith enough to touch the hem of the Saviour's garment, you will be saved, is true; but none will touch his garment except those who desire healing and are ready to trust their cases implicitly to him. Pride and unbelief would lead the sinner to attempt to improve his condition in some other way. But faith says, So far as man is concerned my case is hopeless, but Jesus can help me. "If I may but touch his clothes I shall be whole." [For further suggestions relative to this lesson, see the article on the first page of this paper, entitled, "The Touch of Faith."]