Part 2. More About Eirik.
I TOLD you last week how the Icelandic fisherman, Eirik, was brought to God, and how he went about from house to house, selling and giving away gospel books. I also told you of the dislike his neighbors had to him, because of the change in his life; now I must tell you how in His own good time God brought about a change of circumstances, and made him an “overcomer.”
One day after a long spell without any success in fishing, the welcome news flew round the village that the fjord was teeming with codfish. There was, however, one important drawback; they had no bait, to catch them with. Small pieces of herring are generally used on the Skagafjord fisherman’s many hooks, but they had caught no herrings for several weeks and therefore had no bait. The situation was most tantalizing, especially as the need was great in some of the cottages. At last, however, news came by telephone that a trawler had put in at the next large port along the coast, with a haul of herrings. Hastily the men clubbed together and hired a motorboat to go and fetch some of these herrings, each man sending for as many as he could afford. Eirik did not happen to put in an appearance, and the fishermen took the opportunity to play him a mean trick. “We won’t let him know anything about the herrings until it is too late,” said they, “and then we shall see how he fares.” As the little harbor could not be seen from Eirik’s cottage it was easy to keep him in the dark.
When the motorboat came back all the men were busy with their hooks and lines, except Eirik, and no one would lend or sell him a single herring. Thinking of his wife and four children at home, and their dire need, he made his way up the steep cliff-path with a heart as heavy as lead; it seemed as if God had forgotten him. But before he arrived home, the Lord reminded him of one of His promises, and his faith revived. He went into his little hut and “cast his burden on the Lord.”
Now these hardy toilers of the deep can tell what kind of fish is under the surface of the sea, where a landsman can perceive no indication of any fish at all. I remember one of them pointing out to me a certain part of the fjord, and assuring me that herrings were there, while in another part were cod; there might have been whales in both places for all I knew! These men of Skagafjord had every reason to believe, according to their knowledge and experience, that herrings had not been in the fjord for weeks, and they did not even think it worthwhile to examine their nets. But it occurred to Eirik that possibly there might be a few odd herrings in his old patched-up net, in any case it was worth while looking, as he had nothing else to do. There were many first-class nets laid, and Eirik’s was not in the best position by any means.
I suppose that the men who accompanied Eirik went to see fair play, as they themselves would have been quite equal to annexing the contents of a neighbor’s net; and they judged Eirik by their own standard. It was good that they accompanied him. One net after another was drawn up empty, only to be thrown back in disgust, until they came to Eirik’s. There seemed to be a hitch somewhere, but at last it came up full of herrings. Hurriedly drawing up those remaining, they found that there was not a single herring in any of the other nets!
The men were astonished, and Eirik praised his faithful God. No one knew what to say. Eirik had got his herrings for nothing, while the others had paid the full price for them, together with their share of the motorboat.
I know Hofsos, I know Eirik, and I know many of these men. I have sat in their homes and talked to them, but I have never heard a word of doubt as to the truth of this story expressed by any of them. The only explanation I can offer is that the same One who sent the fish into Peter’s net caused the herrings to go in and out, around the other nets into Eirik’s to supply the need that he had made known to God.
The last part of this incident is, however, the best. Few would, I suppose, have judged Eirik harshly if he had sold some of his herrings. But God gave him an opportunity and he rose to it. Going to those who, by reason of poverty, had not been able to buy sufficient bait, he gave them freely of his store, in spite of their shabby treatment of him but a short time before.
Needless to say, a splendid catch of codfish gladdened the homes of Hofsos that day, but in none was there such joy as in Eirik’s little hut. Is it to be wondered at that Eirik has success in selling gospel books? Is it to be wondered at that when Eirik’s friend, the missionary, came to Hofsos the largest building in the village could not hold the crowds that came to hear the gospel preached. Wherever Christ-like acts such as this are observed there will be a desire on the part of others to hear the gospel.
ML 08/13/1916