Dr. Jacob Chamberlain was a missionary to India many years ago. He planned to go to the other side of the mountain to visit a few villages where he would hold gospel meetings. He sent some of his workers on ahead with the supplies they would need. Meanwhile, he spent the morning writing letters. Then he set out to walk a few miles to where he would meet his pony that he would ride on the rest of the way to the first meeting that evening.
As Dr. Chamberlain made his way along the mountain path, suddenly a tiger sprang out of the jungle and faced him! Tigers normally sleep during the day, so he knew this was a hungry tiger, looking for something to eat! Dr. Chamberlain was carrying only an umbrella that day—a white umbrella to shield him from the hot sun. How could he use an umbrella as a weapon against a tiger?
The missionary eyed the tiger, and the tiger eyed the missionary. Suddenly, Dr. Chamberlain opened his umbrella and, rushing forward, he let out a loud war-whoop that he had learned as a boy. Then he closed the umbrella and ran directly at the tiger to hit him with it!
Startled at such strange behavior, the tiger sprang through an opening in the jungle made by the branches of a banyan tree nearby. The missionary wrote later that he had never seen such beautiful motion as the frightened tiger’s escape right then. The big cat’s forepaws were stretched out perfectly straight, with his nose between them, and his hind legs were stretched out straight behind him, with his tail between his legs!
However, Dr. Chamberlain knew the tiger might come back. As he watched the tiger run off into the distance, he shouted that war-whoop a few more times. Finally, he felt sure that he would not see that tiger again.
What a wonderful deliverance! And how Dr. Chamberlain praised God afterwards for keeping him safe!
Hebrews 1:1414Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? (Hebrews 1:14) tells us that angels are “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” That means that God sends angels to help and protect people who believe in Him. And there’s a wonderful example in the Bible of an angel’s protection.
Most of you boys and girls know the story of Daniel and the night he spent in the lions’ den. The king was terribly worried that the lions had killed Daniel during the night. The Bible says that the next morning the king came to the den and was so afraid of what he might find. He called, Oh, Daniel, servant of the living God, is [your] God, whom [you serve] continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
Then Daniel answered the king, Oh King, live forever. My God has sent His angel and has shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me. Open your Bibles and read in Daniel 6:20-2420And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? 21Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. 22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God. 24And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den. (Daniel 6:20‑24) what the relieved king did next.
What a wonderful opportunity each believer has to live his or her life serving God and calling on Him for needed help. Boys and girls, don’t waste your lives on amusements and the world of make-believe. Instead, live for the Lord Jesus who made the world and who gave His life to save you from the penalty of your sins. One day soon, the Lord Jesus will set everything right that is wrong in our world. You don’t want to be ashamed when you stand before Him for having lived your life to please only yourself. Dr. Chamberlain is a wonderful example of a believer who lived his life for God’s glory.
ML-09/29/2013