It was 1946 and Hank, back from the war, had just hitchhiked home, eagerly looking forward to a family reunion. But the joy of that happy time was soon overshadowed by his mom’s serious illness and hospitalization. Two days later, her kidneys began to fail. Desperately ill, the doctors said she couldn’t live out the night without a blood transfusion. But her blood type was a very rare kind—AB.
There were no family members whose blood matched, and there were no blood bank supplies available. There was no hope. The grieving family began to gather around their dying loved one to say a final good-bye. Leaving the hospital, Hank was driving to bring a brother to the hospital when he passed a soldier in uniform who also was hitchhiking home. Lost in his private world of grief, Hank felt no inclination to stop and give the soldier a ride.
But at that moment it seemed as though something made him pull over. Though Hank was too overcome with grief to even say “hello” to the hitchhiking soldier, the young man immediately noticed Hank’s tears and asked what was wrong. Hank explained his dying mom’s serious condition, her rare blood type, and the hopelessness of getting the blood needed.
For a moment it was very quiet in the car. Then the soldier suddenly said, “Get me to that hospital quick!” Hank looked at him questioningly. Without speaking, the soldier simply held up his dog tags. Hank could clearly read the information—AB!
Hank’s mother received the necessary transfusion and lived almost fifty more years. Yet to this day, neither Hank nor anyone else in his family is able to remember the soldier’s name whose blood saved his mom’s life.
Though it may be hard to imagine such a thing, we have similar examples recorded in the Bible.
The butler who was treated so kindly by Joseph quickly forgot his benefactor. What is even sadder is to read of Joseph’s plea to the butler: “Think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house” (Gen. 40:1414But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: (Genesis 40:14)). How sad to read a little later, “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him” (vs. 23).
King Saul, the haughty leader of the children of Israel is another of example of one who was mightily blessed, yet without knowing his benefactor. He and all his army had trembled and fled from before the Philistine enemy, Goliath. In the strength of faith in the God of Israel, David slew the giant. Though David had rendered such a service, hear Saul’s words: “He said unto . . . the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell” (1 Sam. 17:5555And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell. (1 Samuel 17:55)).
In Ecclesiastes 9:1515Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. (Ecclesiastes 9:15) we read of the poor, wise man who delivered a city besieged by a mighty king, yet was remembered by no one. All of these accounts remind us of the Person and work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do we remember Him as He has asked us to do?
Ed.