MORE than forty years ago, a little girl, who was then ten years of age, was sent out by her mother to gather some chips. As there were chips laying under the corn-crib, which was set up on four posts, the little girl went in there to fill her basket. While busy at work she heard a voice call her name: “Sarah, Sarah!” The voice sounded like that of an older brother who was hundreds of miles away at the time, so little Sarah, though feeling startled by this voice, which seemed so plain to her, thought she must be mistaken, for on looking around she could see no one, and she went on with her work. But soon again came the voice, and this time so urgent— “Sarah, come quick!”—that she ran at once from under the crib and towards the house. She had scarcely got well away from the crib, when down it came with a great crash. Little Sarah stood in awe, looking at the heap before her. Her mother came running out in great alarm, fearing that her child had been crushed to death under the fallen crib with its tons of corn.
But God’s care had been over the dear child, and just as distinctly as He called Samuel on the night that He had a message to give to him for Eli, the priest, so did He call little Sarah on that eventful day when He was about to deliver her from the crib which was so near ready to fall.
Little Samuel “did not yet know the Lord” on that night when the Lord spoke to him, but the Lord had His eye upon him and He was about to bring him to Himself. And Sarah did not know the Lord on that day when she was preserved from so sudden and terrible a death; but the Lord’s eye was upon her, and she was dear to Him, and He afterwards made her to know Him, and enabled her, through grace, to live for His glory.
Now, dear Children, I would have you think of God’s watchful and loving care, and how His eye is upon His own dear ones, and His thoughts towards them; and how He delivers them from dangers and difficulties Often we are in danger and know nothing of our danger until we are taken out of it and set in a safe place; just as with little Sarah. But God knows all the dangers and difficulties that beset our path. May all who know Him, go constantly to Him for protection and help.
“For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.”
I think you would enjoy reading the third chapter of First Samuel, where the account of the Lord’s speaking to little Samuel is given. R.
ML 04/01/1900