A missionary to the Indians in the Hudson Bay region years ago looked up from his desk to find his room full of Indians. They had entered so quietly he had not heard them come in. He asked them where they were from.
"We have come a distance of fourteen nights," they answered, (they reckoned distance by the number of nights on the way.) "We have brought the Great Book, which we can read, but we cannot understand."
He asked them what missionary had taught them to read? They replied that they had never seen a missionary. They lived hundreds of miles from the nearest mission station. Their hunting grounds, however, adjoined those of some Christian Indians, and from them they had heard about the Great Book.
"They read and explained it to us," they said. "And last winter we all learned to read."
The missionary could scarcely believe that they had learned to read without a white teacher, but when he opened the Great Book, the Bible, which they had obtained from an agent of the Hudson Bay Company, he found their words were perfectly true― they could all read easily.
Now, like the Queen of Sheba's Treasurer (Acts 8: verse 26 to the end), they wanted a guide, and had traveled "fourteen nights" over the snow to find one.
How different to millions in this educated world who do not have to learn before they can read the Bible! They are already skillful readers. Neither need they journey hundreds of miles to have the book explained. Yet they do not value their opportunities and have no desire to know "The Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15).