SAMSON was a little African boy, just seven years old. His father and mother had become Christians, and little Samson too had learned to love the Saviour, having first learned of Him through a friend at the mission school.
One day Samson’s mother sent him with a message to his father who was working in another village several miles away. As he traveled along the forest track strange sounds came from the dense jungle, but Samson was not afraid, though he would have been at night. He was thankful to have a Christian home, and in his own language he sang as he walked along:
Jesus loves me! this I know
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
Arriving at the village he delivered the message to his father, who said to him, “You’ll have nice time to get back before dark. May God take care of you, my boy.”
Samson said good-bye and was soon on his way home again, singing as he went. All went well; he was making good time, but suddenly, as he came around a bend in the trail, he stopped short. Right across his path, a little way ahead, lay a great lion, asleep!
Poor Samson! He could not go on; the lion might wake up. It was too late to turn back, for night would be coming on. So he decided to take to the jungle and try and get around the lion. Softly he crept through the bushes. Scarcely had he done so when the lion woke up and looked around. In a moment Samson climbed a tree and waited there breathless. The lion sniffed around and came to the very tree where Samson was hiding.
Samson let out a loud call for help; but there was no one to hear. Poor boy; he was afraid now. How he wished he was home in his little bed! Darkness came on, and Samson was still shouting for help.
Then thoughts of his Saviour filled his mind and the little fellow prayed asking the Lord Jesus to spare him from the lion. He knew Jesus loved him and a sense of His presence cheered his soul so that he began to sing again:
Jesus loves me! this I know
For the Bible tells me so;
Little ones to Him belong,
They are weak, but He is strong.
But someone else was traveling through the forest that night... It was Kabuli, a man who once had heard the gospel many times, but had gone back to his old life of stealing and sin. He heard the sound of singing and paused to listen.
“Jesus loves me! this I know,” were strange words to hear in the forests, in the darkness of the African night. Besides it was a child’s voice.
“Who’s there?” shouted Kabuli.
Samson almost fell out of the tree in his delight. The Lord had answered his prayer, and sent someone to rescue him.
“It’s Samson!” came a voice from high up in a tree. “I’m up a tree. But look out, there’s a lion.”
“I’ll get help,” shouted Kabuli, running off back along the trail.
A little later back came Kabuli with a band of men, armed with weapons, and carrying torches. They shouted as they drew near and the frightened lion fled into the jungle.
Samson was so glad to get down out of the tree and all reached home safely. How glad Samson was to have found in the Lord Jesus a Saviour and Friend. We are glad to tell you that Kabuli started coming back to the gospel services and the last word of him was that he too wanted to be saved. We are sure the Lord would not keep him waiting, for He has said, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.” John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37).
ML-01/16/1972