IN an isolated part of the country a farmer lived with, his wife. As only very plain folk lived thereabouts, it was the usual custom to retire at night without fastening the doors. Burglaries were unknown, and sometimes it was very late when the inhabitants returned home at night. This happened too, with this family, especially on market-days when the farmer went to the city and usually returned late.
One day when the farmer was absent, and his wife was upstairs in her bedroom, she heard the door open, and someone came in. Supposing that it was her husband, she remained awake for some minutes, expecting him to come up directly. As he did not appear, she got up and went downstairs; but imagine her surprise and dismay, when instead of her husband, she saw a daring-looking fellow, searching the house and preparing for plunder. At first she was almost desperate; and no wonder, all alone in the house, and no one within hearing.
But was she really alone? Was there no one nearby?
O, we are so inclined, if no human being is near, to think that we are alone, and to forget that there is One, who is always near, willing and ready to help us. And this woman knew the Lord. She had believed in Jesus, and was cleansed from all sin by His precious blood. And not only had she learned to know Him as her Redeemer, but she had learned too, to trust Him, as her Friend.
What a blessed thing, dear young reader, to possess such a friend! O! how many people, yes, even among God’s children, are to be found who have not yet learned to know the Lord Jesus as their Friend! How is this? Is it because He loves them less? O, no! but because their hearts and thoughts are attracted by so many things away from the blessed Lord.
It is quite possible that they value what they have received through Him; that they are quite sure of their deliverance through His precious blood, because God has said so; but then they are like Martha, the sister of Lazarus, who was “careful and troubled about many things.” They neglect the “one thing needful.” And what is that? Communion with the Lord Jesus. The listening to His words, the studying of His blessed acts and ways, the going to Him continually in prayer, the praising and adoring Him, the remembering Him as seated at the right hand of God in heaven, this is the way, in which you can learn to know the Lord Jesus as your Friend.
Well, this woman knew Him as her Friend; and therefore, although very much disturbed at finding this stranger in the house, and almost on the point of fainting, the thought of her Lord gave her courage. Instead of making a fuss or trying to run away, what do you think she did? The Word of God says:
“Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee.”
This woman was enabled to do, what a strong man could scarcely have done; she walked calmly through the room, and sat down on a chair opposite to the robber. Looking back at it, it was the best thing she could do; for if she had tried to run away, he would have followed her; if she had cried out for help, he would have silenced her with violence, for fear of being discovered; but when he saw her seat herself quietly opposite him, he was so astonished that he seemed not to know what to do. For a moment he stared wildly at her; and then, perhaps, scarcely aware of what he was doing, he too, sat down at the other side of the room. But through fear he became angry, and his white face showed it. But the woman remained quietly sitting, with her eyes continually fixed on him, and her heart crying to the Lord for help. This was a severe test for the woman, but still she did not take her eyes off him, and went on “praying without ceasing.”
At last he stood up and appeared to hesitate. If she had moved or made the least noise, he would, without doubt, have killed her. Again she cried to the Lord; again the robber hesitated; then all at once he seemed overcome by terror, and he rushed out of the door, and vanished in the darkness!
Now she was safe, having been protected by the power of God, without stirring hand or foot to protect herself. Her continued prayer was answered! No word was uttered; no sound heard, and yet God who was by her side, heard and answered.
To encourage us to pray, He has given us many precious promises. Among others, “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” Matt. 21:2222And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matthew 21:22). Was this not this woman’s experience? Although but a weak woman, she was able through prayer, to cause this wild, rough robber, to go out of her house. The strength of God enabled her to do this. Who can resist God’s strength? Nothing is impossible for Him: and the Lord has said: “All things are possible to him that believeth.”
When the danger was over, and she ceased praying, she felt her natural weakness. Jumping up from her chair, she shut the door behind the robber, then sank to the floor unconscious, and lay there until her husband’s voice, on his return brought her to.
ML 02/12/1922