Wolves scatter, devour and kill the sheep. Shepherds care for the sheep, lead them to good food and protect them from dangers. In our story now you will easily see who was the wolf and who were the shepherds.
News now came to the poor citizens of Geneva that France had promised to help the bishop and the duke of Savoy and that an attack would speedily be made upon the city. The citizens were called to get arms ready for a battle, but the followers of the false religion had other ideas. They had decided to leave the city. They intended to join up with the armies of the bishop and the duke. It was really with joy that the Huguenots saw them depart. Now Geneva was in their hands except for the priests themselves who had stayed.
The council now had to make plans for the defense of Geneva. They feared that the villages outside the gates of Geneva would be excellent hiding places for the enemies. These villages would have to be destroyed. The council informed the villagers of the danger and took the people, gospel believers and others alike, into their homes. They were prepared to share their last crust of bread with these people who were now homeless.
The last crust of bread, sad to say, came all too soon. The bishop had sent out orders that no food was to be given to the “rebellious” citizens of Geneva. He also ordered that anyone who entered the city would no longer be considered part of his church.
With the storm clouds so thickly gathered over the city of Geneva, the gospel believers were not moved. They could freely preach now from the Word of God and the Lord was saving more souls daily. God was showing mercy to the city and saving multitudes. There was great joy within the city even as the soldiers were gathering outside.
If the believers in Geneva had ever been trusting in Berne for deliverance instead of God, they now found that there is only One who is worthy of our trust. Berne remained strangely silent.
The duke, in the meantime, offered the city terms of peace. He would forgive them everything, but they must send away the “new preachers.” They could have their choice — peace and plenty with the old idols and old religion, or the sword and hunger with the Word of God. Geneva, which had only two years before driven William Farel away, had another spirit now.
“You ask us to give up the gospel of Jesus Christ,” they replied to the duke. “We would rather lose our goods and our lives. We will set fire to the four corners of our city before we send away the preachers who have spoken to us the Word of God.” The duke and the bishop were astonished at this answer and became more angry than ever.
A great meeting of leaders had been called to decide upon the plan to bring back the rebellious city in obedience to the bishop. Berne, though not actually in the ranks of the enemy, agreed to some of the demands! The only hope of Geneva was now to be in the One who was greater than Berne. The believers were learning what it was to trust in the arm of the Lord.
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Next followed the news that the great emperor, Charles the Fifth, would also come to help the duke of Savoy! The duke’s wife was his sister-in-law. Surely now the poor city would accept the truce, send away the gospel preachers and accept the bishop’s demands. France, the bishop, the duke and the great Emperor Charles were all waiting to attack.
It is worth taking the time to tell you of the brave answer the gospel believers made.
“As to the preachers of the new faith, we have searched the Scriptures and find that they are indeed preaching the ancient faith and the teaching of Jesus Christ. Thus, we have no longer any preacher of the new faith at Geneva, as also it is forbidden by our present laws to preach aught else than the gospel and the old doctrine of Jesus Christ.
“As to the bishop, he drove himself away, and instead of a bishop and pastor, he is a wolf to his sheep. It is the wolves who are demanding a truce with the shepherds and the sheep. The Master of the sheepfold, who has sent shepherds to rescue His sheep from the wolves, is faithful and strong and can do all things.”
Such was the answer of the “sheep” of Geneva to the wolves — the little city alone against the world, but alone with God!