Many years ago, when my father was a pioneer trader in West Africa, he frequently had to go through countries where no white man had ever been. He did not mind this, for he loved the natives and had a friendly way with him, which sometimes got him into difficulties.
However, on this occasion there was a king to deal with. He had never seen a white man before, but my father had presents for him and chatted to him, through an interpreter, so successfully that the next day his native servant came to him and said, “Sir, they are going to sacrifice a man today in your honor.”
My father, of course, was horrified, and hurrying to the king, he thanked him for the honor, but said that the great white queen (Queen Victoria), who had sent him, would be very much upset if human life were taken.
After quite a long argument, the king said they would sacrifice a goat instead. So in the afternoon my father had to attend this ceremony, which took place in the Compound or large yard, round which all the native huts were built.
The natives made a circle, with the visitor sitting beside the king, and the poor little frightened goat was led into the center. There it was slain, after which it was to be burned as a sacrifice.
But before that took place a remarkable thing happened — the blood of the goat was taken around the compound and at every hut some of it was sprinkled on the door-posts.
My father’s thoughts went immediately to Exodus 12. Some of you may remember how God instituted the Passover; the little lamb was killed and the blood sprinkled on the door-posts of every house where there were those who believed in and trusted the Lord God. Everyone inside those houses was safe, because God had said, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”
But where they did not love and trust Him and there was no blood sprinkled, death came into that home.
It was a picture of what would happen when the Lord Jesus came, when His blood was shed on the cross at Calvary, so that all those who love and trust Him may be safe from God’s judgment against their sins. God was going to lead the children of Israel into a promised land, and our Saviour has made open the way for us to go into that heavenly land, if we are under the shelter of that blood.
As far as we know no missionary had ever been to that African village. We have always thought that all those many years ago perhaps the news of what happened that dark night in Egypt, when the firstborn was slain, the news of the sprinkled blood and how it spelled safety to those within the home, had been borne to those poor natives afar in West Africa.
Dear friends, are you under the shelter of that blood — the blood of Jesus? You are in great peril if you are not.
ML 02/11/1967