Deliverance by a Voice in the Night by W. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 29, 1909

Deliverance by a Voice in the Night

By W. A. S.

DR. JOSEPH STENNETT, one of that old-time Sabbath-keeping family of London, was for a period pastor of a Baptist congregation in Abergavenny, Wales. While ministering there, he became acquainted with a striking instance of special interposition of Providence in supplying the needs of a godly man and his family. The story was repeated in the Baptist Register for 1801-02, the writer having heard it from Joseph Stennett’s son, Dr. Samuel Stennett, author of the hymn, “Another Six Days’ Work Is Done.”

Samuel Stennett said that one member of the Abergavenny congregation in whom his father took special interest was a pious collier named Caleb, an unlettered but remarkably intelligent man. Caleb was a regular attendant at church, walking seven or eight miles to the service from his home in the hills. One winter when severe storms had blocked the way, Dr. Stennett felt very anxious lest the collier’s family had suffered need. When next Caleb appeared, however, he reported that the Lord had provided for them, and that they had fared better than ever. The account states:—

Caleb told him that one night soon after the commencement of the frost, they had eaten up their stock, and not a morsel was left for the morning, with no human probability of getting any; but he found his mind calm and composed, relying on a provident God. He went to prayer with his family, and then

to rest, and slept soundly until morning.

Before he was up, he heard a knock at his door. He went to see who was there, and saw a man standing with a horse loaded, who asked if his name was Caleb. Answering in the affirmative, the man asked him to help take down the load. Caleb asked him what it was. He said, “Provisions.” On his inquiring who sent it, the man said he believed that God sent it; and he could obtain no other answer.

Some time later Dr. Stennett was visiting the home of a physician of Hereford, Dr. Talbot, whose wife was a member of the Baptist congregation. Dr. Talbot himself was a very generous man, but a skeptic. For his particular benefit Dr. Stennett led the conversation around to the topic of God’s providences, and speaking of prayer, he mentioned the recent experience of Caleb. Dr. Talbot smiled knowingly, and when Mr. Stennett had finished, told him he also had a story to relate. Some time before, in driving among the hills, he had come across a meeting that was being held in a barn. He remained for thirty minutes or more, watching the speaker and the rustic congregation. He particularly noticed one man, who had a well-thumbed Bible, and who followed the discourse with the deepest interest.

As the congregation broke up, Dr. Talbot rode for a little time alongside this man whom he had particularly noticed. He learned that his name was Caleb. He was impressed by the man’s intelligence as he talked with him. However, he thought no more of Caleb or of the meeting until the time of the great frost. The account continues:—

One night in bed, he could not tell for sure whether he was awake or asleep, but thought he heard a voice say, “Send provision to Caleb.” He was a little startled at first, but concluding it to be a dream, he endeavored to compose himself to sleep. It was not long before he imagined he heard the same words repeated, but louder and stronger. Then he awoke his wife, who was in sound sleep, and told her what he had heard. But she persuaded him that it could be no other than a dream, and she soon fell asleep again. Yet the doctor’s mind was so impressed that he could not sleep, but tumbled and tossed about. At last he heard the voice so powerfully saying, “Get up, and send provision to Caleb,” that he could resist no longer.

He got up, and called his man, and bade him bring the horse. He went to his larder and stuffed a pair of panniers as full as he possibly could of whatever he could find, and after having assisted the man to load the horse, he bade him take that provision to Caleb. “Caleb?” said the man, “what Caleb, sir?” “I know very little about him,” said the doctor, “but his name is Caleb. He is a collier, and lives among the hills. Let the horse go, and you will be sure to find him.”

Thus Dr. Stennett learned from his skeptical friend how a kindly Providence had sent food to the praying collier family in the hills.

W. A. S.