How God Works in War Time by N. Z. T.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1914

How God Works in War Time

By N. Z. T.

In the time of Elisha the prophet, when Ben-hadad, king of Syria, besieged Samaria, the famine became so great that “an ass’s head was sold for four-score pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver.” It was even worse than that. One day, “as the king of Israel was passing by upon the wall, there cried a woman unto him, saying, Help, my lord, O king. . . . And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, This woman said unto me, Give thy son, that we may eat him to-day, and we will eat my son to-morrow. So we boiled my son, and did eat him: and I said unto her on the next day, Give thy son, that we may eat him: and she hath hid her son.”

But throughout this dire extremity the faith of Elisha in God’s resources remained firm. When the king of Israel sent to slay him, believing him to be the

cause of all the trouble, Elisha in his confidence replied to the messenger from the king: “Hear ye the word of the Lord; . . . Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.” To this “the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered, . . . Behold, if the Lord would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?” For a man unacquainted with God, this doubtful questioning of the captain was logical and reasonable. From all human standpoints such a thing as Elisha had declared would take place was impossible, but Elisha entered into no argument to try to convince this doubter how the thing would be done. He simply replied, “Behold thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.”

As the twilight of the evening came on, the Lord began to work out in his own way the prediction given through Elisha. In the gate of Samaria were four lepers. The famine was so great that they could get nothing from begging. They therefore decided to throw themselves upon the mercy of the Syrians. But when they arrived at the camp, “there was no man there. For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host. . . . Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.” The lepers returned and reported to the king what they had found, and the king sent his servants to see whether the Syrians had really fled or had set a trap for the Israelites. “And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste.” The large quantities of food supplies which the Syrian army left were just what the people of Samaria sorely needed, and arrangements were at once made for distributing these supplies among the people. The king appointed the unbelieving captain to make the distribution. And “it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall he be to-morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria.” But the doubting captain received the reward for his unbelief. The people in their hunger and haste trod upon him “in the gate, and he died,” as the man of God had said.

The reports from our colporteurs who are working in the countries that are especially afflicted by the European war remind one of this experience of Elisha. Nearly every mail brings new evidence of how God is manifesting his power in behalf of his people in this time of crisis.

Germany

Through the newspapers we have become familiar with the regions along the Vistula and Warthe Rivers in East Prussia and Poland. Along these rivers the contending forces have fought some of the very fiercest battles. But now our hearts are cheered to see by the reports from the East German Union that our colporteurs are selling hundreds of dollars’ worth of literature in the Vistula and Warthe Conferences as well as in other parts of the union. Believing that the readers of the REVIEW would be especially interested in this report, it has been photographed and presented in connection with our summary this month. The report from the West German Union for September shows a total of $4,400 as against $4,200 for the same month last year. The German evangelical paper published in Hamburg is having an average circulation of over 100,000 each issue. This is more than double the circulation of any missionary paper published in America. They are now circulating a 500,000 edition of a special War number.

Great Britain

In Great Britain our colporteurs are also having remarkable success in view of the conditions which exist. For the month of September, 1913, their total sales amounted to $6,800, while this year for the same month the total is $5,000. Brother Boex, in Germany, and Brother Joyce, in Great Britain, are spending their time right in the field with the canvassers, showing their faith by their works.

Spain

Our brethren in old Spain have also demonstrated that the large book work was not so hard hit by the war as they at first thought. At the beginning, they were somewhat tempted to give way to the general depression which the war seemed to bring, and nearly all the colporteurs turned their attention to selling papers. But the tide has turned.

A few weeks ago Brother John Brown, the general agent, entered the province of Galicia, and he sends the following report for the week ending October 15: 46 hours, 81 orders; value, 800.50 pesetas, or $160. Concerning this experience Brother Brown writes:— “The Lord helped me in taking orders from the governor, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, inspector of police, mayor of the city, the municipal secretary, postmaster-general, superintendent of telegraphs and telephones, and a number of lawyers. I obtained a good recommendation for the book from the best doctor in town, also orders from three other doctors, and orders from the two bank presidents in the town.”

Porto Rico

In a letter just received from Elder Wm. Steele, he gives the following good word:— “Inclosed you will find our report for October, which is the best one we have sent thus far from this field. The war is working hardships to our canvassers, but they are persevering with a determination to win, and the Lord is blessing them. At our institute last January we set our goal of literature to be delivered during 1914 at $6,000. We are already $500 past this mark, and we hope to add to it from $1,000 to $2,000 more before the year ends.”

The God of Elisha still lives. He is as ready and as able to turn famine into plenty, and defeat into victory, as in the days of Elisha. The end is rapidly nearing; but before it comes, the message must go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and it is to go largely through the printed page. The Testimonies tell us that as long as probation continues, the colporteur will be able to carry on his work. Let none therefore lose heart or think he must leave the field. Nothing is too hard for the Lord. He delights in doing hard things for us. Let us take hold of his arm of strength anew, and press forward in the work until it is finished. N. Z. T.