Leaning Wholly Upon Jesus
By W. A. S.
It is always interesting to hear missionary translators tell of their search for words in which to express the truths of Holy Scripture in a native vernacular. In one of his talks to students in Glasgow, Dr. John G. Paton told how he discovered a word for “faith” in the language of the islanders of Aniwa, in the New Hebrides:— For a long time no equivalent could be found, and my work of Bible translation was paralyzed for the want of so fundamental and oft-recurring a term. The natives apparently regarded the verb “to hear” as equivalent to “to believe.” I would ask a native whether he believed a certain statement, and his reply would be, should he credit the statement, “Yes, I heard it,” but should he disbelieve it, he would answer, “No, I did not hear it,” meaning, not that his ears had failed to catch the words, but that he did not regard them as true. This definition of faith was obviously insufficient. Many passages, such as, “Faith cometh by hearing,” would be impossible of translation through so meager a channel; and we prayed continually that God would supply the missing link. I spared no effort in interrogating the most intelligent native pundits, but all in vain; none caught the hidden meaning of the word. One day I was in my room anxiously pondering. I sat on an ordinary kitchen chair, my feet resting on the floor. Just then an intelligent native woman entered the room, and the thought flashed through my mind to ask the all-absorbing question yet once again, if possible in a new light. Was I not resting on the chair? Would that attitude lend itself to the discovery? I said, “What am I doing now?” “Koikae ana, Missi,” the native replied, meaning, “You’re sitting down, Missi.” Then I drew up my feet, and placed them upon the bar of the chair just above the floor, and leaning back in an attitude of repose, asked: “What am I doing now?” “Fakarongrongo, Missi,” (“You are leaning wholly, Missi,” or, “You have lifted yourself from every other support.”) “That’s it!” I shouted, with an exultant cry; and a sense of holy joy awed me, as I realized that my prayer had been so fully answered. To “lean on” Jesus wholly and only is surely the true meaning of appropriating or saving faith. And now “Fakarongrongo lesu ea anea mouri” (“Leaning on Jesus unto eternal life,” or “for all the things of eternal life”) is the happy experience of those Christian islanders, as it is of all who thus cast themselves unreservedly on the Saviour of the world for salvation. Speaking of this definition, or illustration, of faith, Langridge (in his sketch of Paton) says:— Professor Gairdner, in a most interesting address founded upon this particular story, appealed to the students to trust in the Lord Jesus, not so much in the sense of believing statements or propositions, but rather trusting him as One to be relied on, as One on whom they could “lean” altogether for this world and for any world. Incidentally the professor stated that this illustration from the little island of Aniwa was particularly interesting, inasmuch as he had never heard anything that came nearer to the exact significance of the meaning underlying the Hebrew word for faith. It appeared to him very wonderful that so perfect an illustration should be discovered in the language of one of the smallest islands in the Pacific, among perhaps the smallest tribe of people in the world. As stated, this thought is in the Scripture term for belief. It is written that Abraham “believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” And this word “believed,” they tell us, means really that Abraham “built upon God.” He stepped out upon God’s promise, and rested his all upon it. He let God have his own way. And that meant salvation and righteousness to Abraham, just as it means salvation to every one of us to give ourselves, just as we are, wholly into the hands of God. Another illustration of believing is found in 2 Chronicles 32. Hezekiah exhorted the people of Jerusalem:—13 “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him; for there be more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles. And the people rested themselves upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” Verses 7, 8. For “rested,” the margin gives “leaned,” as closer to the idea of the Hebrew. The promises of God are not words merely. They are supports that we can lean our helpless souls upon; for in believing God’s Word we are leaning upon the everlasting arms that long to save. Day by day do it, brother. Let Jesus take all the sin, all the trust in self, all the struggling and the bracing out of your heart, and just lean your full weight of care upon him. He will lift you and your burdens, and will hold you up all the way. “What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.”