A Prayer Heard | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 21, 1874

A Prayer Heard.

TRANSLATED FROM THE “CHRISTEN BOTE.”

On a pleasantly-situated country-seat not far from the little town of B——, lived Herr L——, a very worthy Christian man. His wife was an estimable woman, who was his true helper in training up their children for the Lord; for they early led their little ones to the same throne of grace where they themselves sought from the Lord wisdom and strength. Those who saw the dear children could not doubt that this up-bringing had borne most blessed fruits. They were obedient to their parents, amiable to each other, and kindly and modest toward strangers. The house, too, was quite a model household. Everything was in its right place; order and cleanliness reigned everywhere. The servants, though they were strictly admonished to take great care over things, and to use their time well, yet knew how to value a good service, and seldom left but under circumstances of absolute necessity. For those who loved and sought after worldly amusements did not suit in Herr L——’s house, and would indeed soon have had warning to leave. The whole family was daily gathered to examine the word of God together; the morning’s work was begun by prayer, the evening was closed in the same way. These were seasons of real refreshing and strengthening. In such a house the Lord lingers lovingly; and if trials and provings are not wanting, still he does not let there be any lack of the needed strength.

It was a truly happy family.

The father took on himself the labor of instructing his children in all the various branches of knowledge belonging to a good education, while the mother took care that as soon as they were old enough, her daughters should be accustomed to all womanly handiwork.

Some Christian friends who lived in the neighborhood came now and then to the house, and such visits only passed too quickly.

On a stormy harvest evening, a loud knocking was heard at the outer door of this peaceful house. The servant hurried to answer it, opened the door, and saw two uncommonly tall men standing on the doorsteps, who handed him a letter, and said, with an insolent air, “Give this writing to your master, and bring us an answer as quickly as possible; we will wait for it. But look sharp!”

The servant was not a little amazed at the big strangers and their imperious manner, but promised to obey their orders, and come back as soon as possible. He hurried to the sitting-room and delivered the letter, and remained waiting in order to read in his master’s countenance what all this could mean, and what might be the contents of the ominous letter. The mother, too, and the children, surrounded their father, and felt not a little anxious when they saw how pale the master of the house became as he read the missive.

“We have got a letter here,” he began, “the contents of which are far from pleasant. But, my love, banish all fear; for in this case too we can say, ‘If God be for us, who can be against us?’ Arm yourself with courage, and I will read the letter to you:”—

“Sir: The leader of a numerous band stands before your house, with the positive demand that you should, before break of day, deposit 20,000 thalers (£3000) at the gate of your garden. In case of refusal, your beautiful house will this night be given up to the flames.—THE LEADER.”

“O thou God in Heaven!” sighed the mother, when her husband had finished reading. The children wept in great alarm, and the servants, who had all by this time gathered together, trembled as if they already heard the crackling of the flames; only the father was again quite calm. After a little reflection, he took pen and ink, and wrote:—

“Sir: Your imperious command deserves a decided answer. I will not comply with your requisition. If it should be according to the counsel of God’s will that my house should be a prey to the flames, I hope to be able to say, ‘Lord, thy will be done!’ only it is certain that you have no power to accomplish this: God is almighty; and whatever godless designs you may have determined on, he reigns. Yours, L——.”

At this moment there was again a loud knocking at the outer door, and the servant hastened to take his master’s letter to the strangers. They read the writing by the light of a dark lantern, and in a tone of utmost menace called out to the servant, “A friendly greeting to your master; we shall soon present our thanks to him in person.” With these words they hurried away.

When the servant returned to the sitting-room, the master barred all in, and then said, “Let us kneel down and pray to that powerful One without whose will no hair can fall from our heads.”

All obeyed, and followed with deep devotion their master’s words of entreaty, as he commended himself and all his household to the care of his God of strength. They were words that came from the depths of his believing heart, and they could not be unheard. All rose up strengthened; and now awaited their time of severe trial, with their eyes toward the Lord.

“Now let us wait courageously, and see what the Lord will bring us,” said Herr L. “Whatever he sends is good, and he will not let us want for strength; has he not said, ‘I will never leave thee nor forsake thee’? so that we may boldly say, ‘The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’”

Midnight had just struck. They could not go to the little town for help, because it was too far off, and they feared to meet the robbers on the way. The great bell, which they generally could use to call together the neighbors in case of any unexpected emergency that required their help, had been sent to the town a few days before to be repaired. In short, it was as if God would show them that from him alone help should come. The wind howled from time to time with greater violence round the solitary dwelling, and it appeared as if the storm would increase the coming terrors of the night.

But what happened? About two o’clock in the morning, loud peals announced a severe thunder-storm. Soon one flash of lightning followed another with uncommon rapidity, accompanied by loud resounding thunder. If any one could have observed the little family now, they would have seen that they all appeared more calm. One danger seemed to have chased the other from their minds, and none of them thought any more of the robbers and their threatenings.

Then suddenly a bright flash of lightning zigzagged through the air; a fearful crack followed instantaneously, so that all the windows rattled.

“The lightning has struck!” remarked one of the servants. “See, see, the hay-shed is burning.”

It was true, and soon they saw the building of which he spoke in flames; it was a happy thing that it stood far enough off to prevent any danger of the house catching fire from it. That clap of thunder was the last. With distant mutterings the storm died away, and the wind calmed down. But still they did not venture to go out for fear of meeting the robbers. After a quarter of an hour had elapsed, a sound was heard outside, and soon they could distinguish the well-known voices of neighbors whom the sight of the flames had called together to help to extinguish the fire. Now Herr L—— and his people all hurried out to the burning building. But, imagine their astonishment!—still unconsumed by the flames, there lay at a little distance the body of a man, in whom the house-servant recognized one of the strangers who had the evening before given him the letter of which we spoke. It was, in fact, the much-feared robber-chief, who had been struck by the lightning at the very moment when he was approaching to execute his cruel and desperate purpose of setting fire to the house. There he lay, a corpse, forsaken by his companions in evil, who had fled as soon as they saw their leader fall.

The fire was soon quenched by the help of the kind neighbors, and Herr L—— related the remarkable circumstances to them. Deep astonishment seized them all.

When they went to carry away the dead man, they found a paper on him which put them on the track of the other miscreants, who had, for a long time, made the neighborhood insecure.

Thus had the Almighty God made evident that it is to him a light matter to bring to nothing the purposes of men.—Cor. of the British Messenger.