FOR CHILDREN

Many years ago a young man was made a captain of a whaling ship that sailed out on the Pacific Ocean. About ten days before he was scheduled to sail, the first ship having been committed to his charge, it so happened that he attended a church service at a certain place. There he heard preaching which he could not forget and which left deep impressions on his heart. A very remarkable change took place in the heart of this young man, who had hitherto been so indifferent and light-hearted, so that his friends did not know him any more. He, who formerly never gave a command without swearing, did not curse any more. His curses were changed into prayers and cries.

While at sea, for several weeks they waited in vain for the appearance of a whale. Finally, two hours before sunset on a Sunday evening the long awaited call rang out, “There is one!” At once everything was in motion on deck. The men were getting ready to let the boats down into the sea and enter them. At first the excitement of his men worked infectiously upon him, but the temptation soon passed. The words, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy,” sounded powerfully in his soul; and with a loud voice he commanded that not a boat should be let down into the sea that day.

We can imagine the anger and the resistance of his men. The captain had a hard time trying to convince them, but he did not budge an inch and his brave attitude quieted the rebellion somewhat. And when he promised that he alone would assume all responsibility for the damage they would suffer, they soon became restful again.

“But will the owner of our ship be pleased with this loss?” asked the first mate mockingly. He was the officer next in rank below the captain, and he thought he would show a little of his authority now. “I and all the other men want a signed statement from you that you are acting on your own authority and that we have all protested against your action.”

In a friendly way the captain replied that such a statement would not be legal if it would be drawn up on Sunday, but he would do so the following day. He did not say this without sorrow, because he felt that his actions could have harmful consequences for him. What shipowner would accept him as a captain?

The first mate began to feel some compassion towards the captain and said, “See here, Captain, I have a wife and five children to take care of, and when Providence brings a whale in sight on Sunday I believe that we must catch him. At least that is my viewpoint.”

In the meantime Morgan, the captain, let himself drop on a bench. Completely lost in his thoughts, he was not even aware that his partner was with him. He was continually repeating the words to himself, “Thy will be done!” His view was directed to the setting sun in the west, when suddenly he was aroused from his musing by the first mate, who exclaimed, “Captain! Look how fast the barometer is going down!”

It was very fortunate that none of the men had left the ship, and fortunate for the ship that the crew was complete, because within half an hour every hand was astir and busy. It was the beginning of a struggle with a fierce hurricane which lasted for three days. The Lord heard the many prayers and protected them all wonderfully, but when the storm was over they found that they were hundreds of miles from the place where the storm first struck them. For all the fears and terrors they endured, however, they were again richly rewarded. This was God’s merciful hand, and the captain bowed low to give thanks and honor to the Keeper of Israel. Although the place where the mighty hand of God had directed them during the storm was hitherto one of the poorest locations for fishing, it now became one of the richest ones. The captain must have thought about the words of the Lord Jesus, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” When the Lord comes, He often comes unperceived and unexpectedly, that He may receive all glory. He says in His blessed Word, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.”

When the sea was calm, the men found themselves in the midst of a shoal of whales and soon had captured two of them. They caught so many that after ten months they could already return to Sidney, while at other times it took a considerably longer period before a ship was loaded. The owner was so surprised when he heard about this wonderful deliverance and blessing that he let it entirely up to the captain whether or not to set out boats on the Sabbath. By the grace of God, Morgan held fast to his principle, and for a number of years no whaler brought in such a rich cargo — except one.

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He sets His footsteps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm.

For children:

Place names.

A........Where people were first called Christians.

B........Where Martha, Mary and Lazarus lived.

C........Where Jesus was crucified.

D........Gaius came from here. (Acts 20.)

E........Joseph was warned in a dream to take Jesus and Mary and flee to this place.

F........A place on the sea-voyage of Paul to Rome.

G........The place of a skull.

H........Where there is gold.

I........Philip, Herod’s brother, was tetrach here.

J........As a city compactly built together.

K........Solomon said the tents here were black.

L........Paul met Timotheus here.

M........Abraham was told by God to take Isaac to this land and offer him to the Lord.

N........Where Jesus spent His childhood.

O........Jesus oft resorted to this mountain.

P........Paul sailed from here to Troas in five days.

R........Paul stayed two years in a hired house here.

S........Jesus met a woman from here at a well.

T........The city of Lydia.

February answers:

1. Genesis 14:19.

2. Psalm 91:11.

3. Daniel 6:22.

4. Acts 12:7.

5. Acts 27:23.

6. Hebrews 1:14.

1. Genesis 32:26.

2. 1 Kings 3:9.

3. Psalm 51:2.

4. Luke 23:42.

5. Acts 16:30.

6. 2 Cointhians 12:8.

Answers have been received from the fallowing children:

J. and L. Westrate; K. Rose; R. Kaat; B. Braskamp; R, and W. De Braber; P. Kaat; P. Boluyt; S Eppinga; B. Bisschop; G. and D. Spaans; C. and J. Van Tilburg; D. Bazen: A. and J. Vande Waerdt; L. and N. Bouma; K., A. and K. Vander Male: M. and D. Meeuwse: G. and L. Bleeker; J. Koedam: J. R. and J. W. Beeke; M. Stryd; C, B. and G. Moerdyk: D. Kamp; E. Sweetman: M. Blom: B. and J. Kaat: S. and S. De Visser; D. J. Post; J. Kamp; R. Van Stelle; R. Vander Wiele; B. Vroegindewei; P. W. Kievit; D. Van Dalen; R. Van Dalen; J. Balon; D. Rose: D. Vander Wiele; J. Etelman; J., R. and J. Vander Boon; D., T., J. and T. Engelsma; N. De Pater; C. Etelman; R. Stapel.

“It is the Lord’s kindness that He will take the scum off us in the fire. Who knoweth how needful winnowing is to us, and what dross we must lose ere we can enter into the kingdom of God. So narrow is the entry to heaven, that hour knots, our bunches and lumps of pride, self-love and idol-love, and world love must be hammered off us, that we may enter through that narrow way into the kingdom of heaven.”

Samuel Rutherford

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen