A Christian friend gave us an interesting and true account of a man he knew named Charlie H—.
He said he had often had conversations with this man about God’s ways and doings (Psa. 103:77He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel. (Psalm 103:7)). One day my friend asked Charlie if he ever had doubts thrust into his mind as to God’s faithfulness and care of His people.
Charlie said in reply that he should not doubt God, for He had done such wonderful things for him during his life that it would be a shame for him to distrust Him for a moment.
“Once,” said he, “I started with some other men to cross the prairie with some horses and carts. I am afraid I was the only man that feared God in the whole company. We traveled in several small gangs. When the Lord’s day came the other groups proceeded as usual, while I and the few with me rested ourselves and our horses. I had a quiet day of communion alone with the Lord, and He made me very happy in His presence. Every Lord’s day we did the same, and so it came to pass, that we were the first of the party to arrive at our destination, fresh and hearty, while the others came in later, jaded and depressed.
On one occasion during this journey the men with him, who had some confidence in his prayers, came to him, saying that there was no prospect of finding any water for the animals, and that they would soon assuredly die of thirst if they did not come upon some at once. After they had encamped for the night Charlie spent a good while in prayer. The next day, rising very early, he mounted his horse and allowed it to take its own way. In about twenty minutes great was his joy and thankfulness to God to see a flowing stream, at which the whole party were speedily refreshed and their water-bottles again filled.
The most astonishing thing, however, he ever experienced, happened on another journey across the prairie. Our young readers are doubtless aware that these pathless tracts of level land stretch across the country for interminable miles. There is nothing to guide the traveler but the sun in its course across the heavens, and the stars at night. Not a hill or a tree to be seen, all rank grass, sometimes stunted, but in some places waving high above the head of the traveler. Suddenly Charlie seemed to hear a voice saying distinctly twice over, “Charlie, go back.” Charlie said to the men, “Now, lads, you may go on to the town if you like, but I feel I must go back; I cannot resist this warning.”
He then left them and returned home. As the men were going on their way they found themselves suddenly surrounded by a party of Indians, who murdered them all with one exception. This man was badly wounded, and, falling down, pretended to be dead; but after the Indians had decamped, he found he had just strength left to crawl back to Charlie with his gruesome tale. Charlie could only believe that the Lord had graciously “given His angels charge over him, to keep him in all his ways,” (Psa. 91:1111For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (Psalm 91:11)).
We know that such experiences are uncommon, but the circumstances prove that God has still a tender care over His own, and that nothing is impossible with Him.