IT WAS during a war between France and Germany, and the French army had captured a German town. As a reward for fighting, the victorious French soldiers were permitted to plunder the homes and take anything they chose.
A French soldier named Egelrich broke into the home of a poor wow. When he entered he found the lady surrounded by her four little children. The oldest, whose name was Hans, ran up to the rough soldier and offered him a picture Bible, sang, “There, that is my most precious treasure. I will give it to you, but do not hurt my mother.”
The soldier was surprised, and opening the Book his eye fell on a page he remembered reading years before. It was a message from God, and affected him so much he could not move. With his eyes full of tears he said to the widow, “I shall take nothing from you, but do let me have the Bible.”
“May God’s blessing go with you, noble man,” said the poor widow. Then he stood outside to turn away other soldiers who might enter.
The next day the German army arrived and soon cleared the town of the French. Egelrich was shot twice in the breast and left for dead. However, he regained consciousness after a while and found that both bullets had lodged in Hans’ Bible.
Seven years later, when Egelrich was chief of a battalion, he sent a letter to Hans with a sum of money enclosed. This is what he said: “This is a small reward to the noble boy who gave his most precious treasure as a ransom for his mother, and saved his grateful friend. Egelrich, Chief of Battalion.”
How wonderful are the ways of God, and how wonderfully He cares for those who trust Him! Even the hairs of their head are all numbered. Surely we can say, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear.” Psa. 27: 1,3.
ML-07/19/1970