Among the terrible instances of the sufferings and cruelties during the Indian Mutiny, one affords a striking example of how God cares for His people, and sends them words of comfort and of cheer in their darkest hour, and in the most unlooked-for way.
A little band had escaped from the great massacre at Seetapore, and, after many wanderings, they found refuge in a desolate-looking old fort, defended by belts of jungle.
Their sojourn in this inhospitable abode was but brief, for they were soon sent forth into the more inhospitable jungle. There they had scanty food, and little, or no shelter, for, if they had sought the shades of the forest, the tigers would have been upon them, and, at night, they were compelled to burn fires in an open space to keep the beasts of prey at a distance from them. And thus miserably passed the time from week to week, and from month to month, till all spirit and all hope died within them. They saw each other drooping day by day, or, as time went on, prostrated by jungle fever.
But the measure of their humiliation was not yet full.
They were dragged out of the jungle, and ordered to prepare for a journey, and, huddled together on two common country carts, they set forth. In the villages through which they passed they were made a show to be gazed at, and to be mocked, by the people. Their food, scanty and nauseous, was thrown to them as if they had been dogs; water was given to them grudgingly, or not at all, and, in the agonies of their thirst, they shrieked again and again for water. But comfort came to them in their tribulation from the Word of God.
They had not a Bible among them, but one of the ladies had some native medicines brought to her, wrapped up in a piece of printed paper, which proved to be part of a leaf of the book of Isaiah, and the message, which came to them through Mohammedan hands, was this:
“They shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I, am He that comforteth you; who art thou, that thou shouldst be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; and forgettest the Lord thy Maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that...” (Isa. 51:11-1411Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. 12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass; 13And forgettest the Lord thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor? 14The captive exile hasteneth that he may be loosed, and that he should not die in the pit, nor that his bread should fail. (Isaiah 51:11‑14)).
The paper was torn off before the verse was finished.
The words of love, so strangely and mysteriously sent to them, comforted and strengthened them in the midst of their sorrow, for they were thus reminded afresh of the watchful care of Him who never slumbers nor sleeps, who never removes His eyes from the righteous; and those who survived to tell the story are fresh witnesses to the power of the Word of God to comfort and cheer hearts bowed down by the deepest sorrow.