A Christian woman was traveling to America and became so desperately seasick that the ship’s physician ordered her to have nothing but oranges or she might die.
After she had been eating oranges for a few days, the ship’s steward came to her with the sad news that all the oranges on the ship were gone. Undisturbed and in her physical weakness, the lady looked into the face of the steward and said, “My Father knows my need and will undertake for me.”
The steward in surprise answered, “Madam, you forget we are in the middle of the ocean.” The woman replied, “My Father is able to open a window in heaven if that were necessary.”
Hours had passed when the steward came into her cabin, his arms laden with oranges. “Your God has undertaken, just see here,” he exclaimed.
“How did it happen?” inquired the sick woman.
“Did you not hear a siren?” the steward asked. “Well, that was a vessel in distress. The storm had driven it out of its course and all its fresh water was used. We were able to supply their need. That ship carried a cargo of oranges and in their gratitude they gave us a plentiful supply.”
God is on the sea as well as on the land. They that “go down to the sea in ships” do not leave God on the land. Oranges do not grow on the ocean, but God has “a way on the sea.” He can drive a vessel from its course and trade fresh water for an orange for His sick and needy child. His redeemed child means more to Him than His creation.
“My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” Phil. 4:19, and if an orange is the need, God will supply it because “faithful is He that prosed, who also will do it.”
ML 06/04/1961