This story is about an agonizing choice that a mother of young children was forced to make. Whether she made the right choice or not, you will have to read this story to find out.
Ramakrishan, a young man, was mending his fishing net. He had made a good catch that morning, but his net had been damaged. It was now stretched between two palm trees, and he was carefully tying up the holes in the net. His wife Sangreta had a washtub and soap and was busy scrubbing her family's clothes. After the clothes were washed, she would lay them out on rocks to dry in the sun. Every once in a while she would disappear into their one-room but to attend to the cooking for a few moments.
Their small village on the Southeast coast of India had many huts, most no bigger than their own. Ramakrishan and Sangreta had three sons; the oldest was seven and the youngest had barely learned to walk. They were playing outside in the sand. Sometimes they would throw a stick for their dog to fetch and have a good game of tug-of-war when he returned with the stick.
As he repaired his net, Ramakrishan was watching the tide. It had gone out farther than he had ever seen it before, and it made him uneasy. He thought he heard something far out over the water in the distance. The distant sound bothered him, so he decided to climb the steep path to the top of the hill behind their but and take a look.
As he climbed, the strange noise from the sea grew louder. At the top of the hill looking out over the water, he could hardly believe what he was seeing! A giant wave, taller than the highest palm tree, was swiftly rolling towards his village! From the top of the hill he called down to his wife, "Sangreta, Sangreta, a tidal wave is coming! Grab the children and run for your lives!"
Sangreta dropped what she was doing and ran to the small children. But here she had a terrible choice to make. She had only two arms and there were three children! Because of the urgency in her husband's voice, she knew she didn't have a moment to waste. She gathered up the two youngest in her arms and told the oldest boy, "Dinakren, run and follow me up the hill!" Dinakren, who had just turned seven years old, would have to flee for his life on his own two feet.
Sangreta turned and ran to the path that led up the hillside. Other villagers alerted to the danger were running with them. Up she began to climb, panting for breath. In the press of frantic, running people, she lost sight of Dinakren.
As Dinakren lost sight of his mother, he turned and went back to their but with the dog at his heels. He was scared, and his home had always been a safe place.
When she got to the top of the hill, Sangreta looked for her oldest son, but he was nowhere to be seen! She ran through the crowd, asking neighbors, "Where is Dinakren? Have you seen Dinakren?" One neighbor said she had seen the boy going into their hut. Just then the giant wave of water hit the shore and crashed into the village!
The wave crushed the boats on the beach and flattened the huts of the village. Sangreta saw the concrete walls of her own but collapse under the terrible weight and force of the water. The destruction of the but meant only one thing to Sangreta-her son had died inside! She fell to the ground weeping, her heart crushed with grief for her boy whom she loved.
Sangreta, had been forced to make an agonizing choice-which children she would carry to safety. God, too, made an incredible decision so that sinners might be carried to safety. "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world" (1 John 4:1414And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. (1 John 4:14)). In love to perishing sinners, God the Father sent the Lord Jesus into the world where He would suffer, bleed and die on the cross so that sinners might be saved.
The Lord Jesus knew that if He didn't become the sin-bearer and go through the agony of the cross, no one would ever make it to heaven! "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)). The Lord Jesus was willing to give His life so that all who would believe on Him would not have to pay the penalty for their sins.
Hear His agonizing cry from the cross: "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (Matt. 27:4646And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46)). He was forsaken so that sinners could be forgiven and find a place of safety. "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). Can you turn away from such a Savior who went through so much for you?
The story of Sangreta's family had a happy ending. The family dog had followed Dinakren into the hut. Somehow the dog sensed the danger of staying in the hut. When the boy didn't leave, the dog started nipping him and pulling at his clothes. Dinakren couldn't resist the dog's effort to make him leave, and he ran out of the house. The dog snapped at his heels like he was shepherding the boy. Together they ran up a different way to the top of the hill. When the wave hit, Dinakren was high enough on the hill that only his feet and legs got wet.
Sangreta's sorrow was turned to joy when finally she saw her oldest son alive on the hill. She ran to him and hugged him close to her heart. Dinakren told her that the dog had nipped at his feet and legs till he ran out of the but and up the hill.
The dog led Dinakren to the safety of the hill. What will it be that God will use to lead you to the safety of the Savior's side? Will it be a troubled conscience because of your sins? Or perhaps a Bible verse you can't get out of your mind? God uses many things to lead people to repentance and faith. But one thing is for certain-there is no other person to whom you can turn who can deliver you from the judgment your sins deserve. Won't you come to the Lord Jesus Christ at once and receive the salvation He lovingly offers?