EIRIK was an Icelandic fisherman who had been brought to knew the Lord Jesus as his Saviour when he was a boy. This had made a great change in his life, and his longing dire was that others might share his joy. Because of this the other young men did not wish to be near him very much, for fear he would speak to them of his Lord and Saviour.
He earned his livelihood by fishing, but as motor boats were being introduced at that time, there was a difficulty for him and those like him to make a living.
One day after a long unsuccessful spell of fishing, the news flew round that the fjord was teeming with codfish. Unfortunately His fishermen had no bait, as they usually used small pieces of herring, and they had caught no herring for some time. This was most tantalizing as many of them were in real need.
However, news was received from the nest port that a trawler had just been in there with a load of herring. The fishermen clubbed together and hired a motor boat and each gave his order for the herring he could afford.
Now Eirik’s cottage did not overlook the harbor, and the men played a cruel trick on him. They did not tell him about the chance to buy some herring until it was too late for him to order any.
When the motor boat returned all the fishermen were busy with their hooks and lines except Eirik, and no one would sell or lend him any hair. Feeling very sad he made his way up the steep cliff path. It almost seemed as if God had forgotten him, but all at once the verse flashed into his mind, “CAST THY BURDEN UPON THE LORD.”
So he went into his little hut and unburdened his heart to the Lord. It then occurred to him that there might be a few odd herring in his old patched up net. Naturally speaking this was most unlikely, as there had been no herring in the fjord for weeks.
When the fishermen heard what he was going to do, they went with him to see fair play, as they themselves would have been quite equal to taking the contents of a neighbor’s net. It was a good thing they did.
One net after another was drawn up empty, only to be thrown back in disgust, until they came to Eirik’s. This one did not come up very easily and when at last it came up it was full of herring. Hurriedly they drew up the rest of the nets but there was not a single herring in them.
The men were dumbfounded. But Eirik praised his faithful God, who had supplied him with even more than he needed, and saved him the expense of buying. Now he saw his opportunity of showing good for evil. He refused to sell any of his haul, but freely gave to any who had not been able to buy sufficient. There was a splendid catch of codfish that day and in no home was there greater joy than in Eirik’s little hut. It was not surprising that when the missionary visited Eirik’s, some time later, the hall was crowded with Icelanders, eager to hear the gospel of the grace of God, to whom Eirik had borne such a faithful testimony.
ML-08/14/1960