BENJAMIN BADAL was a colporteur — one who goes about distributing the Holy Scriptures. He spent forty years in faithful service for his Lord and Master in Persia and Iraq.
When he was two years old his father died and he was brought up by his mother and his uncles. They were all very poor and little Ben had to begin early to earn his living. He was a nimble little fellow and fond of all kinds of pranks. All day long he herded cattle, and when he brought them home at night he would jump on the back of an old bullock, stand there on his head and turn somersaults. A Christian missionary started a school in his village and for a while Benjamin attended. There he heard the gospel how that God sent His beloved Son into this world to save sinners.
When Benjamin was twenty he gave his heart to the Lord Jesus and set out to serve Him. He traveled far and besides his own tongue, Syriac, he learned several other languages. This helped him greatly when he entered the Lord’s service as a colporteur. His new life was to be a rough but happy one. Most of the people of Persia were followers of Mohammed and they hated Christians. Benjamin took his life in his hand when he went forth with the gospel, but love for his Master and the Book made him brave and fearless.
One day he came to the city of Shiraz, and there posted on one of the gates was a notice signed by the Governor forbidding any one to buy a Bible under penalty of death. This did not frighten Benjamin. He sat down right under the notice and in a loud voice he invited people to examine and to buy his holy books. The people were amazed. If he could be brave enough to sell, they would be brave enough to buy, and buy they did. Nothing serious happened. Benjamin went on his way leaving behind Gospels, like seeds planted in the hearts of the inhabitants.
Next Benjamin came to a town called Nahavend, where he entered the courtyard of one of the chief priests of the Mohammedans. The priest came out of the house and asked him what he wanted.
“I am come to sell these books,” replied Benjamin.
“What books are they?”
“The Taurat and Injil,” answered Benjamin, meaning the old and new Testaments.
The old priest became very angry. “Throw this heretic on his back,” he called to his servants, “and beat him until he is dead.” The men seized Benjamin, pulled off his boots, tied his feet to a horizontal bar and then beat the soles of his feet with whips. Three times poor Benjamin fainted under this torture and three times he heard the old priest cry, “Beat him till he dies.” But God was watching over His servant and though I do not know how it came about, he got free. That day, with his feet blistered and bleeding, he sold eight copies of the Scriptures. Writing afterwards about this experience, he said “When I think of those who will come after me and be able to sell the Holy Word of God freely in this land, I feel very glad and comforted in this suffering for Christ’s sake.” On a later visit to Nahavend he went to the old priest’s house to give him a Bible in return for the beating he had received. But the priest would not see him, making the excuse that he was ill.
Benjamin stayed two days in Nahavend, selling his “holy Books” and telling the people of the love of Jesus who died for sin that they might be saved. The Mohammedan teachers complained, and the old priest sent him a message: “Leave town or I shall beat you.” Benjamin replied, “Tomorrow is Sunday, my day of rest. I will go the day after.” He went on with his work. A crowd gathered around him making an uproar, but the Governor of the city was favorable to Benjamin, for he knew he was a good man, and he sent a message to the old priest: “Leave the Nazarene alone today. Today is his Sunday and he does not wish to travel. He will travel tomorrow.” The old priest was in a greater fury than ever, but it came about that another priest, who had read the Bible and was not so hateful of the Christians, persuaded the old man to leave him alone.
The next day Benjamin departed in peace leaving behind a large number of Bibles and Gospels that the people had purchased from him. Many had cause to thank God for Benjamin Badal who had brought them the Word of life, that which makes known to sinners the love of God and the gift of His dear Son to the world.
ML-10/18/1964