Two hundred believers, Otomi Indians living in Mexico, were being persecuted for their faith. They had been herded together on a barren hilltop across from the town of San Nicolas, where their persecutors lived. A Christian man named Venancio, the leader of the little band of Christians, was away from home, and there was a plot to kill all the Christians on the hilltop.
Venancio’s wife Isidra went from one little corn-stalk hut or shack to another, encouraging the Christians, telling them not to be afraid, but to pray that the Lord would help them. The flock of Christians was apprehensive in the absense of her husband, and their fear was not without foundation, for most of them had been driven from their their villages at the point of a gun for their faith in Christ. Feeling was running high in the town, and the believers were aware that something was going to happen that night.
Isidra called all of the Christians to prayer. In simple faith they pleaded with God to hedge them about and show His glory. Then they went to bed, all fear gone, and slept undisturbed.
The next day on the streets of the big town they saw people looking at them and talking in little clusters. Just what was afoot now? Little by little they pieced together this testimony from the mouths of the people who were in on the plot the night before.
Several hundred enemies of the Christians had gathered on the backside of the hill, carrying dynamite, machetes, and other weapons. At a given signal they started up the hill. But what was that glaring light over the hilltop? The little gospel hall stood out in bold relief. Even every cactus could be seen in plain outline, plainer than midday. And who were those soldiers encircling the hilltop? And listen to those trumpets playing so loudly! The opponents tried to get up the hill, but couldn’t get past the guards. Their plans and those of the Greater Enemy had been utterly foiled. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psa. 34:77The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. (Psalm 34:7). Yes, God had delivered His people as they had knelt and prayed for their deliverance that night.
Not long after this, the Christian Indians worked a year or two voluntarily on a road, charging the government nothing. Government officials were very impressed, and the Christians’ reply was, “We want a road so that we can go over to the other Indians and preach Christ.”
Vanencio walks about the town of San Nicolas fearlessly. He has started a Bible class in town, and fifty have been saved through his efforts.
ML 09/20/1959