He Opened Not

We were on our way to Durbin for a holiday………and with hopes and prayers for opportunities along the way to give the Glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ to others – as all of His Ambassadors do.

I was traveling with a young South African pastor and his mother and father-in-law and we stopped along the way to visit with their relatives. For several days we had the opportunties we had been praying for and shared the Word with small groups of people in a little mud house, both by daylight and candelight. Chickens freely roamed in and out of the house – even at times being shooed off the table.

As the night deepened and sleeping time came I was given the honor of sleeping in a bedroom. On the table was a gift for me – a roll of toilet paper for use in the outdoor toilet. After taking care of matters I slept well, and awoke with a deep, almost overwhelming joy surging out of my heart which lasted the entire trip. I had found a new joy!

Further along the way we visited other family members, arriving in the early evening. The man of the house, a policeman, was not at home but we were welcomed warmly by others and proudly shown the big bedroom and big bed – just adjacent to the sitting room. Everyone was very thrilled they could afford such a thing.

As often is the custom in Africa, we were left alone to chat by ourselves and soon someone came in with a large ram on a rope. I didn’t understand what was being said as they were of course speaking in the local language. But I did understand that everyone was commenting that it was a fine sheep and I agreed by saying it was beautiful, plunging my fingers down through the thick wool – all the way to the skin. The pleased young man departed with it.

We continued to chat for what seemed a long time and then people began to bring in table settings, obviously in preparation for the evening meal.

A very large platter of roasted meat was then graciously presented. The young pastor with us then explained to me that it was part of the ram that we had just seen earlier! It had been brought in for our approval before being slaughtered in honor of our visit! I was very sad.

He then expounded on that topic – that we had heard nothing – no cries from the beautiful animal. He said that if it had been a goat it would have been very noisy, but not the sheep – and related it to the stance of Jesus Christ, at the time of His crucification.

One morning not long after, when in prayer, I was reminded again of the experience and went quickly to my Bible where I read:

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

And also,

Acts 8:32……..He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth.

Sometimes I am too quick to open my mouth.

Nancy, Ambassador of Jesus Christ