Andrew Murray Destined to Serve: A Biographical Novel by Olea Nel

Author:Olea Nel
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Biography
Publisher: Calirvaux House
Published: 2014-09-28T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14: An Encounter With Wolves

It was the Tuesday after my marathon preaching week of five sermons at Fauresmith and three at Bloemfontein. Yet, here I was on the road again. I was due to arrive at Willem Pretorius’s farm by lunchtime in order to lead a service that afternoon. Then on the following day, we would travel to the opening of Commandant Erasmus’s new home on a farm a few hours away. It would be there that I’d meet up with Deacon Andries Erwee, who’d accompany me on a visitation tour as far as Winburg.

On the way to Pretorius’s farm, I forded a small stream with lush grass on its banks. As I didn’t want to arrive too early for lunch—it being only about half-past ten—I decided to dismount to allow my horse, Scuttle, to graze. I chose a dry patch away from the damp of the long grass, and using my pack as a pillow, lay down to luxuriate in the peace of my surroundings.

I thought of the people of Fauresmith and their positive response to the building of a church. At my suggestion, they’d decided to ask Mr. Stuart to lay the foundation stone on Saturday, 1 September. I’d suggested Mr. Stuart because I couldn’t envision travelling there with anyone else. The occasion would also present the perfect opportunity to deliver the next round of communion services for the third quarter.

My thoughts then turned to the community of Bushmen who’d dutifully arrived for their Sunday-school lesson as promised. I was stunned to find twenty-four adults, and as many children, gathered outside the schoolroom waiting for my arrival after lunch. I taught them a few basic elements of the Christian faith plus the first verse of the hymn: “God Heeft De Wêreld Zo Bemind” (God So Loved The World). To my surprise, they sang it heartily, managing to drown out the lessons being presented by Dr. Drury and Mr. Stuart in other corners of the hall.

Meeting up with Mr. Stuart later, I said, “I’m afraid I have no idea how much they were able to take in.”

“Never fear, Mr. Murray. We need to constantly remind ourselves that the Lord is able to save to the uttermost.”

While I lay there in the winter sun, I couldn’t help smiling as I recalled Mr. Stuart’s favorite phrase that he was forever repeating. My reverie, however, came to an abrupt halt when I became conscious that Scuttle’s demeanor had changed. His head was upright, he was snorting wildly, and his eyes were wide with fear. I leapt to my feet in an effort to grab the reins, but I was too late. He was already galloping off at the speed of a bounding springbuck being pursued.

So what had disturbed him? I couldn’t detect a thing—no snap of a twig or any movement in the bush. I should have knee-haltered him, I thought. How could I have been so trusting? And now I’d have to face the smirks and headshakes of Pretorius and Burger, not to speak of the others farmers I was about to serve.

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