Mrs. Oswald Chambers by Michelle Ule

Author:Michelle Ule
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Biography;Biddy Chambers (1884–1966);Oswald Chambers (1874–1917)—Family;Evangelists’ spouses—Great Britain—Biography;BIO018000;BIO022000;REL015000
ISBN: 9781493406968
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2017-08-18T04:00:00+00:00

11

What Is That to Thee?

November 1917

Realize the danger of being an amateur providence.1

From the Red Cross hospital, Biddy traveled to Amy Zwemer’s downtown Cairo home. Amy hugged Biddy, listened, and wept with her. When her husband, Samuel, came in, the three prayed together. Psalm 142:7 came to Biddy’s mind and comforted her: “Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.”

It was still early in the day.

At Biddy’s request, a sorrowing William Jessop sent cables to Biddy’s family, as well as Oswald’s parents, his brother, and Mrs. Reader Harris. The simple message: “Oswald in His Presence.”

The hardest task that morning lay ahead, once Biddy had calmed herself; she had to break the news to her little girl at Zeitoun.

“My mother came back to the bungalow and she picked me up,” Kathleen remembered years later. “She said, ‘Your daddy’s gone to be with Jesus.’”

“Well, that’s wonderful, isn’t it?” the child Kathleen said. “What are you crying for?”

It was the only time Kathleen ever saw her mother cry. “She never did. She was always so determined that God never made a mistake.”2

Perhaps Biddy lay down to take a nap in her own bed for the first time in weeks. Perhaps she answered a million questions, or none at all. Certainly Eva and Gladys hugged her, undoubtedly crying. Tears would flavor Mary Riley’s soup that night and likely for days to come.

Soon a message came from Samuel Zwemer. Dr. and Mrs. Phillips of the American Mission had room on their ship, the Ibis, currently moored in Luxor. Kathleen and Biddy were welcome, along with a friend, to spend a week on board to grieve.

William Jessop also came to Zeitoun with an immediate question for Biddy. The ANZAC command requested Oswald have a full military funeral the next day. They asked to bury him at the Old Cairo cemetery with the soldiers he loved.

Burials usually took place the day of death in Egypt, and that’s probably what Biddy expected. But Oswald felt such a kinship with the soldiers he would have appreciated this sign of their affection for him. She needed to weigh how God could best be glorified in this stunning moment.

Throughout their time together, Biddy never had Oswald only to herself. In his life as well as his death, she shared him with many others. She knew those who loved and respected Oswald felt abandoned and possibly distraught that God let him die.

She agreed to the unusual honor.

What next?

Oswald’s teaching was plain: when you were not sure what God wanted, examine the situation and your options and then do the next logical thing. Biddy thanked Mr. Zwemer for contacting Dr. and Mrs. Phillips, then asked Eva to accompany her and Kathleen to Luxor.

She knew their Zeitoun friends needed to mourn together, even as she craved privacy. But the camp must function, so Biddy made decisions and wrote directions. She packed her suitcase and, after prayers that night, walked into the desert to gaze at the stars once more, remembering.

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