Jonathan Goforth-Fire Rained

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

Photo Courtesy Chinese Dai house architecture
with bamboo sides and thatched roof 

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I are missionaries in China. Well, we're new here and still need to learn the language, but I'd consider that good enough to be called missionaries.

We arrived in Chefoo, a village in northern China where we will study Mandarin. The amount of time we spend here will depend on how quickly we learn the language. Once we have a firm grasp we'll move north to begin our work showing Chinese men and women there is a God who loves them.

I rented us a thatched roofed home, and while Rosalind unpacked, I hired a Mandarin tutor to teach us the language. 

The home was long and narrow and had plenty of space for us to live. I didn't really care where anything was put, I first wanted to learn the language and left the organizing to Rosalind. She took her time, working slow because of her pregnancy, and seemed happy with her work. Our baby would come in August, only a few months away.

I really liked my tutor. He made learning the language easy. Rosalind liked our new home and enjoyed cooking the evening meals. I came home from study one night to a wonderful dinner. As I took the last bite, a loud crowd noise came from outside our front door. 

I opened the door and walked into the street to see what excited the people. Rosalind followed me out. I didn't have to ask anyone. They stood laughing, cheering, and pointing to my roof. Orange flames chewed the back roof sending sparks into the air. Pieces of thatch fell into the house. 

"O God, help us." I glanced at Rosalind who stood frozen with shock in her eyes. "Stay here," I ordered her. "I'm going back in to see what I can rescue."

I didn't have time to think what to save first or second. Who really can answer a question like that in a time of panic. I ran through the living room to our bedroom and grabbed my Bible and the money jar, the two most valuable possessions we had, and rushed through thickening smoke outside. 

It took a moment to find Rosalind in the crowd. I pushed the Bible and jar into her hands. "Hold these, I going back for more."

I sprinted a few steps and heard a ruckus behind me. I looked back and found Rosalind running in circles away from Chinese men who closed in on her. Great. I shouted, "For goodness sake, Rosalind, settle down and hold on to that jar and Bible. They'll steal it right from you."

My tone seemed to snap her from her panic. She stood still and hugged the money jar and Bible close to her.

I ran back in the house. The thick cloud of smoke made seeing nearly impossible. I coughed. My throat and eyes burned. Clumps of burning thatch rained around me. I grabbed the sewing machine and my Mandarin language study notes. The thatch snapped and crackled louder. In seconds the roof would surely collapse. I couldn't save anything else and get out alive. 

I ran outside, coughing and kneeling to the ground to catch my breath. Rosalind curled next to me with the Bible and jar still cradled in her arms. We sat on the ground, together, and watch everything we owned fizzle in flames. All our wedding presents, a portrait of Rosalind's father that he painted himself, her mother's china, a shawl for the coming baby hand knitted by her sister, our clothes. 

We had almost nothing left.

I coughed a few more times then turned to Rosalind. My wife of less than a year. This beautiful woman who willingly came to China to help me with missionary work. I wrapped my arm around her and hugged her. The poor thing needed a soft word. "Don't worry. Those were just things. We have each other and the baby."

She touched her belly and found her smile.

That night we stayed at the China Inland Mission boarding school. We bathed and had fresh clothes given to us. The missionaries living there helped us so much. 

The next morning we walked back to our home and found nothing left but a pile of ashes. Rosalind stood there silently. I had to think of something to cheer her up. So I said the first silly thing that came to mind: "Huh, remember how we tried to figure out a way to bring that beautiful organ with us and couldn't come up with a good answer? Good thing we had it shipped."

She looked at me with raised eyebrows. "You are so weird. It's going to be a long time before I can see good in strange things like you can, Jonathan Goforth."

Well, at least she smiled. Talk about a dramatic start to our ministry! No way would I let this tragedy even spark an idea of quitting.

Two weeks later we moved out of the boarding school into a second home ready to get back to work.


Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nuggets in A Lists

By Mary Vee
I Chronicles 1-9

From the Genealogies in Chronicles

*Once Nehemiah cleaned up the problems in Jerusalem a meeting was called to make a list. A genealogy from Adam to the current generation. Proof had to be given of Jewish heritage. In the list recorded in I Chronicles some amazing nuggets, kinda like: did you knowisms could be found. Here are some:

Photo Courtesy Nimrod the mighty hunter

Nimrod grew to be a mighty warrior.

Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg because in his time the earth was divided. (Possibly this is when the continents drifted.)

Bela and other kings reigned in Edom before any Israelite kings reigned.

Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight. The Lord put him to death. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. 

Achar brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

Ge Harashim was given this name because his people were craftsmen.

These records are from ancient times. Er, Laadah, Jokim, and Josh were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They stayed there and work for the king.

The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. They had large families and went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lives there formerly. The same men came to Judah in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed them. They settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. Five hundred of these Simonites invaded the hill country of Seir. They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped and moved into the land.

Jehozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile.

The Levites were assigned to most duties in the tabernacle, the house of God. But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense and all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel as Moses the servant of God had commanded.

Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath when they went down to seize their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.

All the named descendants of Asher were heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders.

All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. 

As for Judah and Jerusalem, these people were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness to God. The first to resettle back on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. The list of their family names follows.

The gatekeepers were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the Tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel. Their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord and guarded the four sides: east, west, north, and south. Their brothers in their villages had to come from time tot time and share the duties for a seven-day period.

But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God. They had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

A Levite named Mattihiah, the firstborn son of Shallum was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.

Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.

The more we read the Bible and become interested in connections, the more important the list given in I Chronicles becomes.

Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Nehemiah-Marrying for the Wrong Reasons

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 13

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. 

I am visiting back in Jerusalem for the second time. God has burned a desire in me to check on the progress in the city. When I left Jerusalem the last time, the walls had been rebuilt, the people had been taught the laws of Moses, and they said they would seek to obey them.

Men and women from Judah and Jerusalem convinced me they truly wanted to obey and serve God as was laid out in the Law of Moses. But I was wrong for believing them. I came back and found a huge mess.

First, I found evil men living in the Temple. Second I found the Levites had left their temple duties and returned to plow their own gardens because they were hungry and weren't receiving their allotted food. Third, I found foreigners bringing their wares through the gates to sell in the city on the Sabbath. On the Sabbath!

Today, I discovered many of the men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab and had given their sons to these foreign women. These women who worshiped idols. I couldn't believe these men went back on their promise to the living God. The one who loves them enough to call us His own.

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other people groups they married and didn't know how to speak the language of Judah. 

"What were you thinking?" I yelled at them?

They didn't answer me at first. They shook their heads and looked at the ground. 

I yelled curses at them, beat some of them, and pulled their hair. What they had done could bring the wrath of God on Jerusalem again. Most of these very men had been exiled for seventy years and had only returned a few years ago. They'd rebuilt their homes and should have rebuilt their lives following the laws sent by God.

"Promise here and now, before God, that you will not give your daughters in marriage to the sons of Ashdod, Amon, or Moab. Promise. Now!"

They nodded. 

"Say the words!"

"We promise." Their voices were soft and shameful, as they should have been.

"Now promise not to take any foreign daughter for your sons to marry. Wasn't it because of marriages like these that Solomon, king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. Don't bring this on us again."

In my investigation, I learned Joiada, son of the high priest, was married to Sanballat's daughter. I couldn't even look at him. Sanballat, of all people. This the foreign man who bullied us and brought others to keep us from rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. 

Remember what they have done, O my God, because they have defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites by marrying women who were not Jewish. 

I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign and assigned them their duties. I also made sure contributions of woods and the first fruits would be delivered to take care of their needs.

Remember me with favor, O my God.

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Jonathan Goforth-The Drug That Robbed and Ripped Families Apart

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. My wife, Rosalind and I had a wonderful visit with all the local missionaries who could attend last night's meeting. These men and women were from different denominations, mission organizations, and countries, yet they all met in one room with one goal: to show the people of China that there is a God who loves them. Such an amazing meeting.

These missionaries met with Rosalind and me. They discussed where the greatest need for missionaries were in China at the time and decided we should be sent to the North Honan region to work. Before heading there, though, we would spend time in Chefoo to learn Mandarin. I was ready to go. Our bags sat ready to be put on a train or whatever means of transportation worked best.

One missionary, though, persuaded me to wait one day. "You can have a fresh start in the morning." The idea seemed good after the long ship ride. That afternoon the missionary took us to the International Settlement section of Shanghai. Various European countries controlled this area. 

He took us to a magnificent palace, well lit and decorated with bright colored silks. I felt like I'd stepped into a land of fantasy until I walked farther. Each room had rows of narrow beds. Hundreds of Chinese people sat or laid on beds, many of them dressed in wealthy clothes, and all of them high on opium. Some looked sickly, some healthy, but none seemed to notice we walked by. They were that stoned on the drug.

Photo Courtesy Fields of poppy
plants grew in England. These were
processed into opium in large factories
and sold to addicted Chinese
men and women 

The missionary took us through one room after another. I couldn't believe what I saw. Why would men and women do this? He then took us out to a narrow street that ran along the palace. Both sides had brothels packed with business. A horrible business.

I stared at the street, at the businesses, and the wrongness going on all around me. My heart shred in two. How? Why? "But this is the section governed by foreign governments. How could this happen?"

The missionary nodded with a stern and bothered look, but no longer saddened by the sight. "I brought you here to show you what is going on. You're right, there is no good reason why a building like the palace and these businesses were built. Money hungry foreigners built these to lure Chinese people into opium addiction. The foreigners make lots of money from these businesses, particularly the British."

"You're saying the British supply the opium and allow prostitutes to work here?" Unbelievable. I remembered reading about this problem in Hudson Taylor's books but hadn't realized it was this bad. 

"Yes. These countries who claim to be 'Christian' countries encourage and provide what is needed to practice evil in this land. This drug robs people of their money and rips families apart. Their addiction keeps them coming back for more."

"So they call us foreign devils," Rosalind said softly. Her sad eyes showed her heartaches as much as mine."

"Yes," the missionary said. "Because the Chinese can't fight these foreign governments they search for missionaries in rural areas where it's easy to kill them."

"You brought us here to warn us, didn't you?"

"To inform you. Your life isn't going to be easy. You may even be killed. Are you really ready to face what may come?"

I thought of the rooms in the palace and looked around at the streets in front of me. When I was in Toronto, I refused to let my college friends talk me out of visiting the poor and gang infested areas of the city. I knew God would protect me. And if He didn't, I knew I was doing the job He asked me to do. And I will do the same here in China.

I turned to Rosalind. "We need to get to work right away, no matter the cost. There are many lives depending on us showing them there is a God who loves them...before it's too late."  

She set her hand on me. The loving gaze in her eyes said so much. "I'll be by your side, Jonathan."

The missionary nodded. "Good. At first light tomorrow, you'll leave. May God protect you."


Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nehemiah-The Day The City Gates Closed

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 13

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. 

I am visiting back in Jerusalem for the second time. God has burned a desire in me to check on the progress in the city. When I left the last time the walls had been rebuilt, the people had been taught the laws of Moses, and they said they would seek to obey them.

I thought everything would be fine as I returned to my job in Babylon. But I was wrong. I came back and found a huge mess.

First, I found that evil Tobiah living in the Temple and causing trouble then I found the Levites had left their temple duties and returned to plow their gardens because they were hungry. This time I found foreigners bringing their wares through the gates to sell in the city on the Sabbath.

The key word here is Sabbath. I mean, really? Yep. There were men in Judah treading winepresses, bringing in grain, and loading it on donkeys along with wine, grapes, figs, and a bunch of other goods. 

These items were brought through the city gate. Jerusalem's city gate. On the Sabbath. I couldn't believe my eyes.

I went to each one and warned them not to sell food on that day. Men from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem brought in fish and other merchandise to sell in the city on the Sabbath to the people of Judah.

I called a meeting of the nobles after the last cart left the city. "What are you doing?" 

The nobles looked at me like I was crazy. "People need to eat. The venders have come to sell food and a few other necessities."

"You know better than this. In the Law of Moses we are clearly told to honor the Sabbath. What is the matter with you? This is a wicked thing you are doing. You're desecrating the Sabbath. Didn't your forefathers do the same thing? It displeased God so much most of the nation ended up being hauled off into slavery. Now look at you. Promoting the buying and selling on the Sabbath as if we'd never learned our lessons. Do you want Jerusalem burned to the ground again?"

They shook their heads. No one said a word. But that evening I made sure the law would be obeyed. I went to the gates and ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day.

Once or twice merchants and sellers spent the night outside Jerusalem. I warned them. "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do it again, I will have you hauled away."

From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. 

I ordered the Levites to purify themselves then guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.

One more problem solved. 

I prayed to God, "Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love."

Somehow I have the feeling this wasn't the last problem that needed fixing. Sheesh.

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Nehemiah- Do I Really Have To Babysit Jerusalem Officials?

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 10

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. 

I am visiting back in Jerusalem for the second time. God has burned a desire in me to check on the progress in the city. When I left the last time the walls had been rebuilt, the people had been taught the laws of Moses, and they said they would seek to obey them.

I thought everything would be fine as I returned to my job in Babylon. But I was wrong. I came back and found a mess.

Last time, I told how the sneaky Tobiah wormed his way into having a room for himself in the Temple. Really? Well, let's have the enemy right in our camp..shall we? Not! I didn't waste anytime throwing him and all of his stuff out of there.

Then I looked around the Temple and saw it hadn't been taken care of the way it should be. The lamps, the bread, repairs, the singers. Nothing done. Where were the Levites who were supposed to be taking care of this?

I searched for one of the priests. "Where are all the Levites? Why aren't they here taking care of the Temple?"

"I'm sorry Nehemiah. The food portions that were supposed to be given to them haven't ben given. The Levites were hungry. So they went back to their fields to grow their own food."

"What? You're kidding me."

"No."

"Call a meeting right now. I want every official in this room in the next few minutes. Go!"

He ran out of the room and returned with all the officials in a very short time. Good thing that he did because I would have gone out and found them myself and I was in no mood to be toyed with.

The official entered the room and greeted me as though I were a long lost friend. Big mistake. I was not happy. "Sit."

They sat. 

"Why has the house of God been neglected? When I left, everything was in order. What have you done to make the Levites return to their fields instead of fulfilling their duties here? Tell me!"

The men sat silently. Just as I thought. Too afraid to admit what they'd done wrong. "Fine. You will go out to every Levite field and bring each one back here. Have them in the temple by sundown."

Although the official didn't say anything to me, they certainly did their fair share of grumbling as they left. I didn't care. I was here to put the temple back in order.

That night all the Levites were back in their stations. Each doing their own job. Each receiving their food. 

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Jonathan Goforth-The Game Plan

By Mary Vee
Year: summer 1888

Jonathan Goforth-29 years old

Jonathan Goforth's Journal

My name is Jonathan Goforth. I've opened every one of my tellings to you with "I will be a missionary to China some day." Guess what? We landed in China!

If you remember from last week, our journey here stirred our stomachs to the point of becoming seriously ill. The misfit ship we rode took us to Kobe, Japan where we found a much safer ship to take across the Yellow Sea to Shanghai, China.

Shanghai turned out to be much larger than any city I'd seen before. I had not seen such a busy place, people bustling around, business everywhere, much less one known as the jewel of China. This was the prime shipping area where East met West. A vibrant port like Paris or London or New York City.

Even though the new sights in Shanghai surprised me, I remained firm that I had come to China for a specific reason, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who didn't know the one true God. After all, I had prepared four years for this moment. I couldn't waste time on sightseeing.

Once the ship docked, I looked for a boardinghouse for Rosalind and me to sleep the night. The Canadian mission didn't have an office in Shanghai, and I couldn't speak the language, yet. 

The China Inland Mission, you know, Hudson Taylor's mission, anyway I heard they had an office in Shanghai. We found their building, which is pretty amazing since we couldn't speak Chinese. As I expected, the missionaries warmly greeted us. "Goforth, come in. Is this your wife? You must be exhausted from your journey. Come in and have tea."

I let Rosalind walk in first. We were treated like honored guests. 

The group of missionaries living in Shanghai came together to meet us that evening. The one in charge introduced us and gave me an opportunity to speak. 

"Thank you for greeting us so warmly." I reached in my pocket and pulled out an envelope then handed it to the director. "This is money collected in Canada for the hungry here in China."

The director's eyes widened. "We really didn't expect this. Thank you so much. Please also convey our thanks to the people in Canada."

"We will. Now, where can we be of service? Rosalind and I are anxious to get to work."

The group chattered for a short time then quickly decided where the greatest need was. "We  want you to go to the North Honan area. It's a stretch of land surrounded by the Yellow River, The Gobi Desert, and the East China Sea. Before you head there, though, we suggest you go to Chefoo to our mission station. It is four hundred fifty miles north of here on the coast. There you can learn the Mandarin language."

Rosalind and I smiled at each other. We had a plan. Chefoo first to learn Mandarin then on to our assignment in North Honan. I felt better already. Our life ministry finally felt real.

Jonathan has many stories to share. Come back each Monday to find out what happened next.



Resources Used for This Series
Being, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China. Seattle. WA: YWAM Pub., 2001.Print
Doyle, G. Wright. Builders of the Chinese Church: Pioneer Protestant Missionaries and Chinese Church Leaders. Eugene Oregon: Pickwick Pub, 2015. Print.
Goforth, Jonathan, and Rosaline Goforth, Miracle Lives of China, London" Marshall, Morgan & Scott, 1931, Print.
Goforth, Jonathan. "By My Spirit" Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1942. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Climbing; Memories of a Missionary's Wife. Chicago: Moody Pub, n.d. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How I Know God Answers Prayers; The Personal Testimony of One Life-time, New York: Harper & Brothers, 1921. Print
Goforth, Rosalind. Jonathan Goforth. Minneapolis, MN: Bethan House, 1986. Print
Goforth, Rosalind, How God Answers Prayer: The Mighty Miracles of God from the Mission Field of Jonathan Goforth. USA: Revival, 2016. Print Original copyright not stated.
Jackson, Dave, and Neta Jackson. Mask of the Wolf Boy: Minneapolis, MN: Bethany House, 1999. Print.
McCleary, Walter. An Hour with Jonathan Goforth: A Biography. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1938. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Jonathan Goforth: Never Give up. Seattle, WA: YWAM, 2004. Print.

.

Let Jonathan hear from you!

Leave a comment below.

Nehemiah-That Sly Tobiah

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 10

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. 

The king seemed pleased to see me back in Babylon. He invited me into his courts and asked, "Tell me about Jerusalem, Nehemiah. What has been done there?"

I was very excited to share all the stories I'd already told you, and I made sure to include the mean things Sanballot and Tobias had done to try and stop our success. 

Anyway. Pleased to hear the good news, the king went about his day as usual and I went back to being his cupbearer, satisfied with what God had done in my homeland. 

The days went on like usual and I fell into my old routine of duties. I was, after all, still a slave in Babylon. As time went on though, I thought of Jerusalem and wondered how the city had flourished. If they'd continued doing as God asked, all the buildings should be in repair, the people tithing, festivals observed. Oh, I wish I could be there to see.

One evening as I served the king his meal, after tasting and insuring the food would not harm him, I asked if I could go back to Jerusalem to see the progress. To my surprise he said yes--without any hesitation.

The king wrote me a letter for safe passage and gave me an escort and a horse. As we climbed the last hill before the city I gazed at it. So beautiful. What a wonderful gift from God for His people. The walls stood strong to protect the people. Everything must be wonderful inside the city gates.

I urged my horse forward, arriving before the sun set, which is when the gates are closed for the night.

I invited the men who escorted me to the same home I'd used when rebuilding the walls and offered them food and drink. Their animals were cared for in the nearby stables. That night I slept in my own bed in my home in my own country. And slept very well.

The next morning, I met with the council. That's when I learned what had been going on in my absence. 

Eliashib, the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms for the house of God. He had close ties with that rotten bully, Tobiah. Without permission, and basically in secret, Eliashib gave Tobiah a large room which used to store the grain offerings, incense, temple articles, and the gifts of grain, new wine, and oil set aside for Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the gifts for the priests.

The second I found out that Eliashib had given Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God I stormed to the room and threw all Tobiah's household goods out. I gave orders to purify the rooms then had all the equipment and offerings put back where they should have been in the first place.

That guy. Can you believe he did that?

And this was just the beginning. The next few days, I have a feeling my work would be cut out for me.

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
*********************************************************************************************

sources: New International Version, New King James Version

Nehemiah-Together As One

By Mary Vee
Nehemiah 10

From Nehemiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Nehemiah. I had been a servant in Babylon for a long time.

The king of Babylon graciously allowed me to return home to help encourage the people in moving forward with their lives. We rebuilt the walls, and that was no little job, I'm just sayin'. We had troubles you couldn't imagine from bullies who didn't want to see Jerusalem rebuilt. But those bullies lost.

A few moments ago the Levites said a prayer of dedication for the city and the people. I am standing here before the crowds. They are smiling, cheering, praising God. Their enthusiasm to follow the ways of God are inspiring. Music is playing. There is clapping and dancing and celebration of praise to God.

Men, women, and children old enough to understood stood together as brothers and sisters and said these pledges together:

1. We promise not to give our daughters in marriage to the people around us or take their daughters for our sons.
2. We will not buy merchandise or grain from neighboring peoples on the Sabbath or any holy day.
3. Every seventh year we will stop working our land and will cancel all debts.
4. We will  take on the responsibility to pay a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God.
5. We will each take our turn providing wood for the temple.
6. We will give the first of our crops and fruit trees to the house of the Lord.
7. We will also bring the firstborn of our herds, cattle, and flocks to the temple.
8. And we will bring the first of our ground meal, grain, new wine and oil to feed the Levites, keepers of the temple.
9. We will not neglect the house of our God.

Hearing the people shout these words, and seeing the enthusiasm in their hearts made me happy to be here. We all praised God together. 

Everything seemed to be moving forward. Enthusiasm to worship and obey God's commands. The Israelites working together. Yes. This is good. 

I remembered my promise to return to the king in Babylon. This seemed to be a good time to go back and report the progress made in Jerusalem to the king. 

Come back next time, because interesting tales happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version