He is all by himself. He cannot cry out for help to anyone. Once he survives the night, he is a MAN. He cannot tell the other boys of this experience. Each lad must come into his own manhood.
The boy was, naturally, terrified. He could hear all kinds of noise. Beasts were all around him. Maybe even a human would hurt him. The wind blew the grass and earth and it shook his stump. But he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could be a man.
Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he saw his father sitting on the stump next to him - at watch the entire night.
Now none of us have ever had to go through such a rite of passage, but we've all faced similar situations when we felt that we were all alone with no one to help us or care for us. Those can be very stressful times.
Sometimes they happen in the middle of the night when your spouse or your child suddenly gets sick. What do you do, where do you get help? You think daylight will never come. If only you had somebody to give you advice or help. Been there, done that - too often.
It can happen when a loved one is in surgery and you wait all alone to get some advice on how they are doing. Time seems to drag so slowly as you face the anxiety of not knowing what is happening. Been there, experienced that as well.
Maybe you are waiting alone for a loved one to come home and they are very late. You can imagine all sorts of terrible possibilities. Or maybe you are all alone when a heavy storm hits or there are tornado warnings. What can you do?
There are so many situations during our lives when we face the unknown all alone and we live in fear. If only we had somebody with us to calm our fears, give us advice or protect us. It is like that young man who must sit on the stump, blindfolded and thinking he is all alone throughout the night.
But like the young man, believers are never alone. In Hebrews 3:5 the Lord assures us that "I will never fail you. I will never abandon you." And He has never abandoned us and He never will.
May we be reminded of this story and of the truth of Hebrews 3>5 the next time we face such a situation.
(1) I've seen the lightning flashing,
I've heard the thunder roll.
I've felt sin's breakers dashing,
which almost conquered my soul.
I've heard the voice of my Savior,
bidding me still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me,
never to leave me alone!
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He'll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
(2) The world's fierce winds are blowing,
temptation sharp and keen.
I have a peace in knowing
my Savior stands between—
He stands to shield me from danger
when my friends are all gone.
He promised never to leave me,
never to leave me alone!
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He'll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
(3) When in affliction's valley
I tread the road of care,
My Savior helps me carry
the cross so heavy to bear;
Though all around me is darkness,
earthly joys all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise,
never to leave me alone!
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He'll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
(4) He died on Calvary's mountain,
for me they pierced His side.
For me He opened that fountain,
the crimson, cleansing tide.
For me He waiteth in glory,
seated upon His throne.
He promised never to leave me,
never to leave me alone!
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He'll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
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