Setbacks
Jonathon Goforth was a missionary pioneer in China in the later 1800’s and early 1900’s. His life was often in danger but never as much as in the Boxer rebellion of 1900. The rebellion brought to the surface Chinese tensions against foreigners that had simmered for decades. Thousands died in the rebellion including 200 missionaries and their families.
Goforth, his family and some fellow missionaries tried to escape in wagons but faced increasing hostility. They were attacked, beaten and stoned many times before Jonathon was slashed with a sword. They barely escaped to a local town, only to be told the local Chinese Army had prepared a trap for them. Pretending to protect them, the Army officials would take them just beyond the town precincts and execute them all. Their deaths would be made to look like the work of local bandits.
The Christians prayed, trusting themselves to God, and were forced into a number of ox-driven wagons with soldiers behind the reins. Just outside the town, all the soldiers fell asleep. Usually oxen would stop if not directed in some way but these oxen kept going – but in a different direction. A full hour passed before the soldiers woke up. They realised they were on the wrong road, fought amongst themselves before deciding to let the missionaries go.
The missionary band was attacked again, this time by real bandits, who inexplicably took pity on them and provided an armed escort until they reached a safer point in the journey. They were not out of danger but God miraculously intervened and would bring them safely home.
Don’t treat setbacks as impossibilities. Pick yourself up, dust yourself down and keep going.
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