“My word will not return void.” Isaiah 55:11
A true story
Quietly in the dead of night a man gently slipped out of bed so he would not wake his wife and extended family who were all living together. He had done this many times, daring only at night to read the forbidden book by the moonlight that slipped in the window. He lived in a world torn apart by bombs, a way of life that seemed very fearful and desperate.
Time flew as he studied the beautiful pages of this forbidden book. As the sun slowly came up on the desert horizon, he quickly returned the book to its hiding place and slipped into bed pretending to wake with the sounds of breakfast.
All day the book haunted his thoughts. Each night, he read the forbidden book a little more, understanding more, dreaming new dreams, and sighing with hope.
One night, his heart raced. The forbidden book was gone! Who had discovered his forbidden secret? The consequences in his large family would be sudden, drastic, and deadly. His father, brothers, and uncle would react.
Going to the moonlit window, his place of secret dreams and tender hopes, he noticed a shadow. Walking quietly, he saw his wife pouring over the pages of the forbidden book. Quietly their eyes met. The secret was both of theirs now. He watched and waited holding his breath. How would she react? She smiled, patting the seat beside her for him to join her.
Together they dreamed through the ancient pages of a book that whispered hope, freedom, mercy, and love – such foreign and forbidden concepts. They had heard about this book and seen it burned but had never seen it before in their own language. Never had they read anything that seemed to live, to breathe, to talk, to give wings to their heart.
The book that came alive in the moonlight whispered to their hearts throughout the day. This book and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Ishmael that marched out of its pages were real and living and breathed freedom and hope into their future.
Source : Open Door Ministries
