Miracle at Sea

A Series on the parables of Jesus
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Matthew 24:36-51 

[During the first century, it was common for a rabbi to use parables when teaching their disciples. The parables of Jesus were stories that he told to illustrate spiritual truth using some element from everyday life. Jesus used seeds, fish, trees, bread - things people could easily relate to – for a “teachable moment”.]

  

“In 1941, before America was at war with Germany, a German raider sank the Egyptian liner Zamzam in the South Atlantic. On board of the vessel were more than 120 American missionaries, among them Mrs. Lillian Danielson and her six children.” - From the book “Miracle at Sea”

 

This book is written by Eleanor Anderson, the oldest daughter of Lillian. In it, the author describes her mother as a woman “whose calm faith and quiet common sense kept her six children alive during the harrowing thirty days aboard the Dresden, a German prison ship”.

 

In Matthew 24, Jesus prophesied that the temple would be destroyed. The disciples privately asked him “when will this happen”. His answer? It’s a secret. Only the Father knows.

 

Jesus expanded on this by reminding them about Noah.

 

³⁷ “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. ³⁸ In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat.”  

Jesus then said to his disciples: ⁴² “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”                NLT

 

Instead of focusing on when future events would come to pass, Jesus focused on how to live in the moment. With this in mind, he told his disciples the parable of the faithful servant.

 

⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.                        NIV

 

By all accounts, Lillian Danielson was an amazing woman, a truly faithful servant. She had no idea what was about to happen to her and her six young children. But when it did, she was ready. 

She remained faithful to Jesus through it all - the attack, being in the open waters of the Atlantic, surviving without proper nourishment and protecting her children.

The truth is, we’re all called to be faithful, even when life is difficult. When you have a still born; when you’re struggling in your marriage; when your world seems to be crumbling around you; when it doesn’t seem like God is with you – be faithful.

 

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¹⁵ Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

                                                                                                Matthew 11 NLT

 

Copyright 2022 Joseph B Williams

  

Two of the missionaries that were aboard the Zamzam during the attack were Rev. Robert Williams and his wife Lenora. They were my uncle and aunt who were going to Africa for the very first time with the Grace Brethren Church. They eventually made it and served for thirty-five years as “faithful servants”.