We just finished another terrific book for our rhetoric homeschool history studies with God’s Smuggler, a true story set in the 1940s to 1960s.
It is the story of a Dutchman, whom we shall call Andrew.
We learn of his adventurous daring-do, as most typical boys are, but he was frighteningly daring during the German occupation.
After the war he enters the Dutch military where he continues to tempt fate, only to face injury…and God, whom he was trying to avoid.
In time he is discharged from the service and later he becomes a Christian.
He shares his story of how his life is transformed from one of carelessly living and tempting fate to purposefully trusting God.
His bravado and sense of adventure continues in the fascinating story of his secret trips behind the Iron Curtain to deliver Bibles to people starving for God’s Word.
At first, he understandably hides Bibles in every nook and cranny of his small VW Bug that he possibly can.
SUSPENSE LEADS TO MIRACLES
As he sees the need for more Bibles behind the Iron Curtain, he strategizes how to pack more Bibles than the hidden places can possibly hold.
What to do?
Deciding to trust the Lord, Andrew places extra Bibles on the front seat in full view of border guards who carefully inspect each car as it enters the checkpoints.
Andrew commits the venture to God by praying: Lord, you have made blind eyes see. Now please make seeing eyes blind.
Oh yes, this is one of those books that make tingles run up and down your spine as the impossible happens…repeatedly!
THIS BOOK GREW MY FAITH WITH EACH REREADING
The true story of faith and adventure has increased my faith more and more each time I read the book.
I first read it in high school when I was powerfully affected.
Later I read the book aloud to my children when they were of elementary age.
Then I had them read the book when we studied WWII and the Cold War four years ago.
I suggested to my son that we read it yet again as we deepened our studies of WWII and the Cold War yet a final time in our homeschool journey, to which he eagerly agreed.
He was familiar with the story but had forgotten details.
A revisit through a good book is always a good idea!
One of my greatest lessons from this book is the deep appreciation for God’s Word.
We take it for granted today where it is easily accessed in a store, on-line, and on mobile devices.
DO WE TAKE THE BIBLE FOR GRANTED?
To what degree is the ease of availability causing us to take the Bible for granted?
As I read God’s Smuggler, I was deeply touched by the emotions that powerfully poured from the recipients’ soul when Andrew handed them a Bible.
Since the tyrannical governments rendered Bibles illegal, taking them away, they had longed for God’s Holy Word.
Now to hold the precious book in their hands, they cried tears of joy…and stood at every public reading.
STANDING DURING PUBLIC READINGS OF GOD’S WORD
When we attended Wayside Chapel in San Antonio, our pastor, Steve Troxel, always had us stand at the beginning of each of his sermons for the reading of God’s word.
At first this didn’t emotionally move me one way or the other.
However, reading God’s Smuggler for the second time to myself, as I read it aloud to my children when they were young, I was powerfully affected.
Standing for the reading of God’s Word at the beginning of each sermon became most dear.
We’ve listened to many pastors over the years but only Pastor Troxel had us stand to honor God’s Word.
How I wish other pastors would prayerfully consider doing this.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
I highly recommend this book, God’s Smuggler, in your own life, and in the life of your teenager or young adult.
It is a powerful book about the most powerful and precious book that has ever existed.
God’s Smuggler was truly an integral life changing book about the history of the Cold War.
If we were to ask someone who lived behind the Iron Curtain, would they have been some of those who received Bibles from Brother Andrew?
While communism endeavored to keep God out of the Iron Curtain countries, Brother Andrew risked his life as he smuggled Bibles into the dark interior.
Finally, communism fell.
God’s Smuggler is a key book to understanding the Cold War, with lessons for today.
