Around 800,000 up to almost 4 million people died in what we now know as Bangladesh from starvation and a multitude of other diseases. This was back in 1943 during World War 2.
Millions of other people were suddenly and horribly impoverished, and they had no help given at all. Children and many others were horribly sick, and many hundreds were dying. Families were hugely disrupted, and they had awful experiences. I really can't imagine what these poor people were going through.
England was there, and they were in the middle of World War 2. Everything was happening.
Mrinalini and her husband Bahadur lived a quiet and unassuming life. Bahadur worked hard, labouring and toting many barrels and heavy items at the docks. They had two boys, Bajrangbali and Balasubramanian. They were only youngsters and didn't go to school, not that there was any where they lived, but Mrinalini taught them as best she could.
They were surrounded by immense love for the family, and Bahadur worked so hard, coming home each night so late to their very humble dwelling. Mrinalini tried to get some sort of employment, but the children were so young, and she really didn't want to leave them in the care of someone else. Everyone she knew was struggling financially and trying hard to make ends meet.
Even though things were tough financially, Mrinalini and Bahadur loved their children, and they tried to make life as easy as possible. Things were tough, but Mrinalini knew Bahadur was trying so hard to keep everything they had. he was an extremely hard worker, and he loved those boys.
Bajrangbali and Balasubramanian were great kids. Balasubramanian was the youngest, but he tried his best to achieve what his big brother was doing, and that really made Mrinalini smile so much to herself.
Towards the end of 1943, things were plodding along ok for the family, but many of her neighbours were going hungry, and malaria was rampant in the village where they lived. Many were starving, and many others were so sick, and there was actually nowhere to turn for any help at all. Things were deteriorating very, very fast.
Time went on. Bahadur was so busy at work; more and more of the employees were off sick, and many more were struggling with their health but came to work anyway. After all, it was their only source of income. Bahadur was working away one day when his workmate Ujan suddenly and very unexpectedly collapsed. Bahadur rushed over to help him, and Ujan was completely unconscious.
That next morning in the early hours, Bahadur heard that Ujan had passed away. He was devastated. Bahadur had to go to work; his family depended on him. he left early, but it was on his way there that he started to feel completely unwell. His skin was completely yellow, his eyes were blotchy and sore, and he started to have trouble breathing.
That night he became unconscious, and in the early hours he passed away. Was it malaria? We will never know. So sadly the next night young Balasubramanian came down with a fever and was lying in bed with his brother. Two days later Balasubramanian too passed away, and then his brother Bajrangbali came down with the same symptoms.
Bajrangbali lasted a few more days, and totally devastated, Mrinalini was utterly alone and bereft of all her family. Nowhere to go, no one to turn to, she had to leave the boys and slowly walk away with so many others, making her way to Calcutta in search of some sort of relief. She was not alone, but so many others were bereft of their families and loved ones.
Such a sad outcome: the government at that time, plus the British government, declared a state of famine existed, and any aid given to those affected was totally ineffective through months and months of total crisis.
How do we come to terms with something like this? Great question, and one where I personally do query so many times, and then I was reading the following about Jesus' miraculous ministry while he was here on the crazy world of ours in Mark chapter 1 (the New English Translation)
Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue when a man with an unclean spirit cried out, "Leave us alone, Jesus of Nazareth! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him. "Silence! Come out of him!" After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. They were all amazed so that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! he even commands the unclean spirits, and they obey him."
That was quite a miracle that Jesus performed all those years ago, and I can guess that's why the Pharisees felt quite a bit uneasy with the whole thing. Here was this guy teaching the poor people and those in real need of the amazing things of God and how they could come to Him.
Those in the crowd who were really well-off financially and always put themselves way ahead of the others were astounded that here was this Jesus talking and listening and what?? Performing miracles??!! To the poor of the city instead of to them.
Like what happened all those years ago in Bangladesh, the poor were needy and relied on many others but were not given anything. They were desperate and certainly needed assistance and help in everything.
When Jesus performed that miracle in the Synagogue, it was with a poor and needy man, possessed by Satan, and Jesus was so prepared to help and assist him.
So many others in Bangladesh certainly needed help in so many ways, and they did not get any at all. So many died horribly. Nothing was done there; just like in our story of the poor man that Jesus healed. Many, many people living in Bangladesh evacuated the city and tried desperately to escape the plague that was pursuing them.
Jesus continued to help and assist so many people suffering horribly, and the rich and famous of the city didn't want anything to do with Jesus at all. So similar to what happened in Bangladesh. The rich and politically correct in the city were so consumed with the war and trying to gain as much as possible that they had no compassion or even the slightest help for the poor and needy.
Jesus loved the people, and He still does. He was prepared to give his life for them. Even after only three years of bringing the amazing word of God, he gave his life to pay for everyone's sin. At just 33 years of age, he was nailed to a wooden cross, and he actually took all the sins of the world on his shoulders and paid the price. Amazingly, after just three days, he rose again, and all we have to do is accept his love for us and ask him to lead our lives.
Are you prepared to ask him into your life? God does not have favourites, but it really does depend on your willingness to have a deep and personal relationship with him. Every single person has been given the same invitation. In the Bible, in Hebrews 4:16, it says that you can come to draw near to God, fearlessly and confidently and even boldly. That's amazing and so personal for all of us.
God bless you this week and hope to see you next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment