George Muller: Miracle at Ashley Down

After I was born again in the year 1990, the Lord started guiding me spiritually in a wonderful way. I came across the biographies of George Muller and Hudson Taylor. They had a tremendous impact on me.

One story from the life of George Muller is still a challenge to my faith. We say that our God is a Rock, and there is no unfaithfulness in Him. But do we act and behave as if we had an Ever-Dependable God?

Listen to this story relating to Ashley Down, one of the orphanages set up by George Muller in the city of Bristol in Western England. See how marvelously the Lord supplied the breakfast of at least 300 orphans. Truly our God is the 'Father of the fatherless', Psalm 68:5.

One morning the plates and cups and bowls on the breakfast table were empty. There was no food in the larder, and no money to buy food. The children were standing waiting for their morning meal, when Muller said, ‘Children, you know we must be in time for school.’ Lifting his hand he said, ‘Dear Father, we thank Thee for what Thou art going to give us to eat.’

As the children sat down at the table, there was a knock on the door. The baker stood there, and said, ‘Mr. Muller, I couldn’t sleep last night. Somehow I felt you didn’t have bread for breakfast and the Lord wanted me to send you some. So I got up at 2 a.m. this morning and baked some fresh bread, and I have brought it.’ Muller thanked the man, as the bread was brought in three large fragrant trays.

No sooner had this transpired when there was a second knock at the door. It was the milkman. He announced that his milk cart had broken down right in front of the Orphanage, and he would like to give the children his ten large cans of fresh milk so that he could empty his wagon and repair it. No wonder, years later, when Muller was to travel the world as an evangelist for Christ, he would be heralded as ‘the man who gets great things done by a great God!’

I just keep thinking of the impact made on the Matron and the staff of Ashley Down Orphanage, and the impact on those 300 children. Unforgettable. The Israelites spoke against God saying, ‘Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?’ And yet He gave them bread from heaven, water from the rock, and provided all their needs of food and clothing. Even their shoes did not wear out, during their 40 years trek in the wilderness.Deut 8:4, 29:5.

I sometimes think that instead of indulging in theological and doctrinal debates in Internet forums, we have to prove to ourselves that we have a living and true God. A God for whom nothing is impossible, and a Father who cares for the needs of all His children.

©Tan Pratonix