A man I work with, a twenty-year old we’ll call Aram, lives in a small village in northwestern Iraq. He is wise beyond his years and a passionate follower of the Lamb. One day he had gone to visit some friends in a city about forty-five minutes away, and toward the end of the day he began to think about making his way home. He had very little money with him, 3,000 Iraqi dinar (less than two-and-a-half dollars), but it was enough to catch a ride in a taxi if he could find one heading already in his direction. He began walking to an area where he could hail a taxi when he suddenly passed by a haggard beggar woman. Though he felt a tug on his heart, he thought, “If I give her even 1,000 dinar, I’ll not have enough money to get home. I’ll be stuck here for the night!” So he passed her by. A few feet farther down the road, the Lord said, “Go back and give her your money.” With no hesitation, he turned back and gave her the 3,000 dinar. He grinned to himself, “Now what am I going to do?”
Almost immediately, a taxi pulled over and the driver asked him if he needed a ride. He politely declined, saying he had no money at all. The driver insisted he get in, saying he was headed in his direction anyway. In this culture, when someone asks your name, you generally don’t just give your name, you say, for example, “I am Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham.” So when the driver asked my friend his name, he said, “I am Aram from _________, son of _______, son of _______.” The driver was stunned. “Your grandfather was my best friend! I’ve been trying for months to get in touch with him! How is he?”
“Sir, I am so sorry to tell you, he passed away last year.” The driver, a devout Muslim, was deeply grieved and started crying. When they reached the village, Aram invited the gentleman inside, and he spent the next three hours sharing conversation, food and drinking tea! Aram had a chance to share with him his journey to faith in the Crucified One, and the taxi driver listened attentively. He left that little village with much to think about that day, having heard the most glorious news any ears could ever hear. All because of one seemingly insignificant act of obedience.
From a missionary there
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