Todays Devotional - Nov 27 He Came To Set Us Free__ Illustrative Sketch: According to a legendary story from the days of slavery into the United States, the bidding was brisk one spring morning in Sandersville, Georgia. A dozen slaves stood waiting to walk up the steps to the auction block. Half a dozen plantation owners stood in the street, watching the bidding process, some more interested than others. One particularly strapping young man was up next, but the scowl on his face told the bidders exactly what he was thinking. No one had the right to own another man! The United States of America; it was to this great country that folks came to stake out a new life for themselves and their families, not to be enslaved. But such was not the case for Amos, as they called him, nor for the other men and women being sold that morning. The slave master pushed Amos up the steps, Amos resisting all the way, though his hands were bound with manacles. When he felt the butt of a horse whip in the small of his back, he went without further prodding. But he stood proudly on the block, his eyes on the line of trees near the end of the street. The frown on his forehead was determined and resolute. His fists were clenched, and he seemed to be muttering something to himself under his breath. Elias Hamilton, a local plantation owner from the next county, watched young Amos with interest. There was something appealing about this slave. He had an intelligent look in his eye, and seemed to have more spirit in him than the other slaves at the auction block. “What am I bid for this strong young man, not a day over twenty?” the auctioneer shouted. “He’s got a good back and is as stout as “have more spirit in him than the other slaves at the auction block. “What am I bid for this strong young man, not a day over twenty?” the auctioneer shouted. “He’s got a good back and is as stout as an ox. You can’t go wrong with Amos, here. He’ll repay you many times over with the years of work you’ll get from him.” Elias noticed Amos muttering those same words over and over, but the auctioneer didn’t hear him, or maybe it was he didn’t care. “Let’s start the bidding at twelve hundred dollars,” the auctioneer shouted, “and not a penny less!” but when he saw looks of hesitation on several of the plantation owners’ faces, he quickly added, “You’re getting a great bargain! He’s got a stubborn streak in him, but the boy can work!” “I won’t work!” Amos finally growled loud enough for the owners to hear where they stood near the auction block, and several of them raised their eyebrows. But the bidding kept going higher and still higher. Amos knew slave prices and was surprised that he could bring this much money at an auction. He glanced at the auctioneer from the corner of his eye, but this was no joke. The price now stood at twenty-seven hundred dollars. There were only two owners left doing the bidding, and Elias was one of them. Finally the gavel fell at twenty-eight hundred dollars, and Elias came with his bill of sale to lead Amos away. “You can’t make me work!” Amos glared at Elias as the owner took him to a fine looking buggy sitting in the holding yard of a church nearby. But Elias said nothing and proceeded to take the manacles off Amos’ wrists. “I said I won’t work!” Amos raised his voice, thinking perhaps Elias hadn’t heard him clearly. “I heard you,” Elias said simply as he got into the buggy. He then beckoned for Amos to get up on the seat beside him, but Amos only glanced at him and the black leather seats in surprise. Slaves didn’t ride in buggies. They rode in the backs of wagons. Or better, they often walked. This was the strangest experience Amos had ever had. He had been to an auction twice before in his life—once when he and his mother were sold, separated from Amos’ father, and just two years previous when he was sold to an adjoining plantation across the Oconee River. But he had been stubborn—too stubborn for his own good, as many of the other slaves had said. After many whippings by the plantation foreman, and many arguments with an old slave who tried to talk some sense into him, the owner finally sold Amos. “Get in,” Elias patted the seat beside him and waited for Amos to accept the invitation. “I’ll walk!” Amos glowered at his new owner, and then walked to the back of the buggy where he belonged. “It’s twelve miles,” Elias said. “That’s a long way to walk for someone who’s been standing in the sun all morning. But Amos ignored his warning and stood quietly. Elias realized Amos wasn’t comfortable with such an offer and pulled away. “Aren’t you going to tie me behind the buggy?” Amos called out in surprise, knowing full well he could make a break for it and run into the forest of the Georgia countryside. No, I can see you’ll walk just as well without it,” Elias called over his shoulder, but Amos frowned at the plantation owner’s simple comment. Who was this man fooling? If he thought being kind to Amos was going to make him want to work, Elias was in for a surprise. “I won’t work!” Amos mumbled to himself again, but Elias acted as if he hadn’t heard him, and lightly snapped the reins over the horse’s back. The trip home to the Hamilton plantation was a long one, but Amos walked proudly the whole way, continuing to mutter the words, “I won’t work! I won’t work!” When they finally pulled up to the gate at the plantation gate, and then down the long lane to the slave quarters, Elias drove the carriage around to the back and stopped at a small white cottage. Amos looked at the neat little building with boxes of germaniums on the window sills. “What is this?” he asked suspiciously. “This is your new home,” Elias said with a charitable smile. “My new home?” Amos stared at Elias, clearly confused. Is this some kind of a joke! I told you I won’t work, and nothing you can do will make me change my mind!” “That’s alright,” Elias replied. “I didn’t buy you to make you work. I bought you to give you your freedom!” A look of shock crossed Amos’ face as he suddenly realized what was happening here. He swallowed hard, but could say nothing at first, and then as the tears slowly trickled down his face, he knelt beside the carriage. “Oh, Master Elias,” he stammered with his head down. “I’ll be your humble servant for the rest of my life.” “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 Excerpt From: Booth, Bradley. “Every Day with Jesus.” Remnant Publications , 2011
Posted on: Wed, 27 Nov 2013 16:27:23 +0000