"Lauren and I have to leave now - we have to get back for work tomorrow. Let us know as soon as you hear anything." Throughout the two-hour journey back to Stellenbosch, and into the night, we prayed...
The group of students had gone for a short, relatively easy hike. It was sunny; the hike was a simple circular route near the campsite in the Cedarberg mountains. Some of the less adventurous stayed behind, taking a shorter, easier walk.
Late in the afternoon the hiking group returned...minus one member, Eben. He'd somehow been left behind or taken a wrong turn. We waited a while, then turned to the campsite owners for help. Soon a search-party was organised - and dusk began to fall...
As one of the leaders of this group of Christian students, I was hesitant to leave. But Lauren also had to get back, so it was agreed we'd go. Before we left, I was reminded of Psalm 121:
Psalm 121
A song of ascents.
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
I was immediately struck by two lines: "he will not let your foot slip..." - this spoke directly to our concern that Eben might have fallen and been injured. The approaching darkness was another concern - but "the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night." God spoke to our anxious thoughts, bringing peace and hope.
The next day we heard how Eben had seen the lights of the search party on the road and been able to make his way down to them. He was unharmed.
[The above events took place in about 1992, when I worked with the Student Christian Association at the University of Stellenbosch.]
