THE MISSING BABY

Strange things do happen.

A woman in Abuja had been married for several years and didn't have a child. She cried to God but nothing seemed to be happening; beyond repeated miscarriages. As the years went by Her mother in law felt that enough was enough, she needed a grandchild and prevailed on her son to marry another wife.

The woman feared for her home and rushed to her Pastor. (He relayed this story to us). He too prayed and still nothing happened.

One day the woman called him from her hospital bed. He was worried at what sickness could have led her to be hospitalised. When he got there, with some other members of the church, she asked him to draw closer.

As he bent his ear to her lips, he heard her whisper, "The doctors said they are three."

"What is three?"

"I am pregnant with triplets and they insist I need bedrest to help the babies stabilise."

The Pastor was escatic. God is truly a prayer answering God.

The husband jettisoned any idea of taking another wife. As the wife stabilised, he promptly shipped her to one of the best hospitals 'abroard'.

Soon he called with the good news. His wife had given birth to bouncing TWINS.

Family and friends was filled with joy. But the Pastor was perplexed, ... what happened... he rejoiced with them over the phone and waited till they returned.

When the woman came back.. she had no further explanations. The scan in Nigeria and the scan in the hospital abroad showed three babies. When I gave birth, they were just 2 but even though it is a mystery I didn't ask any further question; I feel honoured that God has given me the miracle of carrying children in my lifetime.

The Pastor couldn't let go. He got home and asked God again and again, "where is the missing baby??"

In one of his quiet moments, he heard a whisper in heart...

"Three men were thrown into the fire, but those who looked saw four men. The fourth man was there to see that the three came to know harm. There were strong forces that insisted that this daughter of mine would continue to have miscarriages. I was there myself to ensure that this no longer happened."

The Pastor was utterly speechless.

God is truly with us. Once in a while, he reveals his presence in strange ways to help us know.

Daniel 3:19-25

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, came forth of the midst of the fire.