Isaac B. Singer (1904–1991) was born into a... - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2024

The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Galatians 2:20

Isaac B. Singer (1904–1991) was born into a rabbinical family. He wrote poems and stories, first in Hebrew, then in Yiddish. He emigrated to the USA in 1935 and received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1978.

When he describes his childhood in Warsaw, he devotes an entire chapter to Reb Asher, the milkman. This man had saved his life and that of his family. Singer recounts:

“At our home everything was prepared for the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. Thereby it had become late and we went to sleep. But we forgot to put out the candles. Late at night, Reb Asher went to the train station to pick up some milk. He passed by our house and saw an unusual light in the living room. It was burning. He rang the bell, he raised the alarm and banged on the gate. He ran up the stairs and charged with all his strength against the apartment door which then gave way. Everyone was asleep – meanwhile reading desks and prayer books had already caught fire. He shouted loudly, grabbed some blankets, and put out the fire.”

Isaac Singer writes: “Reb Asher was the only person who was up at that hour, the only one who was not afraid to make noise until someone came, and the only one who was willing to put his life on the line for us.”

From Reb Asher, my thoughts go to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who not only put His life on the line, but who “gave Himself for me”. He was the only one who could save me, the only one who was not indifferent to my being lost, the only one who was willing to go to His death for me. He “loved me” and thus saved me from eternal death. For that I want to thank Him eternally!

Today’s reading: 2 Kings 19:1-13 · 1 John 5:1-5