“For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the
destruction of my family?” – Esther 8:6
On December 16, 1944, the German army started their offensive push in the
Ardennes Region of eastern Belgium and northern Luxembourg. Three powerful
German armies quickly rolled through the area. The German goal for this “Battle
of the Bulge” was to reach the sea, trap four allied armies, and force a
negotiated peace on the Western front. The weather had been extremely cold and
snowy that winter, forcing Allied aircraft to be grounded and giving the Germans
the advantage. On December 22, General Anthony C. McAuliffe, was outnumbered 4
to 1 by the Germans. He had been ordered to hold the Belgian road hub of
Bastogne against the bitter Nazi counteroffensive. He and his 10,000 men faced
the German tanks with food running short, medicine and ammunition almost
exhausted. When a German officer arrived with a surrender ultimatum, McAuliffe
defiantly scrawled, "To the German Commander?Nuts!" The next day, the weather
miraculously changed for the better and Allied aircraft were able to fly again.
General Patton heard of McAullife’s reply and drove the U.S. Third Army through
the snows and mountains to reach McAuliffe on December 26. For his perseverance
under the most arduous situations, General McAuliffe was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross.
God in Christ gives His people the power to persevere and resist. Are you facing
unbearable circumstances? Today in prayer, turn to the Lord and pray for His
strength and help and know that He will sustain you.
“I exhort you and beseech you in the compassion of Christ, faint not, weary not.
There is a great necessity of heaven; you must have it.” – Samuel Rutherford
God’s Word: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but
not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
– 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2002, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN EZRA, NEHEMIAH,
AND ESTHER pkennedy@devotional.com
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