There were sixteen soldiers - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear him, and delivers them.Epaphras, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers.
Psalm 34:7; Colossians 4:12

There were sixteen soldiers
Two Christians, missionaries in Malaya, went into the town to draw out some money from the bank. As the return journey was too long, they decided to camp on the way back. Since the district was known for its bandits, they asked God for protection and went to sleep peacefully.

Some time later a man came for treatment at the hospital on the mission station. Looking hard at the doctor leaning over him, he claimed to have seen him before. "You were camping on a hill a few weeks ago. To the great astonishment of the doctor he continued: "I followed you with some comrades, knowing that you had some money on you. We waited for nightfall to attack and rob you, but when we arrived where you were camping, we didn't dare to because of the soldiers. There were sixteen of them, all wearing swords."

The missionary laughed, saying they had no soldiers with them. But when the bandit persisted, he stopped contradicting him, thinking that the sick man was suffering from a hallucination.

When he returned to London and told of this incident, someone approached him to inquire when that had happened. The doctor knew the exact date, and his opposite number said, "On that evening we had a prayer meeting. One man prayed especially for you. And I know that there were precisely sixteen of us present."

This account illustrates the fact that prayer is an effective weapon. A Christian on his knees is, through God's power, like a soldier in combat.

Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 12:1-16 · Revelation 2:12-17