Page 23 - incense-bearers of han

When the fire had abated Mr. Lee ordered the elders to repair to his home for the
season of prayer. He caused them to kneel down on the mud floor of his house and he
knelt beside them.

For an hour and a quarter Lee-Born-of-the-Spirit poured out his heart to God,
citing His power and His promises from Genesis to Revelation, pleading with Him to
unbarc His arm and vindicate Himself in the presence of a wicked and idolatrous
people. There was no thought of glorifying himself. Even the physical needs of the

people were not prominent in the supplications, but that the glory of God should be
manifest.

Never had the elders of the village been subject to such an ordeal. At the end of the

lengthy prayer they issued forth and cast their eyes skyward. There was not a cloud in
the sky. In an undertone they grumbled their doubt and incredulity.

Lee was standing in his door watching them depart. Sensing their remarks, he

shouted to them to go on home and eat their dinner. “And you will hardly finish eating
before there is rain on the earth.”

Each went to his own home and his bowl of steaming dry rice with an appetizer of

bean sprouts and greens.

Halfway through the repast and over the sound of rice being inhaled by several
mouths came the faintest sound of distant rumbling. The clacking of chop sticks in

bowls ceased; there was even a diminuendo in chewing as one looked significantly at
another.

Mr. Sun layed down his chop sticks and went out to scan the horizon. Low on the

horizon he spied some rain clouds. The sound of rumbling came again, plainer than
before. “Hao!” he exclaimed, and returned into the house to report his discovery.
“T‟ien fan—Add rice,” he commanded his wife as he extended his bowl. He devoured
the remainder with added zest as from three points of the compass the clouds mounted

higher and the sun was obscured.

Clumps of people were gathered in the open watching the assembly of the rain
clouds until the most skeptical were forced to admit the imminent descent of the

much-desired rain. Great streaks of lightning zig-zagged from the dome of heaven.

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