Book Reviews from Around the World

George Muller's life story is a story of a life lived by faith and not by sight. The book tells of a young German who, more than just doing great things for God, spends a lifetime knowing God and truly living for and with Him. Every miraculous occurance, provision, and worldwide fame in the late 19th century flowed from an intimate relationship with Almighty God.

Muller was an anointed preacher who broke from the traditions of the day and followed wholeheartedly after Jesus. He refused any sort of regular income, and together with his first wife Mary, committed to never ask a single soul for anything, but to lay their requests before God alone, trusting Him to supply their every need. After a number of years full of miraculous provision, the Mullers set out on an endeavor to prove to the world the reality of God - the same yesterday, today and forever. They began an orphan-house (old school orphanage) to care for children and to show that the principle of provision they learned in their private lives would also work for a ministry that would eventually care for thousands of children at a time.

The book shares many detailed stories of God's provision, citing Muller's journals and other witnesses who had a part in the miracles. Many times, the children would come down for lunch with nothing on the table, every resource having been exhausted. They would call upon God, and before the prayer was over, someone would knock on the door with food. These and many other kinds of miraculous provisions incited the world of the 19th century to trust in God for salvation, for everything.

Many insights into the life of the man are presented - principles of prayer, trust in God, faith, etc. But many minute details of little interest must be waded through to find these. I loved the story of George Muller, but I may pick up his autobiography, or a biography written closer to his time. Roger Steer was intrigued by the Muller story and wrote a biography about him, but I don't know that this would be the best one to read.

I think our American pursuit of a great fast paced tale full of miracles on every page (each one greater than the last) leads us to get bored easily of reading about real people who live real lives marked by faith and trust in God. We like to hear crazy things, and deceive ourselves into thinking that we know how to live like that. May we hear and do and live as God desires in our short time here on the planet.