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Suffering, Sacrifice, and the death of Jim Elliot

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Elisabeth Elliot (left) and Jim Elliot (right)

You might be familiar with Jim Elliot’s most famous quote:

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

Elliot is the most known out of five men who were killed on this day, January 8, 1956. The other four men are Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, and Peter Fleming. These men were serving as missionaries to the Quichua Indians of Ecuador. Unwelcomed, they were brutally murdered by the Aucas themselves. Despite the tragedy, hundreds of Christians were inspired to become missionaries and thousands were moved to deeper commitment to Christ.

Jim Elliot and his wife Elisabeth worked together on translating the New Testament into the language of the Quichua Indians. Their daughter, Valerie, was born in 1955. Only ten months later, Jim was killed by the Huaorani Indians while attempting to take the gospel to that remote tribe. Elisabeth continued her work among the Quichuas and later lived and worked among the Huaorani.

The year after Jim died, Elisabeth wrote Through Gates of Splendor, a widely popular account of the team’s mission and martyrdom. She writes in the thick of her mourning. Her words come straight from someone who was very involved in the tragic events that unfolded. I especially appreciate this portion of the book in which Elisabeth reflects on her sorrow and God’s sovereignty:

God is God. I dethrone Him in my heart if I demand that He act in ways that satisfy my idea of justice. It is the same spirit that taunted, “If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the Cross.” There is unbelief, there is even rebellion, in the attitude that says, “God has no right to do this to fine men unless…”

Those men had long since given themselves without reservation to do the will of God…

For us widows the question as to why the men who had trusted God to be both shield and defender should be allowed to be speared to death was not one that could be smoothly or finally answered in 1956, nor yet silenced in 1996. God did not answer Job’s questions either. Job was living in a mystery—the mystery of the sovereign purpose of God—and the questions that orse out of the depths of that mystery were answered only by a deeper mystery, that of God Himself.

—Elisabeth Elliot, Through Gates of Splendor (Tyndale, 1981)

Comments

  1. I love Jim’s quote, it just oozes with truth!
    We think so many times about those who have given there lives for the gospel, but those who are left behind should also be praised. They are left with the the duty of continued trust in God, so many times with no answers to hundreds of whys and what if’s. My strength comes from the lord and also brothers and sisters like this who have the Holy boldness that I myself seek!

  2. This story has been an encouragement to me and my wife for years. About four years ago we visited their headquarters in Orlando, Florida and were able to meet Nate Saint’s grandson and family. What a blessing that was to us! God has blessed this family. The fruit, of the labor of love, that has been bestowed by God on this ministry has truly been an inspiration to many over the years. We also met Mincaye, one of the men who speared the missionaries, at a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. He had gotten saved, became a leader for Christ, and a father figure to Steve Saint. Thank you Blue Letter Bible for doing your part in preserving this story.

    In Christ,
    Nathan Iman

  3. What an awesome and inspiring story. Our YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN need to read this. IT SHOULD NEVER BE FORGOTTEN!

  4. This story is really a touching one.may God almighty give more wisdom and more courageto do more of his work till generation pass,amen

  5. Last year, I decided to supplement my Blue Letter Bible studies with the BLB Devotionals for women. I chose to listen to the audio lessons by Elizabeth Elliot. What an experience that has been.

    God used her lovely sense of humor, beautiful, deep voice and personal tragedy to teach women about Himself. No where else could I learn about suffering and tragedy and how to approach that with a continued yearning for God.

    Elizabeth Elliot allowed the Lord to use the horrible death of her husband and her pain to draw her closer to Him. In my pathetic little woes and hurt feelings that spin me into self-pity and spiritual confusion, I have learned that God is not abusing me. He is using the pieces and players in my life to teach me something. I thought it was all about me–but He is teaching me about Himself. I am still learning to confess my pain and hurt and wait on Him.

    Their team’s missionary excursion caused a whole tribe to hear the Gospel. I am thankful to the Blue Letter Bible team for offering the Devotionals for Women and the inclusion of Elizabeth Elliot’s audio series. I am slowly learning more about the Lord. Although He is unfathomable, He is reachable.

    Thank you for today’s Blog post, BLB. Elizabeth Elliot is still living. I will remember her in prayer today.

    (PS: today I am writing my checks to pay my monthly bills. I have chosen to include the BLB in my list of “payables” because I want to keep the BLB ad-free, well-staffed, and well-stocked with Gospel Study Tools.)

  6. Psalm 100:3. Know ye that the Lord is God: it is He that has made us and not we ourselves.

    Our lives come from Him in the first place, so we trust Him that there is a divine purpose in the manner and timing of our deaths.

  7. It would be nice if you also had the Geneva Bible with complete notes on your site.

    Thank you for all that you do for God.