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Two Figures, One Goal, Two Techniques

“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that

which is human possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.” -George Muller. Only when

he had nowhere to go, the power of God showed up in his world. He trusted God whenever he

was, until he became the parent of thousands of children. During his life, George Muller taught

us how he really held on to his faith. His faith is as strong as a solid rock. All of his work in

human history is based on his faith. However, Conrad Theodore Van Deventer had a different

way of showing his faith to God. For him, it did not matter where we came from, he knew what

was right and wrong and he tried to do the right thing.

These two figures knew what God wanted from them and knew the things they should

do. George Muller was born in Prussia on 17 September 1805. He did not behave the way he

should, he disobeyed everything that his parents taught him to do, even though he was born in

a strict Christian family. At the age of twenty-one he got an enlightenment, when he joined a

fellowship inside a faithful merchant’s house. He went to Bristol and built an orphanage for

thousands of abandoned children. However, the man called Conrad Theodore Van Deventer

was born fifty-two years after George Muller was born, he was born in Dordrecht, the

Netherlands on 29 September 1857. With enough educational background, Theodore passed

an examination for colonial high-ranking officials and became a judge until 1885 and a lawyer

in Semarang until 1897.

They have the same goal to have compassion for others. In 1899 Van Deventer wrote

an article in de Gids magazine, explaining why the government needed to apply ethical politics

in East Indies. In 1901, Queen Wilhelmina approved this new policy for the Dutch East Indies,

this was known as ethical politics. Even though Van Deventer did not have an active role, he

was still an initiator to this new policy. A policy that eased the suffering of most Indonesians.

Ethical Politics was a moral activity from the Dutch government for the Dutch East Indies so
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after they had worked hard all day, they would probably have better living conditions. They

would have access to education even though it was only for the state officials, the landlords,

and the rich people in the country. This is the goal of Van Deventer to show his compassion

towards others. On the other hand, at 6 Wilson Street, Bristol, England, George Muller and his

wife began to take care of thirty girls in 1836 until it became big enough for ten-thousand

children. The new building for the orphanage was on Ashley Down, Bristol. This is how

George Muller reached his goal of having compassion toward the orphans. The

accomplishments of these two men would still be remembered until now, even George Muller

still gave an example of how to live in this world by not only thinking about what we need but

also thinks what others need.

Both figures mentioned earlier struggled to reach their goals. Before Muller made the

orphanage, there was a cholera pandemic in England. This pandemic made a big burden to

Muller, he struggled so much to find God’s will. After the pandemic ended, George Muller

decided to make the first orphanage. In spite of his financial difficulties, Muller always had

faith in God and in return God kept in providing the needs for his orphanage. This is a fact that

George Muller’s faith is strong as strong as a stone. Nevertheless, C. Theodore Van Deventer,

as we all know had made an article that affected some of the state officials to make the new

policy. On the other hand, Van Deventer needed to think hard about what way so he could save

the Dutch East Indies. By making an article about politic ethics, eventually the new policy was

accepted by the government and a new law was made.

The difference between these figures is the way they reach their goals. As we see,

George Muller loved everyone in this world regardless their background. Muller had his

orphanage widely open to any children who needed a place to live and shelter to stay. The thing

that Muller did brings a great impact to the whole world on how we should do in our life. The

impact was globally while in van Deventer’s work, it was more locally.
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Even though Van Deventer was referred to as the father of political ethics, he did not

really affect the whole world by the new policy he made, only the people in Dutch East Indies

could feel his amazing work. To conclude, George Muller and Van Deventer have a different

way to show compassion to other people. George Muller looked after thousands of children in

the orphanage, meanwhile Van Deventer wrote a way to give thanks to the Indonesian for

working for the Dutch colony. I am not a great boy, I cannot make great things but as long as

I keep on learning, trusting God and surrendering/submitting myself to God, He would make

me as His instrument. From now on I will pray to God for his will and his mercy, and I hope I

can be one of the instruments that God to share his miracle.

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Reference:

E-Book, George Müller, The Guardian of Bristol’s Orphans, by Janet & Geoff Benge

https://misi.sabda.org/george-m%C3%BCller-1805-1898

https://historia.id/politik/articles/gugatan-eduard-douwes-dekker-6lrEv

https://historia.id/politik/articles/koran-de-locomotief-corong-kaum-etisi-DWVaN

https://misi.sabda.org/george-m%C3%BCller-1805-1898

https://www.jakarta.go.id/artikel/konten/769/conrad-theodor-van-deventer-mr