“The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.” – Genesis 40:23

As morning broke on December 14, 1862, the battlefield at Fredericksburg, Virginia revealed a ghastly landscape. More than 8,000 Union soldiers lay dead or dying before a stone wall where the Confederate Army had entrenched itself. The cries of the dying for help and water were chilling.

Nineteen-year-old Sergeant Richard Kirkland of the Second South Carolina Brigade, had seen and heard enough. Kirkland went to Confederate General Joseph Kershaw. “General,” he said, “I can’t stand this!” He startled his commanding officer. “All night and all day I hear those poor Federal people calling for water,” he said, “and I can’t stand it any longer. I ask permission to go and give them water.”

Kershaw shook his head sympathetically. “Sergeant,” he replied, “you’d get a bullet through your head the moment you stepped over the stone wall onto the plain.”

“Yes, sir,” answered Kirkland, “I know that, but if you let me, I’m willing to try it.”

The General responded, “The sentiment which prompts you is so noble that I will not refuse your request. God protect you. You may go.”

Quickly the South Carolinian hurdled the wall and immediately exposed himself to the fire of every Yankee sharpshooter in that sector. Kirkland walked calmly toward the Union lines until he reached the nearest wounded soldier. Kneeling, he took off his canteen and gently lifted the enemy soldier’s head to give him a long, deep drink of refreshing cold water. Then he placed a knapsack under the head of his enemy and moved on to the next.

Racing against the lengthening shadows of a short, somber December afternoon, he returned again and again to the lines where comrades handed him full canteens. Troops on both sides who had watched this unselfish act paid young Kirkland the supreme tribute — not a standing ovation, but respectful awed silence.

It is easy to be selfish, but it takes walking by faith in Christ to be selfless. Today in prayer, look to the Lord for your needs and then look to help others to bring glory to Christ.

“You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who can do nothing for them or to them.” – Malcolm Forbes

God’s Word: “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy” – 2 Timothy 3:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2006, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN GENESIS pkennedy6@yahoo.com