Some thoughts on the Mt Everest rescue…. (news account in yesterday’s devotional)

I imagine there have been times when the decision made and actions taken by the young Israeli, Nadav Ben Yehuda, would have appeared normal rather than exemplary.  Regardless of the times, I find it always inspiring to see or read about people who make significant sacrifices to do the right thing.

In this case we read about many climbers who passed by the Turkish climber lying there.  They were solely committed to reaching the summit so close at hand.  The account also mentions the fresh corpses that were along the trail that everyone climbing passed by.  I cannot imagine the physical and mental strain that climbing a mountain such as Everest would entail particularly being aware of the climbers who died attempting the climb.

And then to be so near the summit – a climber would be so focused on the achievement of the goal.  The planning and preparation; the cost and the time; the physical toll; and the exhilaration of the end in sight – all these could produce tunnel vision that wouldn’t see anything else.  But fortunately for the 46 year old Turk, Aydin Irmak, an Israeli climber he had met earlier at the base camp passed by and turned aside to help.

Ben Yehuda said that when he saw him, lying there unconscious in the dark, he had no second thoughts.  He knew he had to save him.  That meant abandoning the goal of reaching the summit because he knew the Turk would be dead before he could possibly return for him.

In another account of this wonderful rescue, Ben Yehuda mentioned how he was helped by his military training in Israel.  They were taught to never leave a friend in the field.

I am reminded of the verse in James 4:17, Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.  But let us see this for the privilege it is rather than obligation.  Let’s reverse the thought and express it another way – call it Don’s paraphrase:

Oh Lord, thank you for the joy and blessing it is to see the good you want us to do and to wholeheartedly do it!

Thank you Lord for this wonderful rescue and may it be used by You to bring them both to yourself.