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Themes: "Opportunity - real, Grace, Mercy During the dark days of World War 2, when many Jews were in danger of being killed, one of the saddest stories of the war unfolded. On May 13, 1939, 936 passengers left Germany for Cuba aboard the SS St. Louis. All but six of these passengers were Jewish. They had managed at great expense to get a permit to leave for Cuba. They were leaving a country where certain death awaited them and going to freedom and life.
When the SS St.Louis reached the port in Havana on May 27th, the Cuba government changed its mind and would not allow them to land. The government wanted bribes to allow the people to land. The began by asking $500 per person. As the ship sat in Harbor with the safety of the shore visible to the Jews, the price went up to a million dollars.
Appeals went out from Jewish agencies to many countries to allow the Jews to land. Telegrams were sent to the United States government, Colombia, Chile, Argentina and Paraguay. No one would invite them in for safety. Some made excuses. Some claimed that they were neutral in the war and did not want to take sides. But they were just excuses.
As the ship left Havana, it sailed by the coast of Florida. The passengers could see the lights of Miami. There was safety and life. The German captain of the ship appealed in vain to the United States government for a haven. But there was no invitation. The people were sailing back to Europe. There was no promise they would ever be able to live in a land of freedom.
Finally, England, Belgium, France, and the Netherlands allowed the passengers to enter. But within only a few months all those who had landed in France, Belgium and the Netherlands were prisoners under the Nazi army. Most died. The countries where they would have been safe, did not invite them.
What makes the story so sad is that they were so close to safety. They could see it and hear the sound of life on shore. Yet they never got to shore. They needed to be invited. You have been invited to enjoy the blessings of God's salvation. Yet if you are not saved, you are refusing. You may have a "reason", but to God it is only an excuse. The invitation will not last forever. God is waiting for you.
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Shelly McKenna
