Nasifa with many other slaves lived in a distant land. Many of them were quite happy to be in slavery. As time went on, they even forgot that they were slaves.
But how did Nasifa feel? Was she willing to live as a slave? Indeed not! Oh, it is true that sometimes she seemed to like her work. However, most of the time she remembered that she was in bondage. Whenever she remembered her condition, her heart became heavy with sorrow.
In times past, Nasifa had seen other girls who were not slaves. How she wished that she, too, could be free! But how? She knew that her master would never let her go free. Nasifa wondered why her master had become so mean. At first he had even seemed kind. But now – now he seemed so cruel! He never gave her any rest from her work and she was sure that she would never be free.
Still, one day Nasifa’s eyes sparkled with hope. She heard that some masters did set slaves free. If friends of the slaves paid a satisfactory price to the master, he would free the slaves. But as Nasifa thought about her master, the sparkle in her eyes melted into tears that splashed to the ground. None of her friends could ever pay the high price that her master demanded. She would always be a slave. Nasifa was so sad that she cried until she fell asleep.
Now it happened that in another land there lived a great king. This great king had a kind son, the prince, whose heart was as the heart of the king. Both the king and his son knew about Nasifa and the other slaves. One day the son said to his father: “Father, let me go into the land where the slaves live. If they wish, I will set them free.” Hearing this, the king was pleased. “Go, my son,” he said. “I am with you whatever the cost. This plan has long been in my heart. The slaves are helpless. They cannot free themselves from their cruel master. He is strong and full of tricks. However, when you do battle with him, I know that you will overcome him.”
The time came when the son left his beautiful home and kingdom. His father blessed him with many blessings, for great was his love for his son. The prince knew he must leave behind everything that was dear to him. Yet this did not stop him. So he said farewell to all his loved ones. He set out for the land of the slaves because he loved them too. Before long his shoes wore out. His bare feet were cut by the rocks on the mountain path. After a long journey he came to the place where the wicked master and his troops were hiding.
When he met the enemy, the fight began. The prince knew the fight would be bitter and his struggle against many. He became hungry, thirsty and tired. Yet he continued to withstand. The prince was not discouraged as he pressed forward. He would never retreat from his goal to free those helpless slaves. He desired to give them an opportunity for freedom.
Suddenly, the prince and the cruel master met face to face. The evil master’s eyes were filled with hatred and greed. The final battle began. Both were strong. Both were determined to win. The struggle was fierce. With all the evil power the master could gather, he struck the prince. Blood flowed from his wounded side. The wicked master then went forward and, with all his evil weapons killed the wounded prince. The wicked master laughed.
For three days he danced around the body of the dead prince. He laughed and claimed victory. However, on the third day the prince rose from the dead. He was alive!
The laughing stopped. The evil master screamed and fell dead. The wounded son of the king had won the battle by rising from the dead!
The prince turned away from the fallen enemy. When he raised his head, he saw a crowd of slaves who had watched the battle. To them the prince said: “Your wicked master is dead. He no longer has power over you. You are free if you wish to be.” The prince invited them to come with him so that they might live in his father’s land. For a long time he waited.
But how strange! It seemed that the slaves did not believe in the great gift of freedom that the prince offered them. Somehow they doubted that he was able to set them free, even after the fight was over.
Suddenly, one little girl ran forward. Bowing at the prince’s feet, she said, “Oh, I am so happy! For a long time I have wished to be free. Now you have come to grant my wishes. You do love us and have the power to set us free. I will always trust you.”
This happy girl, of course, was Nasifa. She was tasting the sweetness of freedom. She was able to convince some of the other slaves that they, too, were free. Then Nasifa and the other slaves who listened to her went with the prince to his father’s land.
Nasifa sang praises to God for her heart was filled with joy. In fact, she was so happy to be free that she wanted to be a slave to the prince. But this prince had no slaves. He called all in this land “his brothers and sisters” and “children of his father”. Nasifa wondered how she could thank him and show him the joy of her heart. For she knew he had suffered much, that he had been wounded and had even given his life for her also!
Nasifa found a way. She would carry a sweet fruit, beautiful flowers, or perhaps a cup of cold water to him. Finally, she began to learn that, by helping others, she was also serving the prince. This was her way of thanking him. Nasifa was no longer a sad slave. She was happily free – free to serve the king’s son in a land where all were free.
Learning from the Story
Let us see who the characters in this story really are. You and I are the slaves and the cruel master is Satan. We are Satan’s slaves and we obey him. At first, the work may seem even enjoyable. Some are happy to live under the power of Satan all the time. Others, like Nasifa, wish to be free from the evil master. However, because of our sinful hearts, we are unable to free ourselves from the devil’s rule and from evil works, no matter how hard we may try. We know how easy it is to do evil and how hard to overcome.
Yet there is one who can save us all from the hold of Satan. He is the Prince, sent into this world by His loving King and Father. He was wounded in the struggle against Satan and his forces. He even gave up His life to overcome this evil master. Through His death He bought us salvation, freedom and life. Yes, through His death we are free from the fear of death. Of this we may be certain because He rose from the dead and is alive. He now invites us all to leave slavery under Satan and to share with Him His kingdom of freedom and peace.
But who is this King? Who is this Prince? The King is God and the Prince is Jesus the Messiah. Many years before God sent Him into our world, the prophet Isaiah said about Him:
“Surely He took the suffering that should have been ours. He carried our sorrows. He was wounded and beaten for our sins, because of the evil we did. By His wounds we are healed.”1
Do you, like Nasifa, feel that you are a slave of sin and in Satan’s bondage? If you realise your condition, you, too will come to Jesus the Messiah for freedom and peace. Seek Him that He may release you from your sins. As the great prophet, King David (Arabic, Dawud) prayed, you will pray: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.”2 Then, like Nasifa, you will sing praises of thanksgiving to God and His Messiah. Your service you will give with joy. With many others who have found freedom through God’s gift of the Messiah, you will proclaim the words of the Holy Book: “He loved me and gave Himself for me.”3
To learn more about Jesus the Messiah and the Holy Bible, you may have a FREE correspondence course.