Judith Saves Her People

Long ago, a mighty general named Holofernes marched against God's people with an enormous army. His king wanted every nation to worship the king instead of God. Holofernes surrounded a small town in the hills called Bethulia and took over its springs, so the people had no water.

After many weeks, the people were so thirsty that they begged their leaders to give up. The leaders promised that if God did not help them within five days, they would surrender.

In Bethulia lived a widow named Judith. Her husband had died, and she spent her days praying and fasting. Judith called the town leaders to her house. She told them they should not give God a deadline. God can save his people whenever he chooses. They should keep trusting him and ask for his help. Then she told them she had a plan, but she would not say what it was.

Judith knelt and prayed for a long time. She asked God to give her courage, and she remembered that God helps people who are weak and small.

Then she took off her plain widow's clothes and dressed in her best clothes from happier days. She packed her own food, so she could keep God's law about what to eat. With her maid beside her, she walked out of the town gate, straight toward the enemy camp.

Soldiers took her to Holofernes. He thought she had come to help him. For three days Judith stayed in the camp. Each night she went out to pray.

On the fourth day, Holofernes held a big dinner. He drank far too much wine, and that night he fell into a deep sleep. Judith prayed again, asking God for strength. Then, with God's help, Judith stopped Holofernes for good. The cruel general was dead, and he could never hurt her people again.

Judith and her maid hurried back to Bethulia, and the whole town praised God! When the enemy soldiers found out what had happened, they were terrified and ran away.

God helps people who trust him, even when they feel small.