Most of us know the tragic story of the Titanic. The 882-foot majestic vessel, dubbed as unsinkable, found itself headed straight for an iceberg. In under three hours, the boat split in two, taking over 1,500 passengers with it. Though the Titanic sank, its legacy lives on, as well as the many stories of the passengers who experienced utter terror that night.

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One passenger in particular has a story that carries a message for the days we are living in. As you read the details of her life, perhaps it will steer your heart toward deep prayer.

Ida Straus could not have imagined how events would unfold on the moonless night of April 14, 1912. She and her husband Isador boarded the Titanic with high expectations of a grand adventure on the sea. Isador co-owned Macy’s department store in New York City—at the time, a symbol of wealth and prestige, offering the finest in clothing, glassware, China, and jewelry.

The night of Titanic’s sinking, Ida and Isador were taken by surprise. One moment they were traveling in splendor and the next they were watching the boat fill with water. As time passed, they realized the ship would not stay afloat. Passengers loaded into lifeboats, but there wasn’t room for everyone on the ship. It was decided that women and children must be boarded first.

Ida and Isador were ushered toward Lifeboat Number 8. The officer in charge was willing to allow both of them to board the lifeboat. Isador, however, refused because he knew there were still women and children who remained on the ship that needed a seat. He urged his wife to get on the lifeboat. Ida refused and uttered the famous words associated with her to this day. She said, “We have lived together for many years. Where you go, I go.” Some of these words should sound familiar because they are found in the book of Ruth. They describe the devotion of a faithful woman who would not leave her mother-in-law behind. Ida was saying she would not leave her husband behind to sink on the ship. Instead, she would stand with him and endure whatever fate awaited them.

Ida and Isador’s great-grandson Paul Kurzman provides more details to the account. “My great-grandmother Ida stepped into the lifeboat expecting that her husband would follow. When he didn’t, she was very concerned, and the ship’s officer in charge of lowering that particular lifeboat said, ‘Well, Mr. Straus, you’re an elderly man…and we all know who you are…Of course you can enter the lifeboat with your wife.’ …and my great-grandfather said, ‘No. Until I see that every woman and child on board this ship is in a lifeboat, I will not enter into a lifeboat myself.”

Stories abound of passengers who saw the famous couple tenderly holding hands before a wave swept them both into the sea. Many described it as a “most remarkable exhibition of love and devotion.” Wealthy New Yorker Archibald Gracie said, “They expressed themselves as fully prepared to die, and calmly sat down on steamer chairs on the glass-enclosed Deck A.” The ship sank into the ocean at 2:20 a.m., but the memory of this devoted couple survives to this day. In fact, you can see a memorial plaque in their honor at the 34^th Street Memorial Entrance of Macy’s Herald Square in New York City. In addition, Straus Park showcases a statue in their honor that bears a message inspired by the Bible verse from 2 Samuel 1:23, referring to David and Jonathan. “Lovely and pleasant were they in their lives, and in their death, they were not divided.”

The 1997 blockbuster movie Titanic portrays Isador and Ida holding on to one another in bed as the ship sank. There’s also a scene that never made it into the movie that shows where Isador urges Ida to get on the lifeboat. You can watch it by clicking this link.

Recently I was contemplating the state of our nation and the world, and the legacy of this special couple came to mind. The main message that permeated my spirit was the idea of how wealth and prestige is fleeting. It’s not something we can hold fast, as the world around us starts to sink.

From the crisis in Afghanistan to the birth pangs of tyranny around the globe, it’s easy to see that clinging to worldly hope is the same as holding on to a sinking ship. This doesn’t mean we lose faith or hope. In fact, it’s just the opposite. Even though Ida and Isador Straus owned the largest department store in the world, they were willing to give it all up. They could have saved themselves by getting on that lifeboat. They could have gone back to their luxurious lives in New York. But they chose to leave it all behind. Hand in hand they held on to each other. Like Ruth, who held on to her mother-in-law, they remained faithful to the end.

And what does this mean for us as believers and citizens of the United States? There are many takeaways from their story, but the biggest seems to be that in this world of unfair elections, government lockdowns, mandates, lawlessness and gut-wrenching tragedies, we have one hope to cling to and his name is Jesus. As time and history move forward, we must be ready to pay a price. That price is different for everyone. Some people may be called to places and into situations they could have never imagined. Others may have to give up everything they knew before, in order to follow the calling Jesus has for their lives. In essence, we may be called to give up the safety of this world for the true security that can only come from the Savior.  

 My question is this–what are we willing to give up? When the chips are down, or when the ship sinks, what are we willing to do? We face many challenges. There will be times when we must make hard choices. I do not know what all those choices will be, but most of us are facing new dilemmas daily. Jesus speaks to each of us uniquely as He guides us to His will for our lives. But in the end, like Ida and Isador, we may not always be able to take the “safe route.” We may be called to face the freezing water, or crashing waves.

Years ago, I was overwhelmed about the spiritual condition of our nation and this prompted me to study the history of the Titanic. Strangely enough, as I was in the midst of this study, my mother presented me with a beautiful necklace inspired by the Titanic. It featured a blue heart with angel wings wrapped around it. Pleasantly surprised, I said, “Mom, did I tell you I’ve been researching the Titanic?” She smiled and said, “No, I just thought you would like it.” What happened next was quite amazing and to this day it gives me goosebumps. I turned over the necklace and it said, “Where you go, I go.” My mother saw my astonishment and said, “The quote on the back of the necklace is from Ida Straus. She and her husband died aboard Titanic. In fact, the design centers around the story of how she would not leave her husband behind. That’s why it says, ‘Where you go, I go.’”

At that time I felt a quickening in my spirit, and I realized that I needed to get as close to Jesus as possible. The necklace design showed angel wings wrapped around a sapphire-colored stone. I imagined Jesus’ wings covering me. The blue sapphire reminded me of His pure, Holy Word. The quote, “Where you go, I go,” was a reminder that I needed to go where Jesus goes. I could not stray from the path. As the waters became colder and full of icebergs, I had to keep myself under His protection. Below is a picture of the necklace my mom gave me.

Recently, as Hurricane Ida neared landfall in Louisiana, I couldn’t help but notice the name. Predictions of a devastating storm surge and powerful 150 mph winds made me realize all the more that this earth is groaning for the return of its Creator. As I prayed for the residents of Louisiana who were facing the reality of Hurricane Ida making landfall, I found myself remembering the story of Ida and Isador Straus. They gave it all up in a moment.  And in the end, that’s what we are asked to do. Hurricanes and floods will come, causing lives to instantly change. Often those caught in the aftermath are found taking refuge on the roof. During Hurricane Katrina, hundreds were found clinging to their roofs, holding signs saying, “Save Us.” When the flood comes, we must go to the rooftops and pray to the only one who can save us–Jesus.

Prayer Focus:

Lord Jesus, we ask you to save as many as possible from this modern-day Titanic. At the same time, we ask that you give us the courage and strength to give up anything you ask. In your Word it says “if you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it,” (Matthew 16:25.) Let us not be afraid of the future because we know that if “we go where you go” we will be safely tucked under Your wings. We can weather any storm and face any obstacle. Jesus, You are the unsinkable one.

Here’s one more amazing detail about Ida and Isador Straus. Not only did they die on the same date (April 15, 1912), but they also shared a birthday, which was February 6. Truly, it seems they were made for each other. As the Bride of Christ, we were made for such a time as this.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (Eph 1:4-6)

What things could the Bride of Christ be called to give up in these “Titanic” days? How can we “go where Jesus goes?”

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger and homeschooling Mom who studies the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. Her latest book, Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus, was just released in June.

(Photo Credit: Canva).