Ezekiel 13:23 “I will save my people from your hands. And then you will know that I am the Lord.”

This brings to mind what is going on in Israel right now. I have read reports of members of Hamas saying, “Their God deflects our rockets so they don’t reach their targets.” That might be apocryphal, but I have also read a report from the commander of an Iron Dome battery who missed twice (a highly unusual occurrence) in trying to shoot down a rocket that was headed for a heavily populated area, when a sudden, strong east wind blew the rocket off course and dropped it harmlessly into the Mediterranean. That commander had not been especially religious before, but he’s convinced of the reality of God now! When God rescues His people it is a demonstration that He not only is, He is not neutral; He cares for His own. Sometimes rescue in this life isn’t the easiest answer for the child of God, because we have eternity with God ahead of us, but God does it to show those who have been against us how real and personal He is, and give them a chance to repent. Ezekiel 18:23 (coming up in a few days) states clearly that God isn’t happy about people insisting on their own destruction, and 1 Timothy 2:4 says that He wants everyone to be saved. Everything He does is with that in mind. When He rescues us, from little things or big, we need to give Him the glory so that those observing us may have a chance to believe.

Like everyone else, I see only how things are affecting me at the moment. When things don’t go the way I had planned, sometimes my disappointment can be pretty intense. However, God knows all the details, future as well as past and present, and He can be trusted. I’ve got to remember that it’s not about me, but about Him. As I flow with His Spirit, on His program, on His schedule, I am blessed beyond what I had planned for myself, and others are drawn to Him. When He blocks my plans, I need to praise Him that he kept me from dangers I will never know. As hard as it is to grasp that lesson for myself, I need to have patience and empathy for others who are struggling with it. As a pastor, my life needs to be a demonstration of trusting God so that others too may trust Him, for their salvation and His glory.

Father, thank You for speaking to me in my funk this morning. Thank You for what You enabled me to do and take part in yesterday, even though it wasn’t what I had so intensely been looking forward to. I do pray for the person who heard Your Word through me last night. May they have the courage to open their heart to You and receive Your love, to lift them out of the pit they are in so that they may repent and believe indeed, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!