My God in whom I trust

Psalm 91 - Study 10  - My God in Whom I Trust

The Psalmist says in Psalm 91:2, “I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."” (GW)

For those of us who were born and brought up in Christian homes, Psalm 91 is a familiar one, which many of us may have read or even memorized as a child. Nonetheless, in this study we will explore as to what it means to trust in God as the Psalmist declared about God in the above mentioned verse.

We will truly trust a person only when we get to know him or her. It is the same with God, we can trust Him only when we know who He is, and only when we are able to comprehend His divine attributes. When Jesus lived here on earth he chose twelve men to be His disciples. A closer look at their lives will help us understand why they decided to follow Jesus.

1. Peter, the fisherman

Peter was a fisherman by profession, but the day he met Jesus who filled his empty nets with a miraculous and bountiful catch, Peter chose to follow Jesus immediately without any hesitation. The reason Peter gave up his livelihood which included his boat and nets to follow after Jesus, was because Peter trusted Jesus. Peter believed that if he made Jesus his Master, He would take care of him, and provide him with all that he ever needed.

2. Matthew, the tax collector

Matthew who was another disciple, was a tax collector for the Roman government. Matthew always sought to align himself with the powerful and when he heard the call of Jesus, he understood that Jesus was much greater than the Roman Government that he was working for. So at the call of Jesus, he too left everything as it was, and followed after Jesus.

Every disciple of Jesus who followed Him did so because they trusted Him, and as a result heeded His call to follow Him. We too have at some point in our life made a decision to follow Jesus and to be His disciples. The point that each of us need to ponder is whether we have learnt to completely trust Him in all circumstances.

Trust Jesus through the storms

We read in Matthew 8:23-24, “Then He went on board a fishing-boat, and His disciples followed Him. But suddenly there arose a great storm on the Lake, so that the waves threatened to engulf the boat; but He was asleep.” (WNT)

Some of the disciples of Jesus who accompanied Him on the boat that day were seasoned fishermen who had probably encountered many fierce storms in the very same sea. Strangely, the storm that challenged them that day seemed to be unlike any they had seen before. The winds were so fierce and the waves so boisterous that they were gripped with the fear of death. In the midst of such a raging storm, Jesus was fast asleep in that same boat.

When the disciples set out with Jesus, they got into the boat following Jesus. We read in Matthew 8:23 that the disciples simply did so because Jesus went on board a fishing boat. When the storm raged on with intensity, and threatened their very lives, they might have wondered if they did the right thing to follow Jesus into that boat. They had probably decided to follow Jesus with hope that they would have absolute safety, no storms whatsoever. But the storm they encountered, proved to be contradictory to their belief.

There may be those who are stressed out with such hardships, and are wondering as to why the Lord has not intervened or revealed Himself, to ease your situation. Do keep in mind that we have a God who is altogether trustworthy. Our many difficulties might make us speculate if we made the right decision to follow Jesus. The Lord wants to assure such people that there is no need to be perturbed, for the Lord is with us all the time. For others who might deliberate that they are weak in their faith, let us be comforted that even the disciples of Jesus, who were with Him, and saw all the wonders He performed, were perplexed in the midst of that storm.

We read in Matthew 8:25, “So they came and woke Him, crying, "Master, save us, we are drowning!"” (WNT)

Jesus and the disciples were in the same boat, but the way they addressed Jesus was as if He were somewhere else, and not with them in their crisis. That is why they said to Jesus, “Master, save us, we are drowning!” What they failed to realize was that Jesus was in their boat, and as long as He was there, there would be no way that their boat would drown, and they would all die. Jesus got up and ordered the winds and the waves to be still and they immediately calmed down.

In the midst of our fears, let us say along with the Psalmist, ‘my God, in whom I trust’ for when we affirm this over and over again, our faith will grow and our hearts will be filled with courage.

Trust Jesus to be the provider

The disciples want to disperse the crowd

We read in Matthew 14:14-15, Jesus got out of the boat, and when he saw the large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, and he healed their sick. That evening his disciples came to him and said, "It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves." (GNB)

A large crowd had come to meet Jesus and when it was evening the disciples suggested to Jesus that He should disperse the crowd, so they could go and find food in some of the villages nearby.

A lot of people have a similar attitude that the disciples had to those in need. For those who served in our homes and were stopped either by us or because of their situation for fear of the virus, it is our duty to enquire about their welfare and help them financially in whatever way possible. So also, let us not turn aside those who come to us seeking for any sort of help or assistance during these days. If we trust God to be our provider, we will never shun those who come to us looking to us to help them through their difficulties. If we are generous and willing to pay those who were serving us, even when they are unable to come, that is an evidence that we truly trust in the Lord to take care of our needs.

We find it easy to sing praises to God and worship Him. When we claim that He is our ‘Jehovah Jireh’ we must believe that He will provide for us, and not put us to shame when we are faced with a great need in our life.

Jesus planned to satisfy their hunger

We read in Matthew 14:16,"They don't have to leave," answered Jesus. "You yourselves give them something to eat!" (GNB)

While the disciples proposed that Jesus send the crowds away, Jesus was filled with compassion and asked that they be given something to eat before they left. All that was there was only five loaves and two small fish. However, when they were given into the hands of Jesus, he blessed it to feed more than five thousand people who were gathered there that day.

If the Lord is with us, the little that we have will be sufficient for us, and the Lord will bless it to help us bless others as well. Let us pray to the Lord to take whatever is in our hands, however meager it may be, to make it a blessing to those around us, who are in want. Some people are wrongly interpreting the five loaves and two fish to mean five thousand rupees and two thousand rupees and this is not so. It is about trusting God to bless what we have, so we can in turn bless others who are in far greater need than we are in.

We read in Psalm 37:3, “Trust in the LORD and do good; live in the land and be safe.” (GNB)

This is the word of encouragement from the Lord that we should trust Him completely, and do all the good we can for others.

Accept those who are serving the Lord

We read in Luke 9:49, John spoke up, "Master, we saw a man driving out demons in your name, and we told him to stop, because he doesn't belong to our group." (GNB)

In this incident Jesus’ disciple John brought a complaint to Jesus that there was a man who was not part of their group, but that he was driving out demons using Jesus’ name. John also informed Jesus that they had asked the man to stop using the name of Jesus to cast out demons as he was not a follower of Jesus like they were. The reason for this was that the disciples believed that they were that exclusive group whom Jesus had chosen and called. The disciples did not rejoice that a man who was demon possessed was set free, but rather sought to deter the man from ministering, simply because he did not belong to their group and didn’t do things their way.

Jesus’ response astounded the disciples

Jesus responded this way in Luke 9:50,"Do not try to stop him," Jesus said to him and to the other disciples, "because whoever is not against you is for you." (GNB)

When John complained to Jesus, he might have assumed that Jesus would commend him for what he did. Adversely Jesus told John and the other disciples, not to stop him, for whoever was not against them was for them.

Many ministries have been hindered, because there is this sense of competition and exclusivity among those who serve the Lord. God has called and gifted everyone to serve Him differently, using their varied gifts and methodologies. We should as fellow workers never demean or despise what others are doing for the kingdom of God. There are false teachings and worship patterns which should most certainly be avoided, but when the foundational doctrines are based on the word of God, we should be willing to accept, love and support each other. There is to a large extent this sense of contention that has become an obstacle to the growth of God’s work. Ministry does not belong to any one individual, and we must be willing to give up our ego and work together to build the Kingdom of God. As those who trust in the Lord, let us avoid every form of disunity and come together to serve the Lord unitedly.

The disciples of John the Baptist had a similar issue

After Jesus had been baptized by John the Baptist, many of the disciples of John the Baptist left him to follow after Jesus. The disciples of John the Baptist were upset and brought a complaint to him about this.

John the Baptist gave this response to his disciples this way in John 3:27, “John answered, "No one can have anything unless God gives it.”(GNB)

As children of God we must firstly stop fretting over everything. There are many reasons to worry at present, things like our inability to go to work, our salaries not being paid, financial uncertainties for children’s education and various other needs, all of which are valid. However, let us choose to lay them all aside, and declare with faith that we have placed our trust in the Lord who will never let us down or allow us to be put to shame. So also, we will not withhold from those who come to us for help, only because we have trusted in the Lord to be our provider.

These are hard times for everyone, but this is also an exceptional season where our trust in God is being tested. We are tested to see if we will trust in God instead of fretting, if we withhold from those in need or be willing to share with others, if we are hindering the work of God or are those who are willing to support those who serve the Lord. We will declare by faith that the Lord is in our boat and though the storms may seem to overwhelm us, we will not be discouraged for the one who is with us is able to calm all these storms. The Lord is over all and He is able to strengthen us, and the one who began this journey with us, will remain faithful to the very end.

May we be able to say along with the Psalmist, in Psalm 91:2, “I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."”(GW) Just like Peter, Matthew and all the disciples of Jesus who left their all to follow Jesus, let us place our complete trust in God and say with all our heart, ‘My God in whom I trust.’

Prayer :

Our loving Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the opportunity to know You and follow You.  Still when we are faced with certain storms in our life, we do doubt and falter.  Please do help us at times of our weakness.  Help us to help those who come to us seeking help in their time of need.  Give us the Kingdom mindset and understand that You, O Lord are building Your Church in ever so many ways that we cannot comprehend.  All praise and glory to Your name.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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My God

Psalm 91 - Study 9 – My God 

We read in Psalm 91:1-2, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."” (ESV)

The Psalmist had a personal relationship with God, and therefore could say of Him, ‘My refuge and my fortress and my God.’ It would be good for us to evaluate ourselves, to see if we and our children can make this declaration of the Psalmist our testimony as well.

The song of praise the children of Israel sang unto the Lord

It is recorded in Exodus 15:1-2, “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.” (ESV)

If we study the above mentioned verses carefully, we will realize that personal pronouns ‘I’ and ‘me’ are mentioned repeatedly. This was the song Moses and the people of Israel sang after the amazing deliverance the Lord wrought for them by parting the Red Sea to bring them to safety. This was an anthem of praise to God who triumphed over Pharaoh and the armies of Egypt, who drowned in the sea.

As they crossed the Red Sea the Israelites must have been gripped with fear as they gazed at the huge walls of water on either side of them, as they walked on the dry ground that God had paved for them. The same waters which parted to save them, was also the waters that the Lord used to destroy the armies of the Egyptians who were in pursuit of them. Their hearts were therefore filled with praise to God as they referred to Him as ‘my God’, ‘my strength’, ‘my salvation’, ‘my God and my Father’s God.’

Let us look at some incidents that preceded this event

Moses encountered God at the burning bush

Moses fled from Egypt to escape Pharaoh’s anger and ended up in Midian. In the land of Midian, Moses tended his father in law’s sheep for forty years. His life as a prince in Egypt must have almost been forgotten in those forty years when Moses led the life of an ordinary shepherd. One day as Moses went about the mundane job of watching his sheep, his attention was drawn to a spectacular sight. He noticed a bush was on fire that was not consumed by the flames. Being familiar with the surrounding and realizing that this was something strange, he approached it, to discover that it was God trying to get his attention.

This was the word of the Lord to Moses in Exodus 3:6, “And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” (ESV)

We might have read or heard this verse many times, but we are going to try and understand as to why God introduced Himself this way to Moses. God did not introduce Himself as Adam’s God, though Adam was the first created man. Neither did God say, He was the God of Noah, though Noah obeyed God to build the ark, and was saved from the floods that destroyed the entire world. Enoch was a righteous man who ‘walked with God’ and yet God did not choose to say, ‘He was the God of Enoch’. However, God chose to reveal Himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.

Why did God reveal Himself the way He did to Moses?

It was only in the call of Abraham that God’s redemptive plan for mankind was initiated. The call of God to Abraham was different from that of Noah or Enoch in that God wanted Abraham to come out of his country and from his people, to be one separated unto God. God chose Abraham to be the one through whom God began the process of redemption and restoration of the intimate fellowship between God and man that broke down at the Garden of Eden. This was why God referred to Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the burning bush.

Firstly, God wanted Moses to recognize that He was continuing through him that redemptive act that He had already begun with Abraham. Secondly, God wanted Moses to recognize God as his own God who would use him to bring about a mighty deliverance. That is why, God spoke to Moses and told him that He was the one who was sending him to Pharaoh.

There are many who are depending on the faith that was in their parents or grand-parents, and the Lord is not pleased with this. God desires to have a personal relationship with each and every one of us. As individuals we should be able to acknowledge that God is our personal God. Our faith cannot stand on the prayer life of our grand-parents or on the fact that they labored hard to establish churches in many places. Our personal prayer life, our faith in God and our labor for the Kingdom of God is what will count, and none of us can stand on the faith or works of our ancestors.

For too long we have been running after worldly pursuits and possessions, but now when the entire world is challenged with this huge crisis, let this be a time when we turn to the Lord. The more time we spend with the Lord the closer we will get in our relationship with Him. We often think that if we spend an hour in church on Sunday we have done our duty for the week. There are many who make excuse that they have to work all seven days to keep their business going, and are therefore unable to attend church on Sundays. Today however, we are all confined to our homes with no way to go out to carry out any of our work or business. We must never forget that God is our provider, He is the one who feeds us and we must learn to look to Him and depend on Him fully.

The Lord calls to each one of us to have a personal relationship with Him and spend much time in fellowship with Him. Children cannot piggyback on their parent’s faith nor can believers hang on to the faith of their pastors. Instead may each one of us seek the Lord ardently, and yearn to have that personal relationship with Him.

What happens when we live in the past?

We read in John 8:39, “They answered him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did,” (ESV)

The Jews who gathered to hear Jesus gloated over the fact that Abraham was their Father or that they were descendants of Abraham. Abraham was the father of faith, but these Jews were far removed from the faith that Abraham had. Jesus was helping them understand that their actions were in complete contradiction to those of Abraham. They had become so bound with traditions that they could not have a meaningful relationship with God.

There are some who take pride in the fact that they have been Christians for over five generations. There are others who may rejoice that they were born into a Christian family. However, true Christian are those who are truly born of the Holy Spirit, because they are the ones who can know the Lord genuinely.

When Nicodemus, a ruler of the Sanhedrin came to Jesus by night, Jesus had to explain to him the need to be born again. Each one of us must have this experience of being born again, where we can be certain that we have this vibrant relationship with the Lord on a daily basis. Many of us claim to be believers in the Lord Jesus, but our faith does not exhibit itself in the way we live and through our actions. The Lord is not pleased with this discrepancy.

John the Baptist preached a similar message

We read in Matthew 3:9, “And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham.” (ESV)

As John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, a great multitude gathered to listen to his message. Many of them who heard these messages repented of their sins and were baptized by John the Baptist. In one of those sermons John mentioned to them the above mentioned words as recorded in Matthew 3:9. He admonished the crowds that they should not be content with the thought that Abraham was their father and that they were his children. He further cautioned them that God was well able to raise up children for Abraham from stones that were there.

John the Baptist had to warn the ones who gathered to hear him, that if they did not feel sorry for their sins and repent, the Lord would take lifeless stones that probably were strewn near the river, and bring new life into them. These lifeless stones referred to those who the Jews thought were outsiders, who were not children of Abraham, and hence unfit to enter the Kingdom of God. However, these outsiders by placing their faith in Jesus, are being made alive and entering into the Kingdom of God, to become His children.

There is no point in boasting about our ancestors who are Christian, but rather we must rejoice that we know the Lord or rather are known by Him, for only then we are real Christians. As we are locked down, this is the time for us to in sincerity turn to God and repent of all our sins, to renew our relationship with Him. If we did not seek the Lord when we had the freedom to do so, this may be God’s opportune time when we are shut in to turn our attention towards God.

In the past we may have in our times of crisis run to our family members, friends or our pastors. Now, this is the time to pursue after God and desire His intervention in our life situations. We might have noticed that there is a gradual decline in the way people seek after God. Parents might have been zealous for the Lord, praying fervently, reading the word, worshipping the Lord and attending all services on Sundays. Their children who are not so keen may just be mediocre in their faith and attend a couple of services. Sadly, their children will be indifferent to God, and will have no time for God with no desire to attend church or be in fellowship with other believers. This is the time to get back to God every one of us from the eldest to the youngest. We live in a world that has great advancements in technology, but sadly, we have used most of these for our selfish pursuits, instead of bringing glory to the Lord.

Let us not be content to think of God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but let us experience a personal faith in God that would be as firm as the faith that was found in Abraham. God truly longs to have a close communion with us, if we are willing to spend time in His presence.

We read in Mark 13:1, “And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!"” (ESV)

When we read the above mentioned verse, it is quite evident that the disciples of Jesus did not have a proper understanding or revelation of who Jesus really was. They showed Jesus the temple and wanted Jesus to marvel at magnificence of the stones and the structure of the building. Jesus was not impressed by what the disciples tried to exhibit to Him, neither was He captivated by it.

There are many today who exult in the fact that their churches have celebrated their centenary and that the building is a heritage structure. Some of these ancient churches have fantastic and artistic interiors too, but the question is ‘Do those of us who worship there have the faith that the Lord is looking for?’ The word of God reminds us that God does not consider things the way man does. While man looks at the outward appearance, God looks deep down into our hearts. God is not bothered about how old our church buildings are, but He is definitely concerned about how deep is our faith in Him.

If we are parents whose children have not been saved, let us cry out to the Lord on their behalf and so also as children, if our parents have not committed their lives to Jesus, it is our obligation to plead with the Lord for them. May we grow strong in our faith in the Lord for we are reminded in 1 John 5:4, “And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.” (ESV)

Let us recap what God said to Moses in Exodus 3:6, And he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” God was pleased with Abraham because he stood firm in His faith in God. Even when God commanded him to sacrifice his only son Isaac, who was the child of promise, Abraham did not hesitate.

When Moses obeyed God and went back to Egypt, the people of Israel questioned him as to who was the God who sent him to deliver them. Moses told them that it was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who had sent him. The people could connect with God as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but not as their own God.

However the people of Israel after witnessing the parting of the Red Sea and the mighty deliverance of God from the hands of the Egyptians by God for them, they were able to say those words that were recorded in Exodus 15:1-2, “Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.” (ESV)

God will not be contented for us to claim that He is the God of our fathers or our ancestors, but God would delight in our testimonies that say, we have a personal relationship with God and our faith in Him is growing deeper day by day. Like the Psalmist said in Psalm 91:2, we too can say of the Lord, “I will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."”

Prayer :

Our Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us the great privilege to come close to You and have a personal relationship with You.  We acknowledge that there is nothing more precious or valuable in this world than being able to call You, My God and My Father because of what was done on the cross.  Help us to value this relationship and always be thankful for this.  In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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You are my fortress

Psalm 91 - Study 7 – You are my Fortress

We read in Psalm 91:2, “I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."” (GW)

When do we need a fortress?

In Nahum 1:7, we read, “The LORD is good. He is a fortress in the day of trouble. He knows those who seek shelter in him.” (GW)

The prophet Nahum beautifully portrays to us that the Lord is good, that He is our fortress when we are faced with troubles, and most importantly He knows those of us who take shelter in Him. God is good does not imply that we would face no trouble, but it does reassure us that the Lord has promised to be our fortress, and our shelter in the midst of these hardships.

A fortress is a place of total safety, and kings in ancient times found refuge in them. Everyone who has decided to enter into this fortress to seek refuge in the Lord, are known by Him.

In every situation no matter how hard it seems, we should still be able to say, that the Lord is good because that is what God is always. We read about Job, who was challenged with unimaginable trials but in the midst of all of it Job never once cursed God. He lost everything on one day, but Job was still able to say in Job 1:21, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (ESV). Job had the right perspective that every good thing came from God alone.

All of us have been about our daily chores without even realizing that all that we were able to do, mundane things like going out or shopping were all privileges from God. Suddenly when faced with a lockdown, we realize how many things we have taken for granted. We must acknowledge that God is good and be thankful for everything in our lives.

There are some people who ascribe that when they decide to draw near to God, the trials in their lives seem to increase. They therefore are in doubt if they are on the right path in seeking God more intently. Let us never analyze who God is based on our circumstances, for we can be certain that God is good all the time. The hardships we encounter are only temporary and the Lord is able to remove all of these difficulties from our way to keep us secure in Him. We must have faith to believe that the Lord is more than able to remove these hurdles ahead of us, and clear the way for us.

The Israelites were in deep trouble in Egypt

We read in Exodus 5:19, “The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, "Don't make fewer bricks each day than you're supposed to."” (GW)

The Israelites were in bondage to the Egyptians for many long years. As the intensity of these troubles increased they cried out to God. God sent Moses and Aaron to deliver the Israelites from the cruel hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians. When Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and sought that he send the Israelites to go out of Egypt to the wilderness to worship the Lord, Pharaoh was angered. In his wrath Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters to withhold from the Israelites the straw that was provided to make the bricks. The Israelites were now in deeper trouble as they had no resources but were still required to make the exact number of bricks that they made earlier.

Pharaoh also scorned Moses and Aaron and questioned them this way in Exodus 5:2, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice and let Israel go?” (ESV)

The Israelites thought that Moses and Aaron would bring them immediate relief and deliverance, but instead their troubles increased manifold after they met with Pharaoh. When Pharaoh questioned the authority of God, the consequence was that God sent plagues upon the Egyptians.

In general, people call out to God only when they come to the end of the rope as it were. It is far better to seek the Lord when things are going good. That is why we read in Isaiah 55:6, “Seek the LORD while he may be found. Call on him while he is near.” (GW) This means that if we do not seek God when things are fine, there will come a time when things will be bad, and we will not be able to call on Him.

There are those who question God, just like Pharaoh did, but today when we are struck with a malady, mankind stands dumbfounded with no solution to a major crisis. Science may advance a great deal but we must remember that there is a God who is sovereign and almighty above all human power and wisdom. Whenever human beings becomes rebellious against God there will always be severe consequences that we will have to face. A world that was going at full speed with hectic schedules, could have never imagined that we would have to discard all our schedules to be locked down within the confines of our homes to keep ourselves safe. The reason for this predicament is that we forgotten God who is the most important person in our lives, and have been running after positions, possessions and worldly pleasures. This is the time for us to turn back to the God who created us, and to realize that He is an awesome and mighty God.

The distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians

1. The flies did no harm to the people of Israel who dwelt in Goshen

We read in Exodus 8:22-23, “But I will spare the region of Goshen, where my people live, so that there will be no flies there. I will do this so that you will know that I, the LORD, am at work in this land. I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This miracle will take place tomorrow.' "”(GNB)

When Pharaoh challenged God, the Lord replied him that He would do something miraculous to distinguish between the Egyptians and the Israelites. The difference would be that while flies would infest the land of Egypt, the region of Goshen where the Israelites dwelt, which was also in Egypt would be protected from these flies. This miracle the Lord said He would perform so that Pharaoh would realize that it was the Lord who was at work. The Lord did send the flies that caused much destruction to the land of Egypt, but the land of Goshen where God’s people stayed was kept safe from all harm. The Lord was a fortress around the homes of all those who believed in Him and were His children.

When faced with troubles, often we pass them off as some natural phenomenon that are common to all human beings, because many people are unable to accept the fact that there is a sovereign God above. In the midst of trying circumstances, it is vital that we take time to ponder on the reasons for these calamities.

God will always make a clear difference between those who are His children, and those who are not. If you are wondering who the children of God are, they are those who believe in the Lord Jesus irrespective of who they are. Jesus came as a Saviour for all of mankind, and that is why the good news of His birth was announced to all.

2. The livestock of the Israelites was spared from death

We read in Exodus 9:4, “I will make a distinction between the animals of the Israelites and those of the Egyptians, and no animal that belongs to the Israelites will die.” (GNB)

We also read in Exodus 9:26, “The region of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, was the only place where there was no hail.”(GNB)

When the Egyptians were struck with the plague of the death of the livestock, the Lord again intervened to make a clear discrimination. The animals that belonged to the Israelites were all spared from death and destruction. So also, when all of Egypt was struck with severe hail stones, the Israelites were safe and secure in the region of Goshen.

As those who believe in the Lord Jesus, we are assured of protection for our lives. Also God will be a fortress around us to keep safe all that belongs to us. This protection of God extends to all those who are part of our immediate and extended family.

Rahab was protected

We read of Rahab who had her house built on the wall of Jericho. When the Israelites proceeded to the land of Canaan, the city of Jericho was a hindrance to their progress. The Lord fought for the Israelites and brought down the mighty walls of Jericho with just the shouts of praise of the armies of Israel. However, in the midst of those unbelieving people, Rahab believed in the God of Israel. The outcome was that while the entire city was destroyed, the mighty walls of Jericho came crumbling down, but Rahab and her entire family who resided on top of that same wall were kept safe.

As children of God we need to believe and affirm that God alone is our fortress. Our God is the same yesterday, today and forever and we must be sure that He will make a distinction between those who are His people and those who are not. The ones who are His are assured of being protected in the midst of all these pestilences.

The words of Elipaz, the friend of Job

We read in Job 5:19, “He will keep you safe from six troubles, and when the seventh one comes, no harm will touch you:” (GW)

The six troubles refers to the problems that come one after the other. However, the seventh one refers to wholeness. We may be challenged with myriads of challenges, but the Lord will deliver us out of them all. We should never become discouraged or disheartened, but constantly thank the Lord trusting Him to be our fortress.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 32:7, “You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyous songs of salvation. Selah” (GW)

The Psalmist realized that the Lord would protect him, as He alone was his hiding place. He further declared that the Lord will encompass him with joyous songs of salvation.

As we stay inside our homes, may the praises of the Lord alone fill our residence, and may everything that displeases the Lord be cast aside. Let us keep singing the songs of victory and deliverance, for the enemy has no entry into our fortress, for God has hidden us from his view.

We also read in Psalm 107:28, “In their distress they cried out to the LORD. He led them from their troubles.” (GW)

The Lord protects us from all our troubles when we sincerely call out to Him. This is not a time to relax, but a time for us to call out to the Lord to have mercy on us, and liberate us. The grace of God is not only needed for us, but for all those who are around us. We must seek the Lord and pray most fervently if we desire that the Lord should intervene in our present situation.

We read in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, “I may shut the sky so that there is no rain, or command grasshoppers to devour the countryside, or send an epidemic among my people. However, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, search for me, and turn from their evil ways, then I will hear their prayer from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their country.” (GW)

The Lord is speaking to His people and the first thing that God expects of us is humility. As believers we have sadly conformed ourselves to the patterns of the world around us. We must set aside our careless attitudes, sincerely pray and seek after the Lord. The evil ways that the Lord wants us to turn away from are our indifference to Him and our unwillingness to give to Him the honor and time that is duly His. If we do so the Lord promises that He will hear from heaven, forgive our sins and bring healing to our land.

We read in 2 Chronicles 7:13 that the Lord will shut up the sky so that there will be no rain. We began 2020 with severe wild fires in Australia that could not be put out because they had no rains. We also read of grasshoppers that came in large numbers and caused great devastation in the continent of Africa. Finally the word speaks about an epidemic, which we now call a pandemic that has swept over all the world.

The call of God to us is to humble ourselves, and seek the Lord to restore to us all that we have lost. We have spent all of our time for our own come back to the Him with true repentance and humility. selfish pursuits and have forgotten to seek the face of God. Let us turn back to God, give Him the top priority in our lives, spending more time in reading the word of God, and walking in obedience to His word.

Prayer:

Our loving Father, we thank You for being such a fortress that cannot be broken. Thank You, Lord for the privilege given to me to be inside that fortress. Thank you, Lord that through this torment this world is going through, You are keeping me safe. And I know that when Your time for me on earth is fulfilled, I will be there with You for ever and ever. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

Br. Dixon

Transcribed by Sis. Esther Collins

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