Divine Protection

Are you of the opinion that believers must suffer the same sorrows as those of the world? While it is true that some things happen to both believers and non-believers, e.g. death, aging, and sorrow at the loss of a loved one, does this mean that we are subject to the world's economy? If we as a nation are in a recession, do we have to be in one? The short answer is, "No." Exodus 9:4-6 says: But the LORD will make a distinction between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt, so that nothing shall die of all that belongs to the people of Israel. And the LORD set a time, saying, "Tomorrow the LORD will do this thing in the land. And on the morrow the LORD did this thing; all the cattle of the Egyptians died, but of the cattle of the people of Israel not one died. (RSV) Exodus 9: 25-26 says: The hail struck down everything that was in the field throughout all the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and the hail struck down every plant of the field, and shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, there was no hail. (RSV) Finally, we see in Exodus 10: 22-23: So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days; they did not see one another, nor did any rise from his place for three days; but all the people of Israel had light where they dwelt. (RSV)

The above passages clearly demonstrate God's ability to protect His people from the effect of sin on those who disobey Him. This should be a great comfort to us that live in a struggling economy. Just because the world says things are bad, we don't have to accept that for ourselves. God is well able to protect and prosper His children. Let me go a step further. I think God wants to set His children apart in the midst of trouble so His Name will be glorified. A problem is His opportunity to show Himself strong on our behalf. However, we can stop Him.

We can stop Him by buying what the world is selling. It is selling gloom, despair, and excessive misery (from "Hee-Haw"). If that is your song, you would be like an Israelite that left the secure land of Goshen to spend a night with the dying cattle, hail, and in the dark. On the other hand, we can proclaim in faith God's provision for us. The righteous are not forsaken; their seed does not beg for bread. Stand firm on the Word of God. You can be a success even when the world says you can't. Take God's Word for it and not the world's.