Today, I learned that a house down the block caught fire last week. I was wondering what I could do for them, especially since I don't know them and, based on the damage to their house, they're not even there right now. I saw another neighbor tonight, and she had a flier that had been passed out with information to sign up and bring the family a meal. Problem solved!
But talk about difficulty. The flier said no one was hurt; they'd found out in time and got out with their three day old baby. THREE DAYS OLD. No other children were mentioned - can you imagine having a fire a day or two after coming home from the hospital with your very first precious bundle of joy? Can you imagine running downstairs three days after birthing that baby? And what about all the brand new, hope-filled baby gear and sweet little wardrobe? Or moving to a hotel for weeks with a newborn? My friends did that for a few days when they adopted their son, and to say it was a challenge would be a gross understatement.
Also on my mind today are two friends. One is a cancer survivor, waiting on the results of her latest CT scan. Another had a breast biopsy yesterday to confirm that a probably benign lump really is benign. For both of them, odds are good that everything is fine. But in the waiting, the possibility of bad news looms. These are strong Christian women, and I know they are resting in God's peace, but those "what if" thoughts are undoubtedly clamouring for attention anyway.
Today's Red Sea Rule is about Satan. Robert Morgan, the author, reminds us that Satan is involved in some way in most of our difficulties. It might be direct - like the story of Job in the Old Testament. Satan got permission from God to destroy everything Job had in an effort to get Job to deny God. It didn't work.
Or it might be indirect. Ever heard the saying, "Don't go to bed angry"? It's from the Bible: Ephesians 4:26-27 says "Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity." Because if you give him an opportunity, he'll gladly take it.
But today's Red Sea Rule is also about where we're looking. Satan might be stirring the pot, making things scary and threatening, but that's not where we should focus.
Morgan, speaking of Pharoah chasing after the Israelites, says, "he was powerless to harm the Israelites as long as they remained under the protective cloud of God's glory and grace." Instead of focusing on our enemy and the difficulty, we are to be focusing on God, who has the power to deliver us through our difficulty.
This reminds me of one of my favorite Psalms, which conjures up images of protection during battle and confidence in victory. Enjoy!
Psalm 91
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!”
For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
“Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
“He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
“With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”
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