from Lenae, GEMS Training Manager
Fly to Higher Ground
Surely the arm of the LORD is
not too short to save,
nor his ear too dull to hear.
Isaiah 59:1
On this morning’s jog down
our gravel roads there were three birds running in front of me, obviously
frightened. It must’ve been my heavy breathing that scared them. It certainly
wasn’t the speed of my approach! It looked comical as the birds ran as fast
their feet could mange. I wondered, “Why run when you can fly?” As if they
heard my thoughts, they did just that and flew to higher ground.
Why run when you can fly?
It’s a question worth asking. When problems and pain come our way do we run in
our own strength or fly to God, the Rock who is higher than I (Psalm 61:2)? In
every circumstance, temptation, need, and grief His arm is not too short to
save, nor His ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1)!
1 Samuel 30 records that the
Amalekites attacked the city of Ziklag, burned it, and took captive all the
women and children, both young and old. David and his men experienced deep
grief. Crushed with distress and bitterness, the men ran to self-reliance. They
took things into their own hands and talked of stoning David. David chose to
fly to higher ground. David found
strength in the LORD his God (1 Samuel 30:6).
When Esther learned of
Haman’s plan to destroy the Jews, Mordecai urged her not to run into the
supposed protection of the palace for personal escape. She listened and chose
to fly to the LORD whose arm is not too short to save, nor His ear to dull to
hear (Isaiah 59:1). She asked the Jews to join her in a three day fast. When this is done, I will go to the king,
even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:16).
When the music sounded
signaling that all peoples and nations were to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar’s
golden image, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego soared by faith. Rather then
caving to peer pressure as the people around them bowed low, they testified
that the God we serve is able to save us
from it [blazing furnace], and he
will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to
know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you
have set up (Daniel 3:17-18).
The blazing furnace of grief,
attacks from the enemy, and temptation to bow to false gods is not unique to
David, Esther, or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. It’s our story, too. Let’s
refuse to run when we can fly. Lift up
your eyes to the hills. Our help comes
from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:2). He’s the
greatest!
HE>i:
Where do you turn when
faced with loss and adversity?
When I get
overwhelmed, confused, exhausted, I need a safe place where I can run and be
protected. I need the name of the Lord.
Nancy Leigh DeMoss
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