|
|
The God of Deliverance
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto him. Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
Psalm 32:5–7
While fighting on Long Island in the early part of the Revolutionary War, George Washington found his troops outnumbered by British forces under the command of General Howe by nearly four to one. They were in danger of being surrounded and forced to surrender, a defeat that would have almost surely ended the bid for American independence. Washington’s only hope was to evacuate his troops under cover of darkness so that the war could continue.
The audacious plan worked because of three events that each occurred with perfect timing. A severe daytime storm with strong winds kept the British Navy from sailing up behind Washington’s position. But overnight the wind died and the seas calmed so that the small boats could ferry the soldiers to safety. Then before dawn the next morning, a dense fog prevented the British from seeing that Washington had fled. God had provided a way of escape. Washington would later write, “The Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this—the course of the war—that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith.”
God’s hand is not shortened in our day. He is still able to work mighty things for those who rely on Him in faith. We have been given the privilege of fleeing to Him for refuge and deliverance, and we should do so in times of trouble.
Psalm 32:5–7
While fighting on Long Island in the early part of the Revolutionary War, George Washington found his troops outnumbered by British forces under the command of General Howe by nearly four to one. They were in danger of being surrounded and forced to surrender, a defeat that would have almost surely ended the bid for American independence. Washington’s only hope was to evacuate his troops under cover of darkness so that the war could continue.
The audacious plan worked because of three events that each occurred with perfect timing. A severe daytime storm with strong winds kept the British Navy from sailing up behind Washington’s position. But overnight the wind died and the seas calmed so that the small boats could ferry the soldiers to safety. Then before dawn the next morning, a dense fog prevented the British from seeing that Washington had fled. God had provided a way of escape. Washington would later write, “The Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this—the course of the war—that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith.”
God’s hand is not shortened in our day. He is still able to work mighty things for those who rely on Him in faith. We have been given the privilege of fleeing to Him for refuge and deliverance, and we should do so in times of trouble.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Those who keep their trust in God in their darkest days will see His hand work in great ways in their lives.
No comments:
Post a Comment