Howling Winds: There Is No Shelter Like the Wings of Jehovah

As God’s children, no matter what adversary we may encounter, no matter what hardship befalls us, God is able to shelter us under His almighty wings of protection – if we are but willing. Moses writes in Deuteronomy 33:12 (NIV): “Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.” Indeed, we envision ourselves sitting on His lap - as a child - and resting our heads between His all-powerful shoulders. There is no safer nor sweeter place for the child of the King.  

I am reminded of our Lord Jesus’ words spoken over Jerusalem in Matthew 23:27-38 (NIV): “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.” Those that are the safest lay themselves under His divine protection. Our passionate cries, prayers and pleads bring forth both the mercy and blessing from Jehovah Jireh – The Lord Provides. He is Elohim – our powerful God. There remains a great power in private, believing prayer. God is on the side of His children and delights for them to approach Him. He will either change our circumstances or He will change us through our circumstances – both being a blessing from above. We see but a poor reflection as in a mirror but He sees face to face. We know in part but He knows fully even as we are fully known – and we can trust Him with our lives and with the lives of all we hold near and dear. 

This, of course, does not mean we get everything we want as a child sitting on Santa Clause’s lap surmises rather whatever is the very best for us. And that is what we should want as well – no matter how difficult. God’s desire in all He allows is to make us more like Jesus Who was to be the firstborn among many brothers. For the believer, we can be assured that God never allows anything which is not for our ultimate good and for His glory – never one surpassing the other. We so often do not know what is for our best, but God, Who makes known the end from the beginning from ancient times what is still to come certainly does. The Prophet Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 46:8-10 (NIV): “Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”