Divine Protection

Day seventy

I woke this morning to the news of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.  My prayer is focused on the people of Japan and those in Hawaii and along the West Coast that are still waiting for the effects of the tsunami.  Please Lord bless them with an inner peace and a desire to work together to rebuild.  Wrap your arms around those that have lost a loved one and give them hope.  Supply the leaders with the guidance they need to support their people and make us aware of ways that we can help too.

I was going to move on in my scripture study today, but with the news of the tsunami Genesis 15:1 popped back into my head.  Yesterday I focused on the 'fear not' part and learned more about not fearing or worrying so much and to let things happen in the Lord's time.  Today it seems appropriate to study the next part of the verse:  "I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward."  We are talking about divine protection.

What is the purpose of a shield?  To provide a protective covering or structure; to protect, hide, or conceal from danger or harm; in combat it is armor carried on the arm to intercept blows.

How is God working in our lives to provide us with this protection?

Protective covering or structure
"The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer" (Psalms 18:2).  Notice the words rock and fortress.  A rock has a really hard surface and in some cases is very large and heavy.  So large that you could stand behind it for protection.  Are their times when we need to stand behind God to protect us from the world?  For me it is everyday!  I ask Him to be with me everyday as I stumble through my life trying not to be too scarred by what I see.

I also think of David and Goliath when I see the word rock.  It was a small stone that brought down the giant Goliath, a stone guided by faith in God from the boy David.  There is a lot of power in rocks! 

What about the word fortress?  This brings to mind a place surrounded by large, tall, strong walls.  Has the Lord provided us with a fortress?  Yes, the walls of our homes can be a fortress, church buildings, and the temple all provide us with opportunities to be safe.  He will be in each of these places, if we will invite Him!

Protect, Hide or Conceal from Harm
God uses many ways to protect, hide, or conceal us from harm.  Sometimes it is through other people, like in the case of Joseph in Egypt, "God sent me before you to preserve you" (Gen 45:7).  Although it wasn't a pleasant experience for Joseph at first, through him, the Lord was able to save the people from the famine. 

Sometimes it is God himself, "And the "Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way" (Exodus 13:21).  Moses was the leader of the people, but it was God that directed them and protected them as they left Egypt.  And in the Book of Isaiah we are told that "Lord will go before you" (Isaiah 52:12).  He is there we just have to look for him and follow his guidance for protection.

I also think of the prophets in the scriptures that were able to escape mobs: "But behold, the power of God was with him, and they could not take him to cast him into prison, for he was taken by the Spirit and conveyed away out of the midst of them" (Helaman 10:16).  I have not personally experienced this, but I think it would be really cool.

Armor

I think the first thing most people think of when you mention the word armor is the "Put on the whole armour of God" (Eph 6:11; D&C 27:15) scripture reference. It is true that the armour of God will protect you, but I would like to talk about some other references.

God can literally stop the weapons of others from harming you: "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper" (Isa 54:17; 3 Ne 22:17; D&C 71:9; D&C 109:25). I think of Samuel the Lamanite and the stones and arrows that were thrown at him, "but the Spirit of the Lord was with him, insomuch that they could not hit him with their stones neither with their arrows." (Hel 16:2)

It was the blood upon the lintel that protected the Hebrews so that they "will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you" (Exodus 12:23).

The Lord can use elements as armor.  Think of Pharaoh's soldiers, "And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh" (Ex 14:28).  Or how about fire, "For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her" (Zech 2:5).

He can even stop the effects of poison "...and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them" (Mark 16:18).

I wish that I could say that I had experienced some amazing demonstration like these, but for me the armour that works best is the guidance of the Spirit as described in D&C 8:2-3:

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart."

 "Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground."

What is the great reward talked about in this verse?  While we are here on this earth "...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world" (Matt 28:20)

This is a topic dear to my heart, as I look at what the world has become and understand that it will get worse before it gets better, the need for divine protection is apparent.  As a mother of two young men who are preparing for missions, I want this protection for them.  In fact, I want this protection for all the youth.  I hope those that have survived the natural disasters can take the time to recognize the protection the Lord has provided them. May the Lord bless them and keep protecting them and all of us too!