Devotions in war time – 25 October 2023

“But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where My people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there, in order that you may know that I, the LORD, am in the midst of the land” (Exod 8:22). Because of the escalating crisis in Israel which has provoked the gathering of the word’s super powers to the Middle East (the USA, Russia, and China), many believers are asking themselves if the last days are finally upon us. In all honesty, I do not know, nor do I think it is wise to dogmatically identify current events as the fulfillment of Bible verses which are often taken out of context. That said, the Bible is clear the end days are rapidly approaching, and believers must prepare themselves for the not-too-distant future by meditating on God’s word today. There is a repeated and comforting pattern that appears in God’s word. Whenever God pours out his supernatural judgments upon the wicked (the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, the plagues on Egypt, and the future plagues on the empire of the anti-Christ in Revelation 15-16), he always protects and delivers his covenant people in and through the raging storms: Noah and his family (Gen 8:1), Lot and his family (Gen 19:29), Moses and the people of Israel (Exod 8:22; 9:4, 6, 26; 10:23; 11:7); and in the future, all those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Rev 21:27). Indeed, the final judgment will be a time when God pours out his wrath upon the wicked. But it is also a time when God will pour out grace upon his people, providing arks, angels, and lands called Goshen where he will keep us and preserve us and ultimately lead us out of destruction and into the Promised Land. So do not fear, O child of God! “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess 5:9).