U-198/10,000

Isa 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.

We need to recognize. We need to believe. We need to trust. We need to understand and acknowledge. We need to perceive that the Sovereign Lord is in control of every situation. He sees both the visible and invisible weapons that have been forged - both the man-made ones like knives, spears, swords, axes, guns and bombs, missiles, chemical, biological or nuclear weapons. He also sees the natural disasters and biological agents of disease and destruction that He has caused into being for a purpose. He knows the cause, the diagnosis and the remedy.

In our covenant relationship with God as Father and husband,believers as children, the church as Bride, the Lord knows how vulnerable we are without His protective Hand of covering. He preserves us from both man-made as well as natural disasters and diseases. Often, He may allow us to be afflicted for a while but His deliverance is sure and timely. Out of the killer, He brings forth sweetness- we become more patient, more enduring,more hopeful, more mature in our faith and character, more God-assured and confident.

When a man-made plot of destruction is under way or when a plague or natural disaster is about to unfold, the Lord knows it and sometimes sends forewarning in different signs and intimations to people. A few months before the Mumbai Terrorist attack of 26/7, in a time of prayer the Lord revealed the verse that said, " There will be a cry at the city gate, destruction in the New Quarter. Merchants of gold and silver will be eliminated." Such an accurate description written hundreds of years before but we could not piece together it would happen the way it did in Mumbai. Last week in Delhi, near the office where I was attendling a meeting, there was a blast in front of the High Court gate killing more than 10 people. The same night, I was shaken out of my sleep by an earth tremor that shook the building and lasted several seconds. I was reminded that God preserves us from both man-made and natural calamities as we pin our faith on Him and His Word. Of late, the Lord has been urging people to pray for the city of Chennai for a great disaster is waiting to happen. The frequency and vehemence of both man-made and natural disasters is increasing but the Lord will preserve His people as He preserved Noah and his family. Noah's Ark helped to preserve only his family and a pair from every species but the Ark of Jesus will preserve the faithful in every land.


Prateep V Philip