I Will Rescue You

A friend was telling me about the circumstances in her life which had been pressing her to feel frantic. She had pleaded desperately with God, “Please help me or I won’t make it.” And in her heart He answered quietly, “I rescued Ruth [a woman in a dreadful situation] and I love you just as much. I can rescue you too—and I will.”

Much of the Bible is about rescue. God rescued Noah from the flood and Lot from the firestorm of Sodom. He rescued baby Moses hidden in a basket-boat, and Daniel when he was thrown to the hungry lions. The Christmas message itself is about rescue; “And she [Mary] will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21 NLT)

Rescue does not always come in just the way we are expecting it. Several versions of the following story make this point. A fellow was trapped in his house by the rapid floodwaters that swirled through what had been his front yard. A Red Cross rowboat came by, and the workers urged him to get into their boat, but he refused, saying, “The Lord will rescue me.” Before long the water was up to the window sills, and a motor boat came by. The worried occupants called, “Sir, you’ve got to leave; the water is still rising rapidly. “No, no,” he answered, “The Lord will save me.”

The rain continued to pour down and the water continued to rise. After awhile, it pushed the fellow up and outside onto the roof where he perched precariously. A helicopter hovered overhead and the team lowered a rope. “Grab the rope and we’ll pull you to safety,” the loud speaker squawked. “No,” he shouted back, “The Lord will save me.”

Soon the rising water swept over the roof, and the fellow was carried away and drowned. He arrived at Heaven’s throne perplexed and angry—and very wet. "Why," he shouted at God, "didn’t you save me?"

"Give me a break," sighed the Lord God Almighty. "I sent two boats and a helicopter. What were you waiting for?"

Rescue does not always come in dramatic ways. As a matter of fact, it is most likely to arrive through unspectacular means. God will probably not provide miraculous transport if there are boats and helicopters handy. He will probably not commission a team of rescue workers to come to your aid while there is something you can do yourself. Rather than throw up your hands and declare your situation hopeless, you can look around for what He has already given or is sending your way. He is, after all, in the rescue business.

MaryMartha
(All rights reserved)

Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Email: mrymrtha@gmail.com