A Hedge of Protection

Life often gets difficult for the child of God.  The winds of opposition and the waves of powerful trials will crash over us.  Dangerous encounters with others who desire to do us harm will come our way. However, the believer is not left to fend for himself during these times.  We have a protector; we have a shield.  The Bible declares: “…He is my shield, and I take refuge in Him.  He makes the nations submit to me” (Psalm 144:2).  Proverbs 2:8 also says: “He… preserves the way of His saints”. 

I am reminded of the life of Abraham when he chooses to move into the area of Gerar.  Abraham once again told those he encountered that his wife Sarah was his sister.  This half-truth showed his lack of complete confidence in His Lord to preserve him.  He thought that anyone with power would kill him and take Sarah.  The king of the area named Abimelech took Sarah and added her to his harem.  Abraham’s actions were about to ruin God’s plans for him.  God stepped in and appeared to Abimelech in a dream and told him that he was a dead man because he had taken another man’s wife. God kept him from touching Sarah.  Abimelech had no idea Sarah was married and humbly apologized and returned Sarah to Abraham.  God was Abraham’s shield, and his hedge of protection.  Even though Abraham lied, God still preserved His child.

I am so thankful that even when we mess up big time, God steps in and pulls us out of dangerous situations.  He is our shield; He is our deliverer.  Nothing can happen to the child of God that does not first go through the hedge that God puts around us.  Romans 8:28 reminds us: “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them”. 

We who belong to the Lord are secure and safe behind God who is our shield.  He is not only our Savior; He is also our hedge of protection.