Protection Under His Wings
Luke 13:34
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The city who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
Jerusalem was under Roman rule and being forced to pay unfair taxes. They longed for independence and hoped for a political or military leader to free them from oppression. The religious leaders taught the law and lorded their positions over the people, who could never meet their stringent standards. They were a people oppressed by government and spiritual leadership, yet their answer sat right in the midst of them, teaching and performing miracles. While many were drawn to Him, He was rejected by those in power. Jesus, however, still longed to shelter them from the enemy that oppressed them and give them real victory. His answer just wasn’t what they wanted to hear.
We aren’t much different from Jerusalem at times. When the enemy attacks us, Jesus waits with the answer and longs to shelter us as a hen gathers her chicks, but we reject Him in hopes of finding a different solution. A chick doesn’t have the understanding of a full grown hen, and the people of Jerusalem could not understand how God was moving when He sent Jesus. Like immature but growing chicks, we often don’t understand what God is doing, either. Jerusalem had the anointing of Jesus and His teaching, and we have the written word of God. We can believe what His word says and run under its protective wings, or we can run rampant in hopes of finding another solution. Running rampant, however, can lead us straight into the lair of a predator, who is just waiting to devour us.
While Jerusalem may have killed the prophets who were sent to her, she could not kill the word of God. He remained the same, as He still does today. We can reject His word and try to find our own way, but His word will remain true and every man a liar. Our greatest hope is found by running to Jesus and listening to what His word has to say. Even if it doesn’t make sense to us, we can trust God to be faithful to His word. He knows the beginning from the end, and He will shelter us from the enemy as He brings the truth to light.
If you are in need of answers today, run to Jesus. If nothing makes sense, run to Him anyway. Dig deeply into God’s word, and trust it for your life. Reject the distractions that cause you to doubt His word. Put your trust firmly in Him, and know that whatever happens in life to you can never trump what God can do for you. Don’t drown in a sea of hopelessness; drown the distractions that steal your hope. Be willing for Jesus to hide you under His wing and protect you from the dangers that lie ahead. He is your mighty fortress, and He is waiting to be strong for you.
Have a blessed day!