Rest and Be Rescue

If you've ever watched a drowning person be rescued, the one in trouble often hinders the rescue. In fear and panic, he struggles against the one who can bring him to safety. God warned His people about aligning themselves - putting their trust in - pagan nations instead of relying solely on Him as their deliverer. He pictures the result of their misplaced trust like this: "Like a crack [in a wall] about to fall, a bulge in a high wall, whose collapse comes suddenly in an instant, whose collapse is like the smashing of a potter's jar, crushed so savagely that there cannot be found among its pieces a potsherd [large enough] to take [coals of] fire from a fireplace, or to scoop water from a cistern." (Isaiah 30:13-14 AMP). God is not without mercy, however: "For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel has said this, 'In returning [to Me] and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and confident trust your strength.'" (V.15). The Puritan says it like this: "the repenting soul is the victorious soul" (The Valley of Vision). I like to think of it like this - to give up is to win. Like a victim of treacherous waters, drowning and in desperate need of rescue, when we surrender to The One Who is all sufficient - able and willing to deliver us, only then are we brought to safety. What a beautiful promise we have, "The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” (Exodus 14:14 ESV). Don't forfeit the victory Jesus promises - know His ... rest and rescue.