Protect Yourself!

Turn on the TV and you will be told that you need to “protect your house”, or “protect your car” or even “protect your identity.” Buy an appliance and you will then be offered the opportunity to protect your investment by purchasing an extended warranty.


Selling protection is a huge business in the United States.


In the Middle Ages, princes did not have insurance, so they built tremendous castles and fortresses to protect themselves and their “stuff”.

Berg Eltz
Protecting Middle Age Princes for Centuries

Today’s reading is Ezra 8:24-31.


The exiled Jews were returning to Jerusalem from Assyria, a several hundred mile trek. They were taking with them gold and silver articles to adorn the newly rebuilt temple in Jerusalem. The journey would be treacherous, with thieves along the way. Who would protect the Jews?


Their protection was in the Lord, their God! The exiles prayed, and sure enough God saw to it that they made it to Jerusalem, with all the gold and silver, safe and sound.


The world has told us to protect our stuff, and in fact, as good stewards of what God has given us, it does make sense to buy insurance to protect at least some of our stuff.


However, there is something the world does not tell us to protect, and that is our soul, the essence of who we are.


We need to “protect” our soul from the ravages of sin and hell. We cannot protect our “stuff” by ourselves, so we rely on insurance companies.


Similarly, we cannot protect our soul by ourselves; we must rely on Jesus.


Jesus has better credentials than an insurance salesman. He died on the cross to take away our sins. He is true God and true Man. He knows what we are going through, and he knows all about the ravages of hell. He knows how to protect our soul!


Like the exiles relied on God for safe travel on their journey, we should rely on Jesus for our journey on Earth that eventually ends in heaven!


Unlike an insurance policy, Jesus' protection is completely free!

 

 

Matthew 2: 13-23

                                                                           Flight to Egypt

We care for and protect our children because we love them. We hover day and night, for they are innocent and precious to us, and are not aware of the harm that can come to them. Our babies at times seem to be on a mission to self destruct as they unknowingly reach for things that can burn or cut them, they will tumble to the ground if we do not catch them, they will go out in front of moving vehicles unaware of the danger and be crushed without our intervention. These are typical daily events in the life of a parent, and we naturally protect our children because they are just that….children.

In today’s reading, “Flight to Egypt,” Joseph certainly protects his infant, Jesus from the elements and typical baby dangers. He also shelters him from something far more sinister. The type of danger we never have to face. King Herod plans to search for and kill Jesus. Just think of the terror in knowing the king’s men could be bursting in any minute to rip your baby from your arms and violently take his life! 

“Take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” (Matthew 2:13) Without hesitation, Joseph obeyed and escaped to safety with Mary and Joseph. The story goes on to tell of Herod’s anger and orders to have all boys two years and younger killed as not to miss Jesus. The horror of that time was prophesied in Jeremiah. After Herod’s death it seemed safe to return to Egypt, but Jesus’ family instead headed to the district of Galilee and settled in Nazareth, as Joseph was afraid to return to Israel since Herod’s son Arhelaus had taken his place. Jesus became a Nazarene.

The love and protective instinct of a father is boundless. That is not to say a father protects his child from hurt, disappointment, heartache, or pain, but that he watches over and allows such things in order to help his child grow and learn. We must take example from the Ultimate Father; as stated in the daily devotional Streams in the Desert, “We cannot see what loss, sorrow, and trials are accomplishing. We need only to trust. The Father comes near to take our hand and lead us on our way.”

Read/Listen to Matthew 2:13-23