Tragedy struck numerous places this past week. From the floods of Texas to drownings in Lake Michigan, the news was devastating. I know many of us have prayed multiple prayers for the families of those lost.
God sees everything and is in ultimate control of
all. Jesus has the power to overcome any tragedy and work His purposes in and
through them. What He allows to happen can be confusing and difficult to
understand. Similarly, watching the seventh trumpet judgment unfold in
Revelation 12 is also unnerving and confusing.
Revelation
12:1-6 A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with
the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. 3 Then
another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and
seven crowns on its
heads. 4 Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give
birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. 5 She
gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron
scepter.” And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.6 The
woman fled into the wilderness to a place prepared for her by God, where she
might be taken care of for 1,260 days.
It’s a terrifying picture. There are enough
concerns and pains during childbirth, without having the added worry that
someone is waiting to snatch your baby away. The dragon represents Satan
(Revelation 12:9), the woman probably represents the nation of Israel (inclusive
of Mary and maybe more broadly the people of God) and the baby symbolizes Jesus
the Messiah. As frightening as this picture is, it’s reassuring to see how God
took care of both the baby and the woman! Satan is no match for God.
This encouraged me to remember that no matter how
bleak a situation may seem, God will accomplish His purposes. He sees
everything and Satan can’t do anything unless God allows it. Satan may have
thought he devoured Jesus at the cross, but God snatched Him back up to Heaven
(through His resurrection and ascension). Jesus was victorious over death, both
physical and spiritual.
God takes care of His own, whether it’s Jesus on
the cross, a girl at a Texas camp during a flash flood or a young man drowning.
His care often doesn’t come the way we expect. Our times in the “wilderness”
may be for our protection (whether physical or spiritual), and our times of
pain may be necessary for the times of blessing to follow.
As we face our own challenges or tragedies, let’s remember
Jesus is victorious now and for all eternity. We can look for and expect God’s
care for His children through all situations.
