Sunday, June 26, 2016

Toddler Avoids Tragedy

It was a warm, dark night in St Petersburg, Florida in January of 1973. He was only two years old when his dad left him in a running car just for a minute as we waited for friends to go out to eat. We never knew if he did it on purpose or if he accidentally fell on the gear lever. But all of a sudden the car began to move forward with this sweet little boy inside. In God's providence, the driver's window was partially open and his dad was nearby and jumped into action. He couldn't reach the keys in the ignition but he could somewhat steer the car as it careened into the parking lot of the camp where we were staying.

As the car continued on it came to an electric pole that had a guide wire going down to the ground at an angle. The car, with Dad on the outside and the boy on the inside, went through this inverted v-shaped opening. The pole must have been weak (or maybe it was an act of God!) but it gave way, causing the area to lose electric power. Then the car soon came to rest against a big bush. Dad was able to lift his son, Steve, out of the car. Someone who had been following, took the toddler and brought my son to me.

While this was all transpiring, I was standing nearby with a group of ladies and I began to pray out loud and “plead the blood” for protection for my son and husband. And God was faithful. The dad had a few bruises and brush burns and the toddler was unharmed. I am so thankful it didn't have a negative outcome.

There are stories in the Bible of God's protection. And one of them is about a baby! Moses was born at a time when the pharaoh of Egypt was concerned that the Israelite slaves were becoming too numerous. He made a law that all the male babies born to a Jew had to be killed. When Moses was born, the midwife who delivered him could not bring herself to kill the little boy. Moses' mother and older sister made a small boat for him and placed him among the bulrushes in the river so that he would be hidden. They prayed that he would be found by a family who could care for him.

The daughter of the Pharaoh was at the river to bathe when she found the child and she took him home to the palace to be her son. But the interesting thing is that she needed a mother to nurse her new son! And God arranged that Moses own mother was asked to care for him. What a story of God's protection and also of grace that Moses' mother had the blessing of nursing him! Before Moses stood before Pharaoh demanding that he release God's people many years later, Moses grew up in that same palace under the education and protection of the Egyptian leader. God's ways are awesome!

God has not promised a life devoid of difficulties and trouble but he has promised us His protection. Isaiah 41:10 tells us, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 34:4, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.”

When I was in Bible College, I wrote a term paper on Psalm 91. It was such a blessing then even as it is today. I have to include the entire psalm because there isn't a verse I want to cut.



So whether you are a toddler in a runaway car, or a baby with a government wanting to kill you, or whatever situation you may be in today, God is your protector. I thought of this old hymn that was such a comfort after my father died – Be Not Be Dismayed Whate'er Betide. You can listen to the hymn here.


Be not dismayed whate'er betide,

  God will take care of you!
Beneath His wings of love abide,
  God will take care of you! 

    God will take care of you,
    Through every day o'er all the way;
    He will take care of you;
      God will take care of you! 

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
  God will take care of you!
When dangers fierce your path assail,
  God will take care of you! 

All you may need He will provide,
  God will take care of you!
Trust Him, and you will be satisfied,
  God will take care of you! 

Lonely and sad, from friends apart,
  God will take care of you!
He will give peace to your aching heart,
  God will take care of you! 

No matter what may be the test,
  God will take care of you!
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
  God will take care of you!








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