I preached a message on this subject a couple of years ago and believe this is for some of us today. God, in His word constantly gives us warnings of dangers ahead. He then gives us the way of escaping them. The key is to know in what direction we are heading & if the signs ahead spell danger then we just have to change course!
But... what’s with us humans???
You've probably heard the saying that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result! And yet, it's pretty much what most of us tend to do on regular basis! I’ve certainly been guilty of it!
There's a wonderful scripture in Proverbs that warns us of this very thing... Here's a few different translations to really drive home the point...
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it" (Proverbs 27:12 NIV)
"A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. (Proverbs 27:12 NKJV)
"The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. (Proverbs 27:12 ESV)
Isn't it interesting how we operate?
Say I wanted to travel to Sydney from the Gold Coast by car. I look at the map and clearly see that Sydney is South of the Gold Coast. But, I get in my car and begin to drive North...
What do you think would happen? I would never reach Sydney thats what would happen! All my good intentions of wanting to go to Sydney would be futile because I was heading in the wrong direction! And yet, we are often faced with plenty of signs saying "don't do this" or "don't go there" and yet we still do! Our intention is to go one way but we simply head in the opposite direction!
"The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it"
The prudent see danger and take refuge!!! Taking refuge? What exactly does that actually look like and where can I possibly hide anyway?
Well, have you ever seen a mother hen with her chicks? I grew up on a farm and had the privilege of raising heaps of chickens, amongst other animals. Watching a hen with her chicks is truly one of natures beautiful things. You see these little yellow day old chicks running around and suddenly something might spook them. What happens next is truly amazing. The mother quickly gathers all of those little guys, sometimes up to 10 or 15 of them and gathers them under her wings and covers each and every one of them so that they are completely hidden "in her". There will be no trace of them anywhere! Safe and sound taking refuge from what ever scared them.
You see, our God is just like that mother hen. He wants us to take refuge "in Him!" When we do this, He is able to cover us from whatever may be trying to bring us down or destroy us. "The prudent see danger and take refuge..."
Why do we as humans think we can do everything ourselves? Even day old chickens know better! They see danger and immediately run to the protection of their mothers' wings seeking refuge!
The second part of this verse says it all really... "But the simple keep going and suffer for it"... The "SIMPLE" keep going and SUFFER! If we are "simple" in other words stupid, stubborn or foolish, we will will not heed the warnings and just keep heading towards disaster and unfortunately have to pay the consequences of our actions!
Maybe we need to ask ourselves this question every day... What will I be? Prudent or Simple?
Psalms 91:1-6 NKJV gives us this wonderful promise...
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.”
In these most of uncertain days with global pandemics and fear of what may lay ahead, with wars and rumours of wars, with human life treated like a throw away item, maybe just maybe we can all take a lesson from the little chicks... And when we see danger, take cover "take refuge" under the wings of the Father... He stands waiting with His arms wide open for us to Hide in Him! If that's not a beautiful picture to wake up to, I don't know what is!
Have a great day!
