Friday – Prophets

Reading – Isaiah 25-27

Highlight Verse:

“But you are a tower of refuge to the poor, O Lord, a tower of refuge to the needy in distress. You are a refuge from the storm and a shelter from the heat. For the oppressive acts of ruthless people are like a storm beating against a wall,”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25‬:‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

One afternoon, I went for a hike on a mountain trail in Virginia.

Just after starting up the trail, it started to sprinkle. It felt good in the August heat.

Before we reached the top, it didn’t feel so good.

Lightning struck every few seconds. Rain came down sideways in sheets. I was soaked to the bone.

At the top of the trail was a stone cabin. Everyone on the upper half of the trail rushed to the cabin for shelter. When I got into the cabin, it was packed with people but I was relieved when I stuffed myself into the crowd.

I was safe.

The strong towers of Biblical times kept people safe from storms and enemies.

They united the people of a town for protection. (See Judges 9:50-53)

Those who did not rush to the strong tower did so at their own peril.

To finish my story, I left that mountain top shelter to get to a bus shelter for a ride down the mountain. While in the open wooden bus shelter, lightning struck it.

The shock from that bolt of lightning was intense but, as it hit several of us indirectly, it wasn’t life threatening.

Today we can find shelter from life’s storms in God’s presence with lots of other people seeking shelter.

While it is possible to be a believer on your own, doing so leaves you exposed to all the attacks of the enemy and storms of life.

When we seek God together, we find protection, healing, and growth.

Where do you find shelter?
Have you ever tried to “go it alone”? How did that work out?