DON’T BREAK THE FENCE!

Dear Believer,

Have you ever felt like you were restricted by God?

After Noah had finished building the ark and brought in his family and the creatures, we read that “The Lord shut him in.” (Genesis 7:16).

It was God Himself who shut the door from the outside. It couldn’t be done from the inside.

Although Noah couldn’t shut the door from the inside, he could open any part he wanted from the inside. For instance, 40 days after the flood had abated, he opened the windows of the ark. Later, he opened the covering of the ark. He did all that from the inside.

Note : he couldn’t shut the door of the Ark; that was God’s prerogative. But he could open the ark from the inside.

The Ark signifies divine protection. God owes all His children protection. He keeps you in the Ark from the floods ravaging the earth. Stay in the Ark to be safe. God won’t open the door of the ark to let in the sea monsters of the world devour you, but you must not open the window of the Ark, or the covering, or the door from the inside until the storms are calmed.

He sometimes shuts you in to protect you from some evil you aren’t even aware of. Stay calm and be patient. The floods will abate, and the storms will end. Don’t leave just yet. (The wise will understand that I’m not talking about you staying at home and not coming out at all). 

You see, that old serpent had slithered round and round Job and his possessions but couldn’t penetrate. The hedge that God built was impenetrably intact!

God is the one who builds the hedge of protection around His own children. One day, God boasted about Job’s integrity to Satan. The accuser responded:

“God, do you think Job is devoted to you for nothing? Haven’t you put a hedge [or protective fence] around him, his house and all that he has?” (Job 1:10).

You see, that old serpent had slithered round and round Job and his possessions but couldn’t penetrate. The hedge that God built was impenetrably intact!

But this hedge, like the Ark, can be broken from the inside.

“He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” Ecclesiastes 10:8 (KJV).

It isn’t God’s fault when the old serpent bites; someone has broken the hedge!

Let the righteous stay under the shadow of the divine wings — in the secret place where the serpent cannot enter to strike with his ancient fangs. (Psalm 91).

I say let the righteous stay ‘indoors’…the tempest is raging. We read about one righteous guy who, instead of staying in, strayed out. In case you haven’t seen in this way, this is actually what happened. Check the verse with me.

“The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10 (KJV)

Why is the righteous running into it? Isn’t that supposed to be his place of safety, where he abides? He is running back because he gamboled away from the shepherd’s care. The serpent is chasing him, and that’s why he is running!

He said to us, “abide in Me.” Do not let the flashy things of the world and the deceitfulness of riches draw you away from the place of protection. Don’t break your protective hedge with sin and disobedience.

One proverb from our ancestors goes thus: “When you are protecting a chick from straying into death, it complains that you are denying it the right to eat at the refuse dump.”

Dear friend, always appreciate divine protection. Stay in Christ and don’t stray away. There’s nothing out there except the prowling enemy that is seeking whom to devour.

Some Believers take all the physical precautions to defend themselves against diseases and other dangers, but neglect to watch the divine hedge of protection around them. Remember: although you have rights in the spirit, you also have responsibilities, and they must not be neglected.

Don’t break the fence!

Have a blessed week.

Your friend,
Deon.
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First published July 13, 2020
For further studies read Ephesians Chapter 5.