Bible Society of South Africa

He is our hiding place - 28 February 2024

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Bible text(s)

Psalms 32

7You are my hiding place;

you will save me from trouble.

I sing aloud of your salvation,

because you protect me.

Psalms 32:7GNBOpen in Bible reader

Since October 7, 2023, a large number of people have lost their lives in Israel and Gaza. In the midst of this devastation, there are miracle stories that remind us that God still watches over his people. Here are two of them:

Story 1: One of the Israeli soldiers recounts how they were off-duty, resting in a tent camp, when they received the first call that some of the Hamas fighters’ communications had been intercepted. The Hamas fighters were moving in underground tunnels not far from them. A few minutes later, another piece of communication was intercepted. This time it was clear that the Hamas fighters were even closer to the soldiers. As a precaution, the soldiers left camp and stood on the outskirts, armed and ready for whatever was about to follow. Suddenly, a Hamas fighter with explosives all around his body appeared from a tunnel that ended in the middle of one of the tents. A shot was fired and the man fell back into the tunnel, setting off a series of explosives in the tunnel. The suicide bomber was sent to cause the death of as many Israeli soldiers as possible. Their own explosives destroyed the tunnel full of explosives built for the purpose of destruction.

Story 2: Four Israeli soldiers spoke of how they walked into an abandoned building in Gaza, when a Hamas fighter suddenly appeared from a tunnel right in front of them and started firing at them with an automatic rifle. They were all hit before the fighterdisappeared again. However, one of the soldiers was hit on his glasses, another on his rifle, the third on the bulletproof vest and the fourth on his head shield. None of them sustained any injuries. When the soldiers returned to Israel, they were overwhelmed and grateful with the knowledge that God protected them. One of them said: “There is no other explanation other than God protected us. And we know that he will continue to do so.”

When one moves so close to the abyss between life and death, it is necessary to know whom you trust for your protection. We are there every day with an enemy walking around like a roaring lion, looking for ways to attack us (1 Peter 5:8).

In Psalm 32:7 we read: “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

We are not exempt from bad things that may befall our lives. What we do know is that God is a hiding place for us. He protects us from attacks and he makes us sing songs of victory.

Prayer: Father God, thank you very much for protecting me. Today, I ask that you will instruct your angels to watch over my loved ones. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

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