By Sandy Mittelsteadt
Contributor, Valley Ag Voice
From Snakes to Dragons
Be of good faith, God is in control of this pandemic. I cannot tell you what God is doing right now with our sheltering in place, but I can tell you what God has done in the past with sheltering in place. Below is a list of great people of the Bible who sheltered in place and the subsequent good that emerged after sheltering.
After Noah and his family sheltered in place for a year in the ark, Noah became the father of all the nations of the world.
After Jacob sheltered in the home of his uncle Laban to escape the wrath of his brother, Esau, Jacob emerged twenty years later with a new family, new wealth, and a new identity. He became Israel, the new name for God’s chosen people.
After Joseph was sheltered for thirteen years in slavery and prison, God used this to prepare him for greatness to save His chosen people from famine.
After Moses sheltered in a remote desert for forty years, God used Moses to free the children of God from Egypt and lead them to a new land.
After God sheltered Naomi in the barren land of Moab, she and her daughter-in-law, Ruth, traveled to Bethlehem to participate in a great love story that resulted in the birth of one of Jesus’ ancestors.
After God sheltered David for fifteen years after he had been anointed King of Israel. David became a man after God’s own heart.
Elijah sheltered by the brook Cherith, then Elijah stood alone against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and caused fire to come down from Heaven to consume Elijah’s sacrifice.
After God sheltered and punished Jonah for three days and three nights in the belly of a fish, Jonah went to Nineveh and preached a great revival that saved the entire city of Nineveh.
After God sheltered Daniel for seventy years in Babylon, Daniel wrote the Old Testament Book of Daniel that told the future of God’s plan for his people on earth.
After God sheltered Esther in the palace of the Persian king, Esther saved her Jewish people from destruction.
After God sheltered the disciples for ten days in the Upper Room, the Holy Spirit descended to begin to create the church.
After God sheltered and kept Paul safe from those who would harm him in the Arabian desert for three years, Paul spread the Gospel to Gentiles.
As God was sheltering Paul in prison, Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
As God was sheltering John on the isle of Patmos, John wrote the greatest prophetic document of all time: the Book of Revelation.
After Jesus was in the tomb for three days and three nights, Jesus came forth in power with salvation to save the whole world.
I believe that the God who sheltered His people in the past will be in charge of my sheltering in place and will use it for my good and for the good of other people. I will use this sheltering in place to slow down and take time to listen to God. I will repent and turn my face toward God, so that He can infill me with His Holy Spirit. Then, I will be ready to do the bidding of the Lord. For now, I can find solace in the promises of God.
