Psalm 91:14 –
The Lord says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name.
I read this chapter and was “what about’ing” every verse. I mean it’s saying God will protect you and that I fundamentally believe, but against arrows flying around you? Think about the last church bus you heard on the news crashing and killing all aboard. Were they all so far out of faith with God that none were spared? Verse 7 talks about tens of thousands dying around you, does that mean very few have this God thing right? What about the missionary who dies from disease?
See what I say, you can go long into the night asking the “what about” question. Then you get into early Christians where martyrdom is common. They all loved Jesus and God, why were they not protected? See I am at it again!! I think God protects when possible, but I don’t think events on this world are orchestrated by Him into untimely deaths for tens of thousands of followers. No “s%!& happens” and not much is done about it. Sure God intervenes from time to time, but I feel the universe was created to be free and does what it’s designed to do, randomly.
I know that contradicts many theologies that God controls everything. He knows everything and is in control of the “big picture” but the “little” stuff just rolls along. Life is difficult to imagine without God’s intervention, but it’s even more difficult to imagine we are His puppets. Although I may be sounding negative about God’s protection I believe this verse is the key. The protection comes in those who “trust” God and honor His name. So as George Michaels says “you gotta have faith!”