Help in the Flood

1If the Lord had not been on our side—

let Israel say—

2if the Lord had not been on our side

when people attacked us,

3they would have swallowed us alive

when their anger flared against us;

4the flood would have engulfed us,

the torrent would have swept over us,

5the raging waters

would have swept us away.

6Praise be to the Lord,

who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7We have escaped like a bird

from the fowler’s snare;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

8Our help is in the name of the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

Thoughts: Our help is in the name of the Lord who made the heavens and the earth.  Without His help we would be overwhelmed by the flood of life- and the literal flood.  He is the ultimate first responder.  We should not think our help is in the name of the government- despite what they say, and the best efforts of everyone.  We are hearing miracle story after miracle story of answered prayer.  One family wakes up just in time to get out of the house.  One person escapes their car by the sunroof and swims to safety.  Others have been helped by our courageous fire fighters, police, SLED agents, and human first responders. This has been, according to governor Nikki Haley, a "thousand year rain event."   It has rained 24 inches in Charleston- which floods easily.  Roper Hospital was unreachable for awhile.  It has rained 18 inches in the Columbia area.  The government has been a great help- rescuing many and trying to keep people safe and off the roads and closing dangerous bridges and spots.  The government will help rebuild our infrastructure. But our ultimate help- our salvation now and also eternally is in the name of the Lord.  God uses government, neighbors, and means to help us, but we should give thanks to Him.  Out of a state of 4.6 million there have been five deaths.  Five too many- but this is miniscule compared to the utter devastation.
      Many are saying "we have escaped like a bird from the net."  Yet, many have lost everything they owned.  In our world in which things are valued so much, this is devastating.  Yet, it is a reminder of what Job said, "Naked I came into the world.  Naked I will leave from it."  Sometimes we need to see our deliverance is not always in terms of stuff.  At the same time, the people of God rally to help each other and to help neighbor through their sadness and loss.  This is why our church is opening its doors to allow others to bring things to be matched to their needs from the flood today.  Others have spontaneously opened up their offices (like Aaron Shealy Allstate) to allow people to give and pick up clothes and things.  

Prayer: Lord, give me grace to be a help to those around me- lending a hand up out of the floods of life.