THE CLEFT OF THE ROCK

"You hide them in the safety of your presence from the plots of others; in a safe shelter you hide them from the insults of their enemies. .... The LORD protects the faithful, but punishes the proud as they deserve. …" - Psalms 31:20, 23 -24 (GNB)

A submarine was being tested and had to remain submerged for many hours. When it eventually returned to the harbour, the captain of the submarine was asked, "How did the terrible storm last night affect you?" The captain looked at everyone in surprise and exclaimed, "Storm? We didn’t even know there was one because the submarine sailed deep down into the cushion of the sea"

The response of the captain above summarizes the testimony that all those who genuinely put their trust in God will share throughout their sojourning in this world. In Psalms 91, God categorically affirms that He will jealously hide His children under His protective shadow where the storm of life (e.g. untimely death, disaster, sorrow, accident, sickness etc) cannot reach them. The oceanographers called that safe place "the cushion of the sea" while God simply described it as "The Cleft Of The Rock" in Exodus 33:21-23 or "The Strong Tower" in Proverbs 18:10. The place is so safe that no harm can reach us nor any disaster come near our tent whenever we are abiding therein. The waters beneath the place are never stirred or troubled by raging storm of life. What a safe place to be!

Friends, are you currently sailing on a stormy sea financially, physically, academically, emotionally? Are you surrounded by some wild and hungry sharks? Please let not your heart be troubled by the roaring of those stormy seas and wild beasts therein. Rather, put your trust in God and He will be your shield against every storm of life till you see Christ in Glory. No matter how loud the sound of terror and agony may be all over the world, your destiny will remain unruffled and God will keep you in perfect peace. Irrespective of the negative news and evidences around us today, If God is truly your shelter, your entire family will sail/swim in glory throughout this year and beyond like everyone in that submarine above. And as long as you remain under the shadow of the Almighty God, no plague can come near your dwelling because God will hide you and your household securely in the cleft of the rock and cover you protectively with His hand as He did to Moses (Exodus 33:21-23).

"God said, “Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I’ll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I’ve passed by....." - Exo. 33: 21-23

This old time hymn below re-echoes the need to trust God to keep us safe and secure from the turbulent storm of life: 

ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME By A. M. Toplady

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee;

Let the water and the blood,

From Thy riven side which flowed,

Be of sin the double cure,

Save me from its guilt and power.

Not the labor of my hands

Can fulfill Thy law’s demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All could never sin erase,

Thou must save, and save by grace.

Nothing in my hands I bring,

Simply to Thy cross I cling;

Naked, come to Thee for dress,

Helpless, look to Thee for grace:

Foul, I to the fountain fly,

Wash me, Savior, or I die.

While I draw this fleeting breath,

When mine eyes shall close in death,

When I soar to worlds unknown,

See Thee on Thy judgment throne,

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

Let me hide myself in Thee.

As we approach the end of the first half of year 2025, my prayer is that the Rock of Ages shall continue to cleft for us. We shall enjoy a turbulence-free sail in the remaining journey of this year. No matter the degree of turbulence on the sea of life around us  (through insecurity, flooding, fire outbreak, kidnapping, etc), we shall be jealously preserved by God from all evil occurrence. And when we finish our race on earth, we will rise to meet our Saviour in the sky.  

Good day and God bless.

Maranatha!

Bro. Okanlawon Taiwo

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