Skip to main content

Gibraltar

 

Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 26:4)

          Today’s passage comes from the Bible website I use. I decided to go with it because I struggle so much with the issue of trust. If you are of a certain age, the phrase the Rock eternal might being to mind a logo of an insurance company. It’s the Rock of Gibraltar. Now, if you’re like me, you may have thought Prudential chose this logo because it’s a huge rock and rocks are strong and steady. I learned this morning that’s not why.

          Toward the end of the Revolutionary War in America, Spain decided to “help” American independence by joining France in a war against England in Europe. The blunt truth of the matter was that they wanted to take some real estate away from the British who had occupied it. Helping the Americans, well, that was just another way to bloody King George’s nose. The siege began in 1779 and ended in 1783. The Spaniards didn’t do a great job because at least two shipments made it to the rock to resupply the British. Eventually, the French joined in the siege, but even together, they failed to capture the rock. It was the longest continuous siege in history, at least in terms of physical warfare. And I was today years old when I learned this.

          The analogy that Scripture suggests is that God is like Gibraltar. Throw everything you have at Him and you may as well have dumped it overboard. Those who build on that Rock aren’t free from attack. They are besieged, but not defeated. It’s not that survival is easy, it’s that the Rock makes it possible.

          Of course, it’s reasonable to ask what would have happened if the British had not trusted in Gibraltar. The most obvious answers are that they would have tried to flee to England (and possibly been captured or killed,) or they would have surrendered (with the same results.) It wouldn’t have mattered how much protection Gibraltar afforded if they had not trusted it.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more