“He sent divers sorts of flies among them, which devoured them; and frogs, which destroyed them.”
Psalm 78:45 · KJV
Today's reading — Revelation 12:1-17▾
(1) And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
(2) And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.
(3) And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.
(4) And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.
(5) And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and
to his throne.
(6) And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred
and
threescore days.
(7) And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
(8) And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.
(9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
(10) And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
(11) And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
(12) Therefore rejoice,
ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.
(13) And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man
child.
(14) And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
(15) And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.
(16) And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.
(17) And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Yesterday, I shared how God is in charge of nature and everything in the world. When a fellow is on God’s side, nature cooperates to favour him or her.However, when a person pits himself or herself against God, nature works against such a person. Beloved, if you God, and this means that the elements of nature can decide to work against you. There is no better time than now to turn your life over to the One who is in charge of everything.
Jeremiah 22:28-30 tells us about a man named Coniah (also known as Jehoiachin). He was a king who lived contrary to God's will (2 Kings 24:8-9), and God told the earth to write him childless. Nothing he did would have made him fruitful because the earth had been commanded by the One in charge of it to ensure that he remained unfruitful. Another person the forces of nature worked against was Sisera, as recorded in Judges 5:20-21. Sisera made himself a terror to God’s people (Judges 4:1-3), and when God wanted to judge him, the stars in their courses fought against him, and so did the river of Kishon. Similarly, when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let God’s people go, God used different forces of nature to fight him. Animals rose against him (Psalm 78:43-46), hail fought against him (Exodus 9:18-26), and even the sun ceased shining for three days because of his disobedience (Exodus 10:21-23). It is better to pitch your tent with the One who is in charge because everything obeys Him; everything fulfils His decrees.
Today’s Bible reading tells us about a dragon and a woman. When it seemed as if all hope had been lost and the dragon would destroy the woman, the Bible says that the earth came to her aid. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood that the dragon cast out of its mouth. The earth helps those who follow the Lord and do His will; it favours those who favour the Lord’s righteous cause. When Adam sinned, the ground was cursed for his sake (Genesis 3:17-19). However, everyone in Christ is exempt from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13).
Beloved, I pray that as you praise God and acknowledge Him as the only One in charge of everything in the world, the earth will yield its increase for you (Psalm 67:6), in Jesus’ name.
Share
Open Heavens daily devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, published by RCCG.
