The Watchfulness of God
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Does God watch over the lives of little children on the earth? Does He keep guard over imperilled infancy? The story of the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt answers the question in the case of one infant life. It was a flight divinely ordered and directed. The Child Jesus was in danger. There was no human way of escape. He who had come to earth to be the Redeemer of men—was about to be slain in His cradle!
Then Heaven interfered for His deliverance. An angel came to Joseph, bidding him hasten away, because the life of the Child was in peril. Instantly the command was obeyed, and when Herod's soldiers came—the Child they were sent to destroy, was safe beyond their reach.
The Child Jesus was unique in the world's history—but the same providence that watched over His infancy, watches over the infancy of every child. To our eyes, evil seems to strike where it pleases. Weakness appears to have no defence against strength. Pestilence knows no distinction when it comes into a community—but enters the home of the evil and the good with like impunity. But ever Heaven is watching. There are lives no pestilence can touch. There is a wall of protection about them, which nothing can pass. The child who has a mission for God in the future—cannot be stricken in his cradle!
Only one thing need concern us—the doing of our duty, hour by hour, as it comes to us. We have nothing whatever to do with the keeping of our own lives. We never need to ask whether a certain way is safe for us. Absolutely the only question we need to ask is—what God would have us to do. His way is the safe way, though it be through a thousand perils. If we listen for the divine voice and the follow it without question, we shall ever be under the wings and protection of God.
The legends tell of the way the Holy Family were led, protected and provided for, in the flight to Egypt. We call these apocryphalstories. But no matter. Heaven was really open over these peasant travellers all the way. So heaven is open over everyone who seeks safety and care in obedience to the divine command.
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