In July, 1962, the United States Patent Office issued a patent for a three-point automobile safety belt for use in road vehicles.  Previously, safety-belt use was mostly limited to race cars using a two-point belt with a buckle over the abdomen.  Unfortunately, this often resulted in sever internal injuries in high-speed crashes.  The three-point system was easy to fasten and protected both the upper and lower part of the body.

        “Words from Above” in the Bible promise followers of the Lord a far greater protection both inside and outside a vehicle.  The Old Testament prophet Isaiah made such a promise in Isaiah 43:2 when he wrote, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle upon you.”

        These promises may seem a little unusual, but there were definitely actual instances when the Lord had already demonstrated His ability to do these things.  When God called the descendants of Jacob to leave the land of Egypt, where they had been slaves for over four hundred years, they ended up being trapped between the army of Egypt and the Red Sea.  It was then that God instructed Moses to hold a special rod over the Red Sea, and then to stand back and watch what God would do.  God stopped the waters from flowing and caused a strong wind to dry the ground, so the people could cross over on dry ground.  When the Egyptian army tried to follow them, God allowed the waters to flow again, drowning the army in the sea.

        Forty years later, when the people were preparing to enter a new land which God had promised them, they were blocked by the Jordan River when it was at flood stage.  Again, God blocked the flow of the waters and dried the ground, and the people were able to cross the river.  So, the promises about the waters and the rivers were nothing new to God’s people, because their ancestors had seen God’s power in both cases.

        God performed another miracle when His people were captives in a foreign land, where they were taken because they had disobeyed God.  King Nebuchadnezzar had erected a golden image which he expected people to worship when music was played, or be thrown into a burning fiery furnace. But the three men were unharmed, with not a hair on their heads singed nor the smell of smoke on them.  The king released them, promoted them, and declared that their God be worshipped but no others.  God can also protect us.

Larry R. Steffee is pastor of the Center Hill Brethren In Christ Church on Miller Road in Smithville.  Everyone is welcome to attend.  For informa-tion, you may email lrsteffeetn@yahoo.com.