Rescue (verb): to free from confinement, danger, or evil (syn: save, deliver); rescue implies freeing from imminent danger by prompt or vigorous action
Back in the third grade, I was outside playing during winter (in the days when kids played outside!) with my older sister and some neighborhood friends. We participated in typical “snow fun” and ended up by the deep creek that flowed nearby. It was frozen over well, or so my 8-year-old brain could tell. I didn’t really have much experience with judging the thickness of ice…you can probably guess where this story is going, right?
I only remember two things from this event. First, I distinctly recall bouncing up and down on the ice. Yes, bouncing. The ice had a great deal of “give” to it. What should have been a warning to me was just seen as a trampoline. Second, I suddenly became very cold. Yep, I had fallen through the ice into the frigid waters below.
I can only assume my sister and friends helped me out, and I don’t even know if anyone else fell in with me. But I was soaked and freezing. My sister escorted me home promptly, made me strip out of my clothes, and then put them into the dryer. Her quick actions ensured there would be no evidence of my misbehavior or near-perilous adventure (whichever way you call it) when our mom returned home from work that evening.
I was “rescued” that day. My sister was part of this rescue story for certain, but I have no doubt God was watching over us that day too. I like to think God has a large squad of Guardian Angels designated to watch over 8-year-olds playing on ice!
That’s just one of my rescue stories.
Speaking of Rescue Stories, have you heard the song by Zach Williams called “Rescue Story”? You can listen to it HERE before you read further.
When I turned to scripture to find examples of rescue stories, I landed in the book of Daniel. Two different rescue stories caught my attention.
Daniel 3 tells about three men (Shedrach, Meshach, Abednego) who were put into the furnace for disobeying the King because they would not agree to worship false gods and images. They declared to the King, “…the God we serve is able to save us from it…”
The flames of the furnace were so hot that the soldiers who escorted the men into it were killed by it. The King witnessed four (not three) men walking around in the fire. He then called the men out from the fire and found them to be unharmed. Not even a burn on their robes. The King praised the God of these men, the God who rescued his servants.
Shedrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God. And He rescued them from the fire. In the words of the King in verse 29: “No other God can save in this way…”
What a powerful rescue story!
Another treasure can be found in Daniel 6. In this story, the King throws Daniel into the lion’s den as part of a punishment for disobedience to his decree. As he does so, he exclaims “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!”
The King leaves Daniel in the den overnight and returns in the morning. Again, he called out, “Daniel, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to rescue you from the lions?”
Daniel was lifted out of the den with not a scratch on him. He had trusted in his God. And God rescued Daniel from the mouths of lions.
Is our God not mighty to save? He is!
The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Zephaniah 3:17
What does it take to be “rescued” by God? The answer is quite simple and is clearly stated several places through scripture.
- And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Joel 2:32
- For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
- And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Acts 2:21
Want to be rescued?
Call on His name.
Here’s another rescue story of a man calling on His name…
I Sent You a Rowboat
A very religious man was once caught in rising floodwaters. He climbed onto the roof of his house and trusted God to rescue him. A neighbor came by in a canoe and said, “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll paddle to safety.”
“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”
A short time later the police came by in a boat. “The waters will soon be above your house. Hop in and we’ll take you to safety.”
“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”
A little time later a rescue services helicopter hovered overhead, let down a rope ladder and said. “The waters will soon be above your house. Climb the ladder and we’ll fly you to safety.”
“No thanks” replied the religious man. “I’ve prayed to God and I’m sure he will save me”
All this time the floodwaters continued to rise, until soon they reached above the roof and the religious man drowned. When he arrived at heaven, he demanded an audience with God. Ushered into God’s throne room he said, “Lord, why am I here in heaven? I prayed for you to save me, I trusted you to rescue me from that flood.”
“Yes, you did my child” replied the Lord. “And I sent you a canoe, a boat and a helicopter. But you never got in.”
Source: unknown.
Call on His name and be rescued from the broken ice, from the deathly flames, from the lion’s den, and from the rising floodwaters!
A wonderful description of God the Great Rescuer can be found in Ezekiel 34. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God tells his people of his intentions to be their Shepherd. God himself will search for his flock and look after them. He specifically tells us:
- I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. Verse 12
- I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down. Verse 15
- I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. Verse 16
Additionally, God tells us in Isaiah 46:4, “I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
God rescues us from the “places we’ve scattered” during the storms of life – like depression and sin. He rescues us from injury, hurt, pain, and shame. He rescues us from weakness, weariness, and hunger. He rescues us from loneliness, emptiness, abandonment, darkness and grief.
He even rescues us from ourselves!
Lauren Daigle has a beautiful song called “Rescue” – listen here.
The lyrics remind us…all it takes is an S.O.S whisper of His Name, and He will send out an army to rescue us.
God longs to rescue us! We need only to let Him. To allow our life to become a Rescue Story.
He is my Rescue Story.
Is He yours?
If not, just call on His name.