67 Sermon Illustrations on Divine Protection

The story is told of a little boy who asked his mother if he could take his baby sister out to play. She had just begun to walk alone and could not step over anything that lay in the way. His mother said "Yes, if you'll be careful not to let her fall." The man who tells the story says, "I found them at play, very happy, in the field. I said, 'You seem to be very happy, George. Is this your sister?' 'Yes sir,' he replied. 'Can she walk alone?' 'Yes sir, on smooth ground.' 'Then how did she walk over those big stones between here and the house?' 'Well, Mother told me to be careful she didn't fall, so I put my hands under her arms and lifted her up when she came to a stone so she wouldn't hit her foot against it.' " "He shall give his angels charge over thee.... They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone." God charges His angels to lead and lift His people over difficulties in the same way.

“Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee.” Psalm 50:15

Years ago, while working among the Laguna Indians, we were asked to speak at a little village called Pawate. It was in the days before automobiles, and we rode in large wagons drawn by horses for some fourteen miles over rough roads until we reached this village. We had a meeting in the afternoon, and Indians from all about gathered. We started back at 4:30 or 5 o’clock because we were to have a meeting at Casa Blanca that night. We had not gone very far when we saw a terrible storm was about to break over us. Soon we could see that the rain was pouring down at a distance and driving rapidly toward us.

I said, “We are certainly going to get soaked.”

Our driver replied, “I hope not. I think we can make the rock before the storm reaches us. There is a great rock ahead; and if we can make it, we will be sheltered.”

We hurried on and soon saw a vast rock rising right up from the plain, perhaps forty or fifty feet in height, covering possibly an acre or more of ground. As we drew near, we saw a great cave in the rock. Instead of stopping to unhitch the horses, our driver drove right into the cave, and, in another minute or two, the storm broke over the rock in all its fury.

While the storm raged outside, one of the Indians struck up, in the Laguna tongue:

“Rock of Ages, cleft for me,

let me hide myself in Thee,”

and we realized the meaning of the poet’s words then as perhaps never before.

There was a man came from Europe to this country a year or two ago, and he became dissatisfied and went to Cuba in 1867 when they had that great civil war there. Finally he was arrested for a spy, court-martialed, and condemned to be shot. He sent for the American Consul and the English Consul, and went on to prove to them that he was no spy. These two men were thoroughly convinced that the man was no spy, and they went to one of the Spanish officers and said, "This man you have condemned to be shot is an innocent man." "Well," the Spanish officer says, "the man has been legally tried by our laws and condemned, and the law must take its course and the man must die." And the next morning the man was led out; the grave was already dug for him, and the black cap was put on him, and the soldiers were there ready to receive the order, "Fire," and in a few moments the man would be shot and put in that grave and covered up, when who should rise up but the American Consul, who took the American flag and wrapped it around him, and the English Consul took the English flag and wrapped it around him; and they said to those soldiers, "Fire on those flags if you dare!" Not a man dared; there were two great governments behind those flags. And so God says, "Come under my banner, come under the banner of love, come under the banner of heaven." God will take care of all that will come under His banner.

Some fifty years ago, one bitter January night, the inhabitants of the old town of Sleswick were thrown into the greatest distress and terror. A hostile army was marching down upon them, and new and fearful reports of the conduct of the lawless soldiery were hourly reaching the place.

In one large, commodious cottage dwelt an aged grandmother with her widowed daughter and her grandson. While all hearts quaked with fear, this aged woman passed her time in crying out to God that he would "build a wall of defence round about" them, quoting the words of an ancient hymn.

Her grandson asked why she prayed for a thing so entirely impossible as that God should build a wall about their house, that should hide it; but she explained that her meaning only was that God should protect them.

At midnight the dreaded tramp was heard an enemy came pouring in at every avenue filling the houses to overflowing. But, while most fearful sounds were heard on every side not even a knock came to their door; at which they were greatly surprised. The morning light made the matter clear; for, just beyond the house, the drifted snow had reared such a massive wall that it was impossible to get over it to them.

"There!" said the good woman triumphantly: "do you not see, my son, that God could raise up a wall around us?"

"Complaint was made to the Governor of Anconium, and he ordered Thecla to be burned. Then the young men and women gathered wood and straw for the burning of Thecla, who, being brought naked to the stake, extorted tears from the governor, for he was surprised, beholding the greatness of her beauty. Then the people kindled the pile; but, though the flame was exceedingly large, it did not touch her, for God took compassion on her. The fire was extinguished, and she was preserved, and made her escape. And Paul, taking Thecla along with him, went for Antioch. There a man named Alexander accused her before the governor, and she was condemned to be thrown among the beasts; which when the people saw, they cried out, saying, 'The judgments declared in this city are unjust!' But Thecla desired no other favor of the governor than that her chastity might be guarded till she should be cast to the wild beasts. The day arrived, and she was brought to the amphitheatre in the presence of a multitude of spectators; and, being stripped of her drapery, she had a girdle put round her body, and was thrown into the place appointed for lighting with the beasts; and the lions and the bears were let loose upon her. But the women who were in the theatre were struck with compassion, and groaned, and cried out, 'O unrighteous judgment! O cruel sight! The whole city ought to suffer for such crimes!' and one of them, called Trissina, wept aloud. Meantime a lioness, which was of all the most fierce, ran upon Thecla, and fell down at her feet; and the bears and the he-lions lay as though they were fast asleep, and did not touch her. Upon this, the governor called Thecla from among the beasts, and said to her, 'Who art thou, woman, that not one of the beasts will touch thee?' And Thecla replied, 'I am a servant of the living God, and a believer in Jesus Christ his Son.' Then the governor ordered her clothes to be brought, and said to her, 'Put on your apparel!' and he released her."

A man was seen one day going in a boat on a river with a large dog, which he wished to get rid of by drowning. He succeeded in throwing the animal into the water; but the creature sought to re-enter the boat. As the man was attempting to beat off the dog from the boat, he fell overboard, and would have been drowned, had not the dog seized him by his coat, and brought him to the shore.

When Antigonus was ready to engage in a sea-fight with Ptolemy's armada, and the pilot cried out, "How many are they more than we?" the courageous king replied, "'Tis true, if you count their numbers, they surpass us; but for how many do you value me?'" Our God is sufficient against all the combined forces of earth and hell. Spencer.

A heathen could say, when a bird, scared by a hawk, flew into his bosom for refuge, "I will not kill thee, nor betray thee to thine enemy, seeing thou flest to me for sanctuary;" much less will God either slay or give up the soul that takes sanctuary in his name. Gurnall.

Dr. Sandwith, in his account of the siege of Kars, relates, that one evening, in company with a small detachment of the garrison, he went outside the city to reconnoitre, with a view to gain information of the enemy's position. While thus engaged, they heard a distant rumbling sound, which the practised ear of some of the party recognized as the approach of a squadron of the enemy's horse. The little band hastily retreated into the city; and the gates had scarcely closed on them when the Russian cavalry swept past like a whirlwind, the echoes of their steps soon dying in the distance. Woo to that little company had they been unable to reach the city in time! Biblical Treasury.

The pea-crab seeks safety in large bivalve shells, where it lives upon the minute animals which its involuntary protector ingulfs by closing his folding-doors. From this habit arose the fable of the friendship between them,—that the mussel is warned of the approach of danger by the pinch of his little lodger; and that the latter, returning from an excursion, and finding the door closed, had only to knock to be again admitted. The hermit-crabs seek shelter in abandoned shells, which they adjust themselves to surprisingly. They will run about with these shells on their backs. It is to this animal that "Cannibal Jack" owed his fright as he passed his night in a grave-yard, and saw the skulls moving about. The crabs had taken up their residence in the skulls, and were crawling about with them on their backs. When they grow too large for the shell, they abandon it, and seek another.

Some parts of the coast of the Isle of Wight abound with caves. In one of these, a short time ago, was found the body of a poor Frenchman. He had been a prisoner, and had escaped from prison, and for a long time concealed himself there, probably in the hope of escaping by some vessel which might pass. Many a weary day passed, however, and he still remained a prisoner; till at last, not venturing to leave his retreat, he perished from want. So is it with those who seek refuge in insufficient hiding-places. "They make lies their refuge, and under falsehood hide themselves."

St. Augustine was saved from death by a mistake of his guide, who lost the usual road, in which the Donatists laid in wait to murder him.

A party of travellers in the desert were overtaken by the fierce simoom. Like blinding snow, driven by the winds of March, came the hot sands. Before the simoom had reached its height, they came suddenly upon a rude building of stone, well protected with roof and doors, which the hand of charity had erected there in the desert for a shelter. With joy they rushed into it, closed the doors, and were safe. So when the storm of indignation sweeps the earth; when the blasts of the Almighty hide the sun, and rock the solid globe; when, at mid-day, there is darkness that may be felt; when man and beast groan with terror, and the pilots of the desert lose their reckoning and resign themselves to fate,—then is heard a voice above the tempest, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself for a little moment, till the indignation be overpast: for, behold! the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity."

One day, Ambrose went to the prefect Macedonius, to entreat favor for a poor condemned wretch; but the doors were shut against him, and he was refused access. Then he said, "Thou, even thou, shalt fly to the church for refuge, and shalt not enter." And, a short time afterwards, Macedonius, being pursued by his enemies, fled for sanctuary to the church; but, though the doors were wide open, he could not find the entrance, but wandered around in blind perplexity till he was slain.

— Mrs. Jameson

Just as the mountain supports the tiny blade of grass and the modest floweret, as well as the giant pine or cedar; just as that ocean bears up in safety the sea-bird seated on its crested waves, as well as the leviathan vessel: so, while the great Keeper of Israel can listen to the archangels' song and the scraps' burning devotions, he can carry in his bosom the feeblest lamb of the fold, and lead gently the most sorrowing spirit. Rev. J. R. Macduff.

BIBLE SAVED.—Fox, the martyrologist, informs us of an English sailor, who, being shipwrecked, lost all his property except his Bible, which he was determined to save, and of which he took more care than of his money. Having clung to the wreck until all others on board perished, he committed himself to the sea, with his Bible tied round his neck with a handkerchief. After floating upon the water for a long time, supported by a piece of the mast, he was happily discovered by the crew of another vessel, sitting upon the broken fragment which preserved him from a watery grave; and when thus almost miraculously delivered from starvation and death, he was reading his Bible!

Nathaniel, an assistant to the Moravian missionaries in Greenland, when engaged in the seal-fishery, being in company with another brother, who was yet inexperienced in the management of a kayak (a Greenland boat), he met a Neitsersoak, the largest kind of seal, which he killed. He then discovered his companion on a flake of ice, endeavoring to kill another of the same species, and in danger; he, therefore, left his dead seal, kept buoyant by the bladder, and hastened to help his brother. They succeeded in killing the seal; but suddenly a strong north wind arose, and carried off both the kayaks to sea; nor could they discover any kayaks in the neighborhood. They cried aloud for help, but in vain. Meanwhile the wind rose in strength, and carried both the kayaks, and also the piece of ice, swiftly along with the waves. Having lost sight of the kayaks, they now saw themselves without the least hope of deliverance. Nathaniel continued praying to his Savior, and thought with great grief of the situation of his poor family, but felt a small degree of hope arising in his breast. Unexpectedly, he saw his dead seal floating towards him, and was exceedingly surprised at its approaching against the wind, till it came so near the flake of ice, that they could secure it. But how should a dead seal become the means of their deliverance? and what was now to be done? All at once, Nathaniel resolved, at a venture, to seat himself upon the dead floating seal; and by the help of his paddle, which he had happily kept in his hand when he joined his brother on the ice, to go in quest of the kayaks. Though the sea and waves continually overflowed him, yet he kept his seat, made after the kayaks, and succeeded in overtaking his own, into which he crept, and went in quest of that of his companion, which he likewise found. He also kept possession of the seal; and now hastened in search of the flake of ice, on which his companion was most anxiously looking out for him; having reached it, he brought him his kayak, and enabled him to secure the other seal, when both returned home in safety. When relating his dangerous adventure, he ascribed his preservation, not to his own contrivance, but to the mercy of God alone.

It is related, in the memoirs of the celebrated William Whiston, that a Protestant, in the days of Queen Mary, of the name of Barber, was sentenced to be burned. He walked to Smithfield, was bound to the stake, the fagots were piled around him, and the executioner only waited the word of command to apply the torch. At this crisis, tidings came of the queen's death; the officers were compelled to stay proceedings till the pleasure of Elizabeth should be known; and thus the life of the good man was spared, to labor, with some of his descendants, successfully in the service of the Lord Jesus and his church.

A gentleman in an extensive line of business, in a distant part of the country, left his house with an intention of going to Bristol fair; but, when he had proceeded about half way, he was taken ill, and detained several days. As the fair by this time was in a considerable degree over, he returned home. Some years after, the same gentleman, happening to be at the place where the assizes for the county were held, was induced to be present at the execution of a criminal. While he was mixed with the crowd, the criminal perceived him, and expressed a desire to speak with him. On the gentleman approaching him, he asked, "Do you recollect at such a time intending to be at Bristol fair?" "Yes, perfectly well." "It is well that you did not go, for I and several others, who knew that you had a considerable sum of money about you, had resolved to waylay and rob, and then murder you, to prevent detection."

The Rev. John Campbell relates a singular escape of a Bushman child from being devoured by a lion. The child was only four years of age, and was sleeping beside its parents in a half open hut. About midnight the child awoke, and sat by a dull fire. The father happening to awake about the same time, looked at his child, and while looking, a lion came to the opposite side 312. 343 of the fire. The child, ignorant of its danger, was not afraid, but spoke to it, and sportingly threw live cinders at it, on which the lion snarled, and approached nearer, when the child seized a burning stick, and playfully thrust it into its mouth, when the lion scampered off as fast as it could run. The father witnessed all this, but was afraid to interfere, lest he, as well as his child, should have been torn to pieces by the ferocious animal.

During the awful massacre at Paris, by which so many Christians were removed from the present world, the celebrated Moulin crept into an oven, over the mouth of which a spider instantly wove its web; so that when the enemies of the Christians inspected the premises, they passed by the oven, with the remark, that no one could have been there for some days. So easily can the blessed God devise means for the safety of his servants!

The memoirs of the late Rev. E. White, of Chester, by the Rev. Dr. Fletcher, of Stepney, relate a very similar anecdote of one of the ancestors of that pious and useful minister.

Sir Thomas Gresham, who built the Royal Exchange in London, was the son of a poor woman, who, while he was an infant, abandoned him in a field. By the providence of God, however, the chirping of a grasshopper attracted a boy to the spot where the child lay; and his life was, by this means, preserved. After Sir Thomas had, by his unparalleled success as a merchant, risen to the pinnacle of commercial wealth and greatness, he chose a grasshopper for his crest; and becoming, under Queen Elizabeth, the founder of the Royal Exchange, his crest was placed on the walls of the building in several parts, and a vane, or weathercock, in the figure of a grasshopper, was fixed on the summit of the tower.

In the year 1829, a Hottentot, in South Africa, went out on a hunting excursion, accompanied by several other natives. Arriving on an extensive plain, where there was abundance of game, they discovered a number of lions, also, which appeared to be disturbed by their approach. A prodigiously large male immediately separated himself from the troop, and began slowly to advance towards the party, the majority of whom were young, and altogether unaccustomed to rencontres of so formidable a nature; the very appearance of the lion made them tremble. While the animal was yet at a distance, they all dismounted to prepare for firing; and, according to the custom on such occasions, began tying their horses together by means of the bridles, with the view of keeping the latter between them and the lion, to attract his attention, until they were able to take deliberate aim. His movements, however, were too swift for them. Before the horses were properly fastened to each other, the monster made a tremendous bound or two, and suddenly pounced upon the hind parts of one of them; which, in its fright, plunged forward, and knocked down the poor man who was holding the reins in his hand. His comrades instantly took flight, and ran off with all their speed; and he, of course, rose as quickly as possible, in order to follow them. But no sooner had he regained his feet, than the lion, with a seeming consciousness of his superior might, stretched forth his paw, and striking him just behind the neck, immediately brought him to the ground again. He then rolled on his back, when the lion set his foot upon his breast, and lay down upon him. The poor man now became almost breathless, partly from fear, but principally from the intolerable pressure of his terrific load. He endeavored to move a little to one side, in order to breathe; but feeling this, the lion seized his left arm, close to the elbow, and continued to amuse himself with the limb for some time, biting it in different places down to the hand, the thick part of which seemed to have been pierced entirely through. All this time the lion did not appear to be angry, but merely caught at his prey, like a cat sporting with a mouse that is not quite dead; so that there was not a single bone fractured, as would in all probability have been the case had the creature been hungry or irritated. Whilst writhing in agony, gasping for breath, and expecting every moment to be torn limb from limb, the sufferer cried to his companions for assistance, but cried in vain. On raising his head a little, the beast opened his dreadful jaws to receive it, but providentially the hat slipped off, so that the points of the teeth only just grazed the surface of the skull. The lion now set his foot upon the arm from which the blood was freely flowing; his fearful paw was soon covered with it, and he again and again licked it clean! But this was not the worst; for the animal then steadily fixed his flaming eyes upon those of the man; smelt on one side, and then on the other, of his face; and, having tasted the blood, he appeared half inclined to devour his helpless victim. "At this critical moment," said the poor man, "I recollected having heard that there was a God in the heavens, who was able to deliver at the very last extremity, and I began to pray that he would save me, and not allow the lion to eat my flesh and drink my blood." Whilst thus engaged in calling upon God, the beast turned himself completely round. On perceiving this, the Hottentot made an effort to get from under him; but no sooner did the creature observe his movement than he took fast hold of his right thigh. This wound was dreadfully deep, and occasioned the sufferer most excruciating pain. He again sent up his cry to God for help; nor were his prayers in vain. The huge animal soon afterwards quietly relinquished his prey, though he had not been in the least interrupted. Having risen from his seat, he walked majestically off, to the distance of thirty or forty paces, and then lay down in the grass, as if for the purpose of watching the man. The latter being happily relieved of his load, ventured to sit up, which circumstance immediately attracted the lion's attention; nevertheless it did not induce another attack, as the poor fellow naturally expected; but as if bereft of power, and unable to do any thing more, the lion again rose, took his departure, and was seen no more. The man seeing this, took up his gun, and hastened away to his terrified companions, who had given him up for dead. Being in a state of extreme exhaustion, from loss of blood, he was immediately set upon his horse, carried away, and by the use of suitable means, soon recovered.

This worthy man, who was an American minister, had a remarkable preservation from death. While he was once preaching, a party of Indians came suddenly upon the congregation, scattered them, and carried him away into the forest. At night, he was left under the charge of two women, while the men went to rest; but his female keepers, as well as the dogs, falling asleep, he took the opportunity to make his escape. He had not gone far before he heard the alarm cry, and the crashing of the bushes behind warned him that the enemy were already in close pursuit of him. In his distress he crept, with little hope of safety, into a hollow tree, at whose foot there happened to be an opening, through which he could squeeze his body, and stand upright within. The Indians soon rushed by in full chase, without slopping to search his retreat; and, what is more extraordinary, their dogs had previously smelled about the root of the tree, and ran forward without barking, as though they had discovered nothing.

Mr. Hunter, in the narrative of his life among the western Indians, says, "In one of my excursions, while seated in the shade of a large tree, situated on a gentle declivity, with a view to procure some mitigation from the oppressive heat of the noonday sun, I was surprised by a tremendous rushing noise. I sprang up, and discovered a herd I believe of a thousand buffaloes, running at full speed directly towards me; as I supposed to beat off the flies, which at this season, inconceivably trouble some of those animals.

"I placed myself behind the tree, so as not to be seen, not apprehending any danger, because they ran with too great rapidity and too closely together, to afford any one of them any opportunity of injuring me while protected in this manner. "The buffaloes passed so near me on both sides that I could have touched several merely by extending my arm. In the rear of the herd, was one on which a huge panther had fixed, and was voraciously engaged in cutting off the muscles of its neck. I did not discover this circumstance till it had nearly passed beyond rifle shot distance, when I discharged my piece and wounded the panther. It instantly left its hold on the buffalo, and bounded with great rapidity towards me. On witnessing the result of my shot, the apprehensions I suffered can hardly be imagined. I had, however, sufficient presence of mind to retreat, and secrete myself behind the trunk of the tree, opposite to its approaching direction. Here, solicitous for what possibly might be the result of my unfortunate shot, I prepared both my knife and tomahawk, for what I supposed a dreadful conflict with this terrible animal. In a few moments, however, I had the satisfaction to hear it in the branches of the tree over my head. My rifle had just been discharged, and I entertained fears that I could not reload it, without discovery, and yet exposing myself to the fury of its destructive rage. I looked into the tree with the utmost caution, but could not perceive it, though its groans and vengeance-breathing growls, told me tha' it was not far off, and also what I had to expect, in case it should discover me. In this situation, with my eyes almost constantly upwards to observe its motions, I silently loaded my rifle, and then creeping softly round the tree, saw my formidable enemy resting on a considerable branch about thirty feet from the ground, with his side fairly exposed. I was unobserved, took deliberate aim, and shot it through the heart. It made a single bound from the tree to the earth, and died in a moment afterwards.