“Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches.” Acts 12:11
Sometimes God does something so eye-popping, heart-pounding, mouth-gaping big that all we can do is stand in awe with lifted hands and lowered jaws. “I can’t explain it, but the tumor is gone,” the oncologist announces as he stares at the scan. “There’s no way you should have survived,” the policeman declares at the sight of your mangled car. “Houses just don’t sell this fast in today’s market,” the realtor marvels as you sign the contract. “It’s the exact amount we needed,” you stammer while holding an unexpected refund. These are the times God grabs our attention with His can’t-be-ignored reality. These are the times God shakes us to wake us so we will see Him bigger and know Him better than ever before. And often it takes a miracle…
When celestial brightness didn’t budge Peter from his slumber, the angel struck his side and spoke, “Quick, get up!”(Acts 12:7). As shackles fell from his wrists, Peter stood and followed directions. “Put on your clothes and your sandals. Wrap your cloak around you and follow me”(Acts 12:8). Certain he was seeing a vision, Peter walked with the angel past two sets of guards, out of the prison, and through the iron city gate—which opened by itself. After a one-street escort, the angel disappeared, and Peter’s dream dissolved into reality.
Astounded at the awesome power of God, he headed to a house where his friends would be praying, but their welcome had to make him wonder. Although the maid believed the man at the door was really Peter, she left it locked in her excitement and ran back to report. The ones inside, who were now given the very answer for which they were asking, found her hard to believe. “You’re crazy,” they said. “It can’t really be Peter. Herod must have killed him, and you heard his angel”(Acts 12:15). But the knocking didn’t end until they let him in, and when they finally opened up, a bona fide, still-alive Peter stood before them. And all they could do was stand in awe with lifted hands and lowered jaws.
God is “always at work to this very day”(Jn 5:17), saving, helping, holding, keeping. Usually He works quietly. But every so often, He works out loud. Very loud. Don’t assign the sound of a miracle to something or someone else. Falling chains, swinging gates, and banging knocks only occur at God’s command. Let Him shake you to wake you. See Him bigger and know Him better than ever before. And don’t doubt that God has done what you desired.
He is the God of real-time, big time rescue.
Then and now.
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