Changing just one letter in a word can alter its meaning. Plague, an epidemic disease causing a high rate of mortality, becomes plaque, a colorless film on teeth formed by bacteria, with just the insertion of a “q” in place of a “g”. Both conditions are unpleasant effects of a fallen world, and neither will exist in Heaven. Both involve harmful bacteria and pathogens, but one kills.
The reality that a modern-day plague has claimed 2.68 million lives globally makes us appreciate the severity of the ten plagues of Egypt as more than just a captivating Bible story. Water turning to blood, followed by frogs, gnats, flies, livestock pestilence, boils, hail, locusts, darkness, and death of all firstborn children likely produced the same level of fear and dread that we are experiencing during the present worldwide plague.
If only Pharaoh would have humbled himself and released the people of God from Egypt and the spiritual darkness that overshadowed that country. But his heart was hardened—whether by his own choice or by the Lord’s doing—so plagues came upon his people and land. If only he had humbled himself before the Lord, history may have been rewritten, and Yahweh proclaimed. Protection from evil could have been realized.
As our hearts soften toward the Lord, we can confidently make this proclamation: IF we make the Lord our refuge, IF we make the Most High our shelter, NO EVIL will conquer us; NO PLAGUE will come near our home. (Psalm 91:10 NLT). Pharaoh disregarded the “IF,” and suffered tremendous horror and death.
By trusting the Lord as your shelter and place of safety, He will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease (Psalm 91:3 NLT). Just one letter can alter the meaning of a word. Replace “u” with “o,” and sun, the brilliant star at the center of the solar system that is the most important source of energy for life on Earth, becomes Son, the bright and Morning Star, the Light of the World, the source of our eternal life, Jesus Christ. He is our Rock, our safe place, our protection, our shelter from deadly diseases, from plagues, from evil. Hide yourself in Him. No evil can find you there!
© 2021, Chris Werre
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