Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? (Job 1:10)
John Paton and his wife were pioneer missionaries serving on the New Hebrides Islands. Due to a disagreement with John, inhabitants of the island surrounded the mission home one night. Their intent was to set it on fire and kill the Patons. Getting down on their knees, John and his wife spent the entire night asking God to place a hedge of protection around them.
It was a long night for both of them. When morning finally came, the Patons were amazed to see that there were no hostile islanders around.
Over time, the chief of the tribe who had wanted to kill the Patons became a follower of Jesus Christ. John asked him, “What kept you and your men from burning our house and killing us?”
The chief replied, “It was because of all those men in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands who were on your lawn.”
John replied, “There were no men there. It was just my wife and me.”
When he told his wife about his conversation with the chief, she said, “It must have been God sending his angels to protect us. We prayed for a hedge of protection, and God answered our prayers!”
It’s likely that many of us have at some point been surrounded by a hedge of protection that we were totally unaware of at the time.
Ask God for a hedge of protection when you are in danger.
Jim “Umf” Lo is a professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, cross-cultural leader, intercessor, and author of several books published by Wesleyan Publishing House.
© 2021 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
