What other biblical examples show God's protection for those allied with His people? Protected Kenites in 1 Samuel 15:6 “Then Saul said to the Kenites, ‘Go, depart; go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them. For you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came up from Egypt.’ … ” • Because they befriended Israel in the wilderness (Numbers 10:29–32; Judges 1:16), the Kenites were spared when judgment fell on Amalek. • Genesis 12:3 echoes here—those blessing Abraham’s offspring are blessed in return. Rahab and Her Household (Joshua 2; 6) • Rahab hid the spies and declared, “The LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below” (2:11). • The scarlet cord marked her home, and “Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father’s household, and all that she had” (6:25). • She was folded into Israel and became part of Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:5). The Gibeonites (Joshua 9; 10) • Though their treaty began with trickery, they humbled themselves and bound their future to Israel. • When five Amorite kings attacked, “The LORD routed them before Israel” (10:10). Gibeon survived because of covenant alignment with God’s people. Obed-Edom the Gittite (2 Samuel 6:10–12; 1 Chronicles 13:13–14) • A Philistine by origin, he welcomed the ark into his house. • “The LORD blessed Obed-Edom and all his household” (2 Samuel 6:11). Three months of unmistakable favor turned fear into rejoicing. Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 1–4) • Ruth clung to Naomi: “Your people will be my people, and your God my God” (1:16). • Boaz prayed, “May the LORD repay your work” (2:12), and the Lord did—provision in famine, a kinsman-redeemer, and a place in the royal line of David. The Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:8–16) • In a Sidonian town outside Israel, she gave her last meal to Elijah. • Result: “The jar of flour was not exhausted and the jug of oil did not run dry” (17:16). Her alliance with the prophet shielded her through drought and preserved her son’s life (17:22). Naaman the Syrian (2 Kings 5) • An Israelite servant girl pointed him to Elisha. • After humbly washing in the Jordan, “his flesh was restored” (5:14). Alignment with God’s messenger brought both healing and knowledge of the one true God. Ebed-melech the Cushite (Jeremiah 38–39) • He rescued Jeremiah from a muddy cistern. • God’s promise: “I will surely deliver you … because you have put your trust in Me” (39:18). When Jerusalem fell, Ebed-melech was spared. Centurion Cornelius (Acts 10) • A Gentile who “gave alms generously to the people and prayed continually to God” (10:2). • God sent Peter; salvation came to his house, and the Holy Spirit fell on them (10:44). Favor followed his goodwill toward the Jewish nation. Julius the Centurion (Acts 27) • He treated Paul kindly, shielding him from harm (27:3, 43). • Because of Paul’s presence, all 276 souls survived the shipwreck: “God has graciously granted you all who are sailing with you” (27:24). What These Accounts Teach • Blessing Israel or aiding God’s servants invites divine protection. • God’s promises are consistent from Genesis to Acts—He guards those who honor His purposes. • Mercy, covenant faithfulness, and trust in the Lord open the door for rescue amid judgment. |
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