The inhabitants of the Chanel Islands had a huge dilemma. The Nazis were heading
straight for them, and Great Britain had decided not to defend Jersey and
Guernsey. The cost of life would be exorbitant! However, Great Britain offered
the Islanders the opportunity to evacuate to the United Kingdom. Sadly, as the
Nazis were but a few days away, the inhabitants had but 24 hours to make a
decision.
Most of them didn't know what would be best. Should they stay or should they
evacuate? It shouldn't be too hard to live with the Germans...Or maybe it would
be hard... However, they didn't want to leave their possessions behind. They
would lose everything they had! They would end up penniless! And what about
their children? Would they be safer on the mainland?
The inhabitants of these islands had until 10 A.M. the following day to register
at the Town Hall for evacuation. It didn't help that it was a blistering hot
day, and the line up started very early in the morning. An ice-cream salesman
made a fortune selling ice-cream that day! Business was good!
At the final count, 23,063 islanders registered for evacuation, almost 50% of
the Island's population. Who was right in their decision? Doubt remained in the
forefront of their minds.
At one time or another we, too, have to make hasty decisions. At such occasions
we also wonder if we have made the right decision.
Joseph also had a hasty decision to make. The day before he had welcomed magi
from the Far East who bestowed precious gifts to baby Jesus. The future looked
bright and peaceful. However, "When they (the magi) had gone, an angel of the
Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. 'Get up,' he said, 'take the child and his
mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to
search for the child to kill him.'" (Matt 2:13, NIV2) How could this be?
Joseph could have remained undecided. Why leave? People from far off recognized
that the child was sent by God Himself. Surely they would be safe...
Interestingly enough, Joseph never even doubted when the angel summoned him to
leave and move to Egypt, the country that centuries ago had enslaved the Jews!
Joseph remembered when Mary had told him that she was pregnant under the
influence of God's Spirit. He didn't believe her and wanted to break off their
engagement. That same night, an angel appeared to Him and confirmed that Mary,
his beloved one, had been telling the truth.
He had almost lost her by his own stupidity. That angel had saved him from
disaster, and now, he knew without a doubt that he had to leave for Egypt. God
is in charge and knows what is best!
It was a good thing. Disaster hit the neighborhood: "When Herod realized that he
had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all
the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in
accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi." (Matt 2:16, NIV2)
What a catastrophe it would have been if Joseph had been undecided!
How often don't we make wrong decisions? If left on our own demise, we have a
50% chance of making the right choice. Hey, it's better odds than winning the
lottery! Still, do we want to gamble with our own lives?
The Islanders that remained in Jersey suffered terribly under the dominionship
of the Nazis. Most of them ended up wishing that they, too, had moved to the
mainland. However, it was too late by then! Some tried to escape from this
cruel regime. Some succeeded. Others did not.
The only way to make the right decision at all times is to rely on our Heavenly
Father 100% of the time. He is never wrong, and He has our best interest at
heart! Joseph would confirm on this, and so would Mary.
Why are we so stubborn about making our own decisions?
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door
will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, NIV)
It's up to us to make the right decision. Who will we trust?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.