Revelation 12:14; Nourished for a Time
Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.
Here is described the protection of Israel from the onslaught of the dragon in the final rage. Israel will be protected from total annihilation.
During the time of Israel’s Egyptian slavery, Pharaoh ordered the killing of all the first born of the Israelite slaves.Moses was among the babies saved.
Exodus 1:15-17 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one wasShiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it bea son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
Exodus 2:1-9 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wifea daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was agoodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid itin the flags by the river’s brink. And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herselfat the river; and her maidens walked along by the river’s side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is oneof the Hebrews’ children. Then said his sister to Pharaoh’s daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? And Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child’s mother. And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give theethy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.
The enemy’s wrath was felt during the time of the Persian Empire when Haman sought to destroy the Jews. God intervened to save Israel from the massacre.
In the time of Christ, when Herod ordered the killing of all babies. The infant Jesus escaped down the wilderness to Egypt.
Matthew 2:12-21 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping forher children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
Not once, the devil succeeded to defeat God’s people for our God has always been on the throne. We may take heart to this truth.
James 4:7-10 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse yourhands, yesinners; and purify yourhearts, yedouble minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and yourjoy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
Amen.