God's Purpose & Our Ultimate Outcome

The Law of Compensation

Spiritual Glasses

Family Stories

Proving Grounds

Divine Intervention Withheld

Divine Intervention Manifest

Foundational to Christianity is the belief there is an all-wise, all-powerful Heavenly Father who cares about our well-being, and who will bless and protect us if we are believing and obedient to His will. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints carries this belief even further, maintaining that mankind is not of a different species, but the actual spiritual offspring of divine parentage with the potential of progressing to eventually become partners in “the family business”.

It is characteristic of believers to tell faith promoting stories of how the Lord intervenes to protect, bless, or eliminate the obstacles and tragedies for those who are faithful, obedient, and trust God. The scriptures are replete with such stories like Noah building an ark to survive the flood, Moses parting and leading the children of Israel through the Red Sea, David slaying Goliath, and Daniel being protected in the lion’s den.

There are numerous scriptural admonitions promoting the idea that we should not doubt, but only need to believe and trust God to engage and afford divine intervention, blessings, and protection. Consider this small sampling:

Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:7-16)

Elijah was sent to a widow in Zarephath who only had a handful of meal and little oil which she was preparing to make into a final small meal for her son and herself before they died of starvation. Elijah told her not to fear, but to first make him a small portion prior to making a meal for herself and her son with the promise that the Lord would bless her meal to not waste and her oil to not fail until the drought was over. The widow complied and the blessing was fulfilled, letting them eat many days.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego Survive the Fiery Furnace

King Nebuchadnezzar threatened Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego with being cast into a fiery furnace if they refuse to worship the golden image he had constructed. They respond by saying

Promised Blessings for Paying Tithes (Malachi 3:10-12)

The Lord says to prove Him and His promise to “open the windows of heaven” and “pour … out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

·       10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

·       11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

·       12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.