Lessons from Dunkirk
“And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will be its glory within.’”
Today’s Text: Zechariah 2:1-13 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
Today’s devotion brings us to the 2nd chapter of Zechariah, who was ministering to the people of God after they had returned from exile from Babylon. Jerusalem was still in ruins. The walls were still broken down and the temple was left unfinished. This had led to great discouragement for the people who had returned home from captivity. It is through these discouragements that God gives a vision to Zechariah to reassure His people of His holy presence, promise, and protection.
Zechariah has a vision where he sees a man with a measuring line going out to measure the city. However an angels informs him that Jerusalem will be so full of people and livestock that its walls won’t be able to contain the entire city. God then calls upon His people that are still scattered throughout the known world to return to flee and return to Zion. Any that touch the people of God will face the judgment of God, thus providing assurance for God’s people that God will protect them. He calls upon the people to rejoice and sing praises for He will come to dwell in the midst of the people.
In the early summer of 1940 during the Second World War, over 300,000 Allied soldiers (mostly British and French) were trapped on the beaches of Dunkirk, France. The German Blitzkrieg (lighting war) was in full speed and the German Army had surrounded them. For the Allied soldiers, they had no where else to go for the sea was at their back. The enemy was closing in and there was almost no hope of escape.
Due to censorship which was in effect to boost British morale, much of the details of the predicament were not released to the general public. However King George VI called for a national day of prayer during the ordeal and asked churches across the British isles to come together and pray.
The speech is known as the Empire Day speech given on May 24, 1940 where the King specifically says “At this fateful hour we turn as our fathers before us have turned in all times of trial to God the Most High. Here in the old country I have asked that Sunday next should be observed as a day of national prayer. It may be possible for many of our brothers and sisters to join their prayers with ours. Let us with one heart and soul, comely but confidently, commit our cause to God and ask His aid that we may valiantly defend the right as it is given to us to see it.” The British people filled the pews of many of these churches and began to pray.
What happened next can only be described as a miracle by historians and scholars. Clouds rolled over and covered the air, thus making it difficult for the German Luftwaffe (Air Force) to launch a full scale attack from the air. The English Channel was unusually calm that week which led to hundreds of fishing boats, yachts, and small vessels set out through the channel to rescue all the soldiers. To top it all off, Adolf Hitler unexpectedly and for reasons unknown halted the advance of the German tanks against the soldiers for several days. As a result of all these extraordinary events taking place, over 330,000 Allied soldiers were rescued and evacuated safely across the English Channel. While a secular scholar may refer to this event as miracle, I truly believe the “miracle” was God’s sovereign hand listening to the prayer of thousands of people and answering it.
God’s vision to Zechariah and His people was essentially reminding them that God’s presence will be their protection, even if they see broken walls, even if they see an impossible situation. And this truth is the same for us today. We may not be facing a crisis here where everything is in ruins, we may not be facing an invading army, but we may be facing fear, uncertainty, anxiety, or perhaps even spiritual difficulties. When our strength is gone, when we are discouraged, we must be reminded that God will be the “wall of fire” around us and that in His presence, we will be protected. Thus leads to the reason that we must faithfully pray and ask God daily for His protection.
Almighty Father in Heaven, we come before Your throne to give thanks for the wall of fire that You have provided for our protection. When life feels uncertain and we are anxious, remind us once more of Your presence, that it is the greatest protection we have. Help us to trust You fully, walk in Your presence daily, and seek Your face by faith no matter what surrounds us. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray all these things, Amen.
