Whoso shall receive one such little child
in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall
offend one of these little ones which believe
in me, it were better for him that a millstone
were hanged about his neck, and that he
were drowned in the depth of the sea.
Matthew 18:5-6
God is a Father. By His very nature, He
wants to protect and nurture His children.
The Father’s tender heart is revealed in many
scriptures. For example, Luke 13:34 says, “How
often would I have gathered thy children
together, as a hen doth gather her brood
under her wings.” And Psalm 91:4 says, “He
shall cover thee with his feathers, and under
his wings shalt thou trust.”
Because of covenant, God saved Noah and
his family. Because of covenant, He began a
heritage of faith through Abraham, and He
delivered Moses and the Israelites.
God keeps His covenant to a thousand
generations. Now that’s a lot of family! What
this means to God is not only did your step of
faith change your future, but it also changed
the future of your children and grandchildren.
If your family members are in unsafe
circumstances, you can confess Ezekiel 34:12, “I
seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out
of all places…” and claim their deliverance.
If your children need to be gathered in, you
can pray Isaiah 43:5, “I will bring your children
from the east…” (NIV), and call them in by faith.
If you feel alone, you can stand on Psalm
68:5, for God is “a father to the fatherless, a
defender of widows” (NIV), and know that God
cares for you.
God wants to bless and protect you and
your family.
Genesis 22:17-18
NKJV—Blessing I will bless you, and multiplying
I will multiply your descendants as the stars of
the heaven and as the sand which is on the
seashore; and your descendants shall possess
the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the
nations of the earth shall be blessed, because
you have obeyed My voice.
AMP—In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying
I will multiply your descendants as the
stars of the heavens and like the sand on the
seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess
the gate of His enemies, and in your Seed [Christ]
shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and
[by Him] bless themselves, because you have
heard and obeyed My voice.
Moffatt—I will indeed bless you, I will indeed
make your descendants as numerous as the
stars in the sky and the sand on the sea-shore;
your descendants shall conquer the seats of
their foes, and all nations on earth shall seek
bliss like theirs—and all because you have
obeyed my word.
NIV—I will surely bless you and make your
descendants as numerous as the stars in the
sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your
descendants will take possession of the cities
of their enemies, and through your offspring
all nations on earth will be blessed, because
you have obeyed me.
