We often talk about being rescued. Most people believe that being rescued means that a person is saved from a dangerous or stressful situation. But when Paul wrote that “the Lord rescued,” it means so much more. To fully understand what it means when the Lord rescues, helps us to embrace everything that comes our way.
The word rescue is translated rhýomai. The meaning of rescue from the Lord is that the Lord draws oneself, in this case Paul, to Himself. The situation, the persecution, the suffering, whatever it may be, was used by God to bring Paul closer to Him.
We may say we need rescued by God from a situation. We may say that only God can get us through a particular trial. These things are true. But to be rescued by God is not simply to be saved from the situation. When He rescues us, He draws us close. The situation you might be going through right now can bring you closer to God. If you allow Him to move through and you look to Him in the process, you will find yourself much closer to Him. The Lord can rescue you from all.
“You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings–what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them.” – 2 Timothy 3:10-11 [NIV]
Tania Gutekunst 