He, watching over Israel...

Probably my favorite piece of music is Mendelssohn’s “Elijah.” Of course, Elijah’s being my favorite Biblical character doesn’t hurt that rating. But the music itself is so rich that my spirit feasts every time I hear it.

One of the pieces has the line “He, watching over Israel, slumbers not, nor sleeps. Shouldst thou, walking in grief, languish, He will quicken thee.” The magic of Mendelssohn’s genius is such that as I read those words, I hear the melody clearly in my mind.

However, the inspiration for this sharing is not related to my love for the oratorio. It does have everything to do with the text.

It came back to me as my husband commented on my recitation of the blog I just shared with you about tithing. He reflected back to the time when, as a single parent, he faced the daunting prospect of supporting his son on his mission. Having the responsibility to support two other teenage children still at home, the finances just weren’t there. And so, although I wasn’t privy to private details of his life at that time, I’m sure he made that a matter of fervent prayer.

In accordance with the principle that faith precedes the miracle, the missionary was launched. A month or two afterward, out of the blue, the manager of a local department store contacted Johnie’s good friend and cousin to ask if he knew anyone who washed windows. Bobby referred him to Johnie. Never having washed a single commercial window in his life, he researched the service and made an offer. The offer was accepted and for the next two years, in most frigid cold or sultry heat, the windows were washed once a month, inside and out.

Robin returned home. By that time, Johnie and I were married and almost ready to deliver our first child. Still the window washing job continued. But a few months before Robin came home, Johnie had received the impression that the job would not last much longer. Sure enough, before summer arrived again, the kind manager informed him that the store staff was taking over that task.

There, in the middle of Central Virginia in the year 1978, a faithful father struggled to support his family. Someone watching over Israel saw the struggle and provided a blessing. According to subsequent calculations, the window-washing proceeds covered Robin's mission expenses almost to the penny.

As with all things spiritual, that is not an isolated incident.

“Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.” – Psalm 121:4