The Risks of Rescuing

Twenty years ago today, Americans were focused on the scene in New Orleans, which had just been hit by Hurricane Katrina. In terms of damage done, it remains the costliest U.S. storm ever.

One memory that stands out to me: watching the early news from the flood-ravaged city, I was mystified by reports that a few stranded residents were actually shooting at rescue workers. What on earth would make you shoot at someone who’s trying to help you? Then again…

When Jeremiah was called to prophesy, God told him, “They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you…” (Jeremiah 1:19). And fight they did. People dismissed Jeremiah’s preaching as needless doom and gloom; some even called it treasonous. One of his sermons led to his being beaten and put in stocks overnight (20:1-3). Following another, a crowd seized him, accused him of false prophecy, and demanded his death; he was saved only when royal officials intervened (26:7ff). On various occasions the prophet was confined at the palace guard house, imprisoned in a dungeon, and even thrown into an empty cistern, where he would have died had he not been rescued (32:1-5; 37:11ff; 38:1-13, 28). Like most of the prophets, Jeremiah was largely opposed by the very people he was trying to save.

Jesus experienced opposition, too. He knew that most Jews of his generation were just like their ancestors who had opposed Jeremiah and the other prophets (Matthew 23:29-37). But still he died for them. He warned his disciples that people would sometimes have an ugly reaction to the saving news of the gospel (see John 14:18-24; 3:19-20). But he told them to proclaim it anyway.

People who are lost in sin need to be saved. We need to take them God’s saving message. Many of them will reject that message and may resent us for it. How will we respond? Like those brave rescuers in New Orleans two decades ago, we must keep looking for those who are willing to be saved. They are out there, waiting. Don’t let a little opposition keep you from reaching out to them.

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