The Attributes of God – God the Protector
This lecture discusses a fundamental attribute of God, which is Divine Protection. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that God is the true Protector of human beings in every aspect of life: physical, emotional, and spiritual.
Divine Protection in the Holy Bible
The teaching is based on many verses from the Psalms, especially:
“The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; the Lord shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in.”
These verses affirm that divine protection is comprehensive and continuous, granting peace and reassurance.
Biblical and Church Examples
His Holiness presents many examples of divine protection, such as:
- God protecting Christ the Child from Herod.
- God saving Moses as an infant in the river.
- The preservation of the Three Youths in the fiery furnace and Daniel in the lions’ den.
- God’s protection of the apostles and saints, such as Saint Anthony the Great amid the wars of demons.
The Role of Angels in Protection
God sends His angels, especially angels of protection, to guard His children, as happened with Apostle Peter and with Paul and Silas in prison.
Protection Amid Trials and Persecution
Protection does not mean the absence of suffering, but the preservation of faith during tribulation. God preserved the martyrs in their faith and protected the Church throughout history from persecutions and heresies.
The Spiritual Dimension
Divine protection also includes guarding a person from falling into sin, from the wars of demons, and even from inner weakness. God protects the human being not only from enemies, but also from himself.
A Call to Faith and Trust
The lecture concludes with a call to place full trust in God, to live in His presence, and to pray continually:
“O Lord, protect me from all evil.”
Whoever places his life in God’s hands will not be shaken.
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