“Our soul has escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken and we have escaped.” — Psalm 124:7
God preserves His people for a purpose.
He has kept us through dangers seen and unseen, through battles that should have destroyed us and through seasons that should have overwhelmed us.
However, preservation is never God’s final objective.
He does not preserve you merely so you can survive another day;
He preserves you so you can step into His purpose.
Notice the language of scripture: it does not say the snare will be broken, nor does it say we are attempting to escape.
It says the snare is broken and we have escaped.
The problem with many believers is that although the cage door is open, they continue to sit where they have always sat.
They have been delivered, yet they still think like captives.
They have been released, yet they still live as prisoners.
A bird whose cage has been opened must eventually fly.
Freedom demands movement and deliverance demands action.
God’s part is to break the snare, but your part is to spread your wings and fly.
This principle is clearly illustrated in the story of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7.
At some point, they asked themselves a life-changing question: “Why sit we here until we die?”
The moment they stopped discussing their condition and started moving, everything changed.
As they walked towards the Syrian camp, God caused their footsteps to sound like a great army.
By the time they arrived, the enemy had fled, leaving behind tents full of food, clothing, silver and gold.
What is remarkable is that the miracle was never at the gate; the blessing, provision and breakthrough were all beyond the gate.
Had they remained seated, they would never have experienced what God had already prepared.
Their movement activated their possession.
I believe that is the word of the Lord to someone today. Stop waiting for everything to make sense before you move and stop waiting for perfect conditions before you obey God.
Stop sitting at the gate of fear, disappointment and failure.
The snare is broken, the gate is open and the blessing is prepared.
Now arise and move.
When the lepers entered the camp, they began to enjoy the abundance.
They ate, drank and carried away silver and gold, moving from being preserved to becoming possessors.
Everything they touched became evidence that God had gone ahead of them, for God delights in bringing His people into possession of what He has promised.
There are seasons when God wants you to possess your testimony, breakthrough, healing, promotion, business or ministry assignment.
However, the story does not end with possession. After entering one tent after another to gather silver and gold and hide it, the lepers came to a realisation. In verse 9, they said, “We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace.” In that moment, they understood that what they had discovered was too great to keep to themselves. It was not just provision for four lepers; it was the answer to an entire city’s crisis.
That is where God takes us from being possessors to becoming publishers.
A possessor receives the blessing, but a publisher shares the blessing.
A possessor enjoys the testimony, but a publisher tells the testimony.
Some testimonies lose their purpose when they are silenced.
God never intended His blessings to stop with you: He blesses you so that you can become a blessing, comforts you so that you can comfort others and lifts you so that you can lift others.
That is why God preserved you.
He preserved you so that your family could see His faithfulness, your testimony could strengthen someone else’s faith and your breakthrough could create opportunities for others.
The lepers understood that remaining silent would be a disservice to the city, so they returned to announce the good news. In the same way, God is looking for men and women who will carry His goodness beyond their own tents.
Your life is not just about building your own house and enjoying your own success; God wants your life to become good tidings to others.
So this week, the message is clear.
The snare is broken, the cage door is open, the tents are full and the city is waiting. Arise, move into your possession and then become a messenger of good tidings, because you are not just blessed by God — you are God’s good news to your generation. Amen.
