Through The Window

Have you ever heard the Bible verse, "When one door closes, another one opens?" Well, forget about it. It's not a Bible verse. Alexander Graham Bell said it in 1935. Here's the full quote:

"When one door shuts, another one opens, but we sometimes stare at the closed door for so long and with such sadness that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."

Still the concept of God opening and closing doors is VERY Biblical. Here are a few examples.

Rahab let the Israelite spies down through a window to keep them from harm.

"Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall." - Joshua 2:15

Michal, David's wife, let him down through a window to prevent Saul from killing him.

"So Michal let David down through the window, and he fled away and escaped." - 1 Samuel 19:12

Saul (Paul) was lowered down through a window by his disciples to keep the Jews from killing him.

"But his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall, lowering him in a basket." - Acts 9:25

The point of all this is that God always provides a way out for us in our struggles. It might not be how we thought he'd do it but it happens, and for God's ultimate glory. Even in our sin He provides for us.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." - 1 Corinthians 10:14

No go look at that Alexander Graham Bell quote again.

"We sometimes stare at the closed door for so long and with such sadness that we fail to see the one that has opened for us."

Finally . . .

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

Look Through Any Window - Hollies

Through the Window

If we read the Bible often enough we can begin to notice things. Repeated words or stories. Such is the case with today's story about windows.

In the 19th chapter of 1st Samuel, King Saul is trying to kill David. David's wife Michal warned David and helped him escape when Saul's men came for him.

"Saul sent men to David’s house to watch it and to kill him in the morning. But Michal, David’s wife, warned him, “If you don’t run for your life tonight, tomorrow you’ll be killed.” So Michal let David down through a window, and he fled and escaped." - 1 Samuel 19:11-12

That phrase, "through a window", caught my attention. I've read that before. 'Through a window' appears 11 times in the Bible.

The first is in the Book of Joshua when spies were sent into Jericho. To escape, Rahab let the spies down 'through a window.'

"So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall." - Joshua 2:15

Who was Rahab? A prostitute, yes, but what else is significant about her? And what did she accomplish for the spies?

Well, she delivered the spies from certain death. And she was in the lineage of the Messiah - Jesus.

The Apostle Paul was another example of someone being saved by being let down "through a window."

"In Damascus the governor under King Aretas had the city of the Damascenes guarded in order to arrest me. But I was lowered in a basket from a window in the wall and slipped through his hands." - 2 Corinthians 11:32-33

Who was Paul? An apostle of our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Hosea 13:3 mentions "escaping through a window." Even the Song of Songs speaks of someone "looking through a window." That 'someone' is Jesus.

It is only 'through' our faith in Jesus that we can escape this world and the death that awaits us all. Our faith in Jesus is the window.

We all have heard the phrase a "window of opportunity." What good is that opportunity if we don't take it? What good is a window if we don't use it?

"God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape." - 1 Corinthians 10:13

WE are the ones that have to get into the basket, as Paul did. WE are the ones who have to go "through the window" by placing our faith in Jesus.

God has provided a means to escape sin and death. His name is Jesus. And Jesus is waiting on the other side of the window. Watching. Waiting.

What are you waiting for?