God often gets ignored or blamed, and sometimes gets the credit for what happens. Thankfully, this time he got the credit he deserved … from most people.
Many us were captivated this week by the sight of 33 miners being rescued in a Chilean desert from their earthen prison almost half a mile underground. I was glued to my television screen late Wednesday night as the first miner was lifted to the earth’s surface – and freedom – after being underground for 69 days. The sight of families being reunited and futures being restored filled me with emotion and thanksgiving.
I was thankful for the many people who never gave up in working to free the miners; for the families that didn’t leave their husbands and sons alone, but camped in tents and blankets for 69 days and nights in desert cold waiting and praying; I was thankful for their country’s president who wasn’t embarrassed to be seen praying in public. But most of all, I was grateful to God that in his grace he saved these men.
Many – maybe most -- of those miners were seen thanking God as well. We saw several of them kneeling with hands outstretched to heaven, giving thanks to Almighty God for their freedom. A couple of the men emerged with New Testaments in hand, lifting the Word of God for all to see.
One of the miners, Mario Sepulveda, said, "I was with God, and I was with the devil. They fought, and God won.” He later told reporters he grabbed God's hand while trapped in the earth and never doubted that he would be rescued.
Thankfully, many of these men – and many of us who observed – acknowledged the grace of God in the survival and rescue of 33 miners who for 17 days were thought to have perished in a mine cave-in.
But not everyone saw the hand of God protecting those men.
The live media reports from the scene recorded the sights and sounds of the rescues, including the words of thanksgiving from miners and their families. Early media stories carried many of their comments., but given opportunity to ‘come to their senses’ and interpret events ‘more rationally,’ many in the media dismissed any divine intervention.
Few were as brazen as the commentator on CNN’s Beliefnet who said he laughed at such superstition. Many were like my local newspaper which carried in a bold type side-bar: “I’ve been with God and I’ve been with the devil.”
What happened to, “They fought, and God won”?
The tragedy in many lives is accurately reflected in this editor’s redaction. Many people are in a constant battle between good and evil, between God and the devil, but they never reach out and 'grab' God. They just remain in their captivity.
I am so thankful when God wins.
