Yet another near disaster: today this wire started to smoulder and caught fire during one of the hottest days of the summer, though we didn’t know it.
We could smell the burning plastic during the day and looked high and low for the source. I exhausted my search after four attempts and the temperature of the day started to drop. The next morning, I went back into the power shed and started to look again.
This time, I had the thought to pray…
I kid you not, within seconds something caught my eye – burn marks and in the shadows, bubbling plastic behind the expansion card and guards in the DC inverter. The main DC supply wire that goes from the solar batteries to the inverter had over-heated and started to burn. Evidence of flames on the connector block going up into the inverter showed just how close to disaster this could have been.
There is only one thing worse than an electrical fire – and that is one with DC power! This fire would have resulted in both.
Not long ago, something similar happened…
This burnt out float switch below might look like junk to you – but to me it is a clear sign of God’s amazing, complete and undeserved protection…
Seriously, this float had caught fire from an electrical fault, while energised with high voltage electricity, while hanging in the water that we drink. The water could have been electrified, leading to disaster. The fire was actually spreading to the plastic water tank and had taken hold. Thankfully, a number of ‘coincidences’ and decision led to one of my sons walking through a path where they could see the fire in the distance before they came back into the house. Amazing – I firmly believe that was God looking out for us.
It wasn’t the first time this sort of ‘coincidence’ led to the discovery of a fire that could have been disastrous…
A couple of years ago, a pressure pump had run out of water and malfunctioned. That led to the pump running dry and continuing to run for hours. It eventually caught fire. Mid summer, forty plus degrees and we were away from the property. When we got back another couple of ‘coincidences’ and decisions led to us discovering the fire before it became too much of an issue. The pump was on fire, the plastic water pipes were on fire, yet the surrounding dead grass didn’t catch fire thankfully. I firmly believe it was God looking out for us – His providence keeping us safe.
This has been something that we have been aware of, not just regularly, but constantly. Like when we were running all our power through a 15A extension lead in our caravan. Little did we know that trouble was brewing…
Another more significant time, we had gone to the beach for a swim. Little did we know that the fire we had put out before leaving had re-ignited. We were heading from the beach to another location, (Woodridge), but someone just happened to message for a parcel. What a hassle! But we decided that we would head home to help them out instead of head to our intended destination. What we arrived to was a little crazy…
We saw flames – not just from a large tree – but from two trailers that had caught fire. And a treadmill. The thick black smoke from the tyres was not the most worrying… The large diesel air compressor trailer was fully ablaze. The paint, tyres and hoses all on fire. We ran and were able to hook water & extinguishers up just in time so that the 100L diesel tank didn’t blow. New tyres, hoses, paint was all it took to reverse the damage. Another minute and it would have been a major incident. Yet again, God was protecting us.
Even that was nothing compared to another fire that got away from us while burning off. The fire was engulfing numerous Blackboys & the large Blackbutt tree right next to the caravan. Our power at that stage was temporary & cut out leaving us defenceless. The 2 large lpg tanks were right in the path of the fire, yet it was far too hot to get near them to move them away. Just as we expected the fire to ravage the caravan & annex, it started to die down and we couldn’t understand why. It made no sense…until later.
The fire had burnt through the large 2” orchard water supply pipe that was buried under the leaves & sticks. The fire burnt a hole in the pipe that allowed a spurt of water to shoot directly at the Blackboy & put out that part of the fire. No one will ever convince me that God didn’t have a hand it that – the probability for this to happen would be crazy small.
A fire that puts itself out!
Another time, we started a fire right before the rain. SO many times I had tried to burn black boys in the rain – the rain would stop & then we would need to find water to cool them down so they didn’t die.
This time I thought I would light them before the rain…great idea! Only problem- I didn’t know it wasn’t just rain approaching, but a storm front. We lit up probably 4 or 5, but then the wind built up incredibly. The fire started jumping from one Blackboy to another until around 40 large black boys that had never been burnt were ablaze.
The fire converged into something huge and scary – it was totally out of hand. Our little fire extinguishers were empty. Even a fire fighting unit would have been useless, even if we had it ready to go. The only thing we could do was pray.
“All we could do was pray…”
Within 30 seconds of praying, the rain and hail came down so hard it put them all out in about 2 minutes! Some of the black boys were over 3m tall and never been burnt. Normally they would burn flat out for 20 minutes. This time, 2 minutes and all the dead leaves were gone. I’ve never seen anything like it. The video of this fire looks amazing – another example of God protecting us within the scope of His providence.
These are just a few of the times that I can remember that God has protected specifically from fire…there are so many more. Building, machinery, from heights, bobcat, electricity, driving, quad rides, snakes: every wall, every part of the property has at least one story of God’s protection.
But what is more amazing, is the fact that God wants to save us all from fire. You see, we are all headed to hell – a place that burns with a fire that does not go out. We are headed there due to our own bad choices – the things that we have done in direct violation of God’s law. But He wants to protect us from that fire… so He sent His Son (Jesus) to die instead of us. He loves us that much!
Read How to Please God here 1 https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/for-thought/2022/how-to-please-god-in-two-easy-steps/ – it’s easier than you think!
While His physical protection is amazing, I am not presumptuous that God should or will protect us in future. We take whatever precautions we can and I regularly have training or games where the kids are practising putting out fires etc. But if it were just up to us, we would have ended in disaster many times over. I mean, imagine if Murphys Law were true!! (Read Here https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/for-thought/2021/what-is-wrong-with-murphy/)
It doesn’t mean that we are good or favoured or do the right thing, we deserve nothing. But we worship the One who sustains it all and desire to serve Him with this property (and our possessions / time / gifts). He can and does protect from the enormity of His grace and power.
You who love the LORD, hate evil!
He protects the lives of his godly people
and rescues them from the power of the wicked.
11 Light shines on the godly,
and joy on those whose hearts are right.
12 May all who are godly rejoice in the LORD
and praise his holy name!
Psalms 97:10-12 (NLT)
Conclusion: God’s protection is all around us – whether we know it or recognise it or not. He deserve our praise, our adoration, our time and our service.
Lord, thank you for the things you have protected us from. We know about some, but are aware that there are likely multitudes more. Please give us an insight into what You have done for us – and give us wisdom and safety as we live for You and serve Your Kingdom.
Footnotes:
- 1https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/for-thought/2022/how-to-please-god-in-two-easy-steps/