Like a Flood

Our city is experiencing some major flooding. Well, all over Thailand actually. As of now, over fifty-six of the seventy-six provinces in Thailand have been affected by rising waters. There has been much devastation of homes, loss of crops, and loss of life.

The most proactive thing someone can do is sandbag the home, move major appliances to dry ground, and then go somewhere dry. It's quite sad to watch and wait as it continues to rain. And next weeks forecast offers no comfort when it only calls for more storms. (our village is dry, so far, no need for worry)

With the word "flood" being used so much right now, it has reminded me of this scripture.

"When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19

I remember being taught that the original Hebrew language was written without punctuation and that it was put in at the time of translation. So the comma that was placed after the word "flood" could be switched and placed after the word "in". This would cause it to read like this...

"When the enemy comes in,...like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him." Isaiah 59:19

After seeing the power and destruction of flood waters, I would like to attribute that kind of strength to the Spirit of the Lord. If the enemy can come in like a flood, it allows us to be in fear and left with a sense of helplessness. That's not a place of comfort, peace or victory. But I must say, though, there are times of weakness in unusual circumstances that my placement of comma switches.

Because we may never know for sure this side of heaven where the comma belongs in that passage, I guess we will have to determine for ourselves where our faith allows us to put it. I just find it fascinating that the place where we choose to pause can change a meaning so much.

So, Where do you put your comma? Does your comma move? Does God change his punctuation in different situations?