The river was rising at a record breaking rate, and wide spread flooding
was expected. In fact, evacuation of a large area had been ordered.
The county sent out busses to help transport people in rural areas to
safety. Brother Joe, an elderly deacon, told the bus driver, "No
thankee. I'll stay here. The Lord will provide."
Some hours later, Brother Joe was sitting in his front porch rocking chair
watching the water climbing out of the creek banks, when a neighbor drove
his pickup into Brother Joe's yard and offered to take him to safety.
Brother Joe said, "Thankee kindly, but no. The Lord will provide me a
way to safety." The neighbor shook his head sadly and left.
Some hours later, as water was lapping on the last of the front steps,
another of Brother Joe's neighbors came by in a john boat and offered to
take him to safety.
Again, Brother Joe shook his head and said, "Thankee Kindly, but I'll
stay. The Lord will provide." The Good Neighbor paddled away shaking
his head sadly.
Some hours later, Brother Joe was sitting on the ridgepole of his house,
watching the water rise higher and higher over the shingles. Suddenly, a
bright light appeared in the darkness and an amplified voice shouted over
the din of the helicopter's rotors. "Brother Joe, grab the cable and
hold on. We will take you to safety."
Again, Brother Joe replied, "No thankee, I'll stay here. The Lord
will provide." Sadly, the helicopter flew off in search of other
people to save.
Some hours later, a wet and bedraggled Brother Joe approached the Gates of
Heaven. He looked rather put out to say the least.
When he got to the gates, he saw God seated on his throne. He bowed in the
presence of God, and after God greeted him by name he rose and said,
"God, I put all my faith in you. Why did you let me drown? Why didn't
you save me? I trusted you to save me. Why did you not save me?
With a disgruntled look, God said, "Joe! What did you want me to do?
I sent a bus, a pickup, a boat, and a helicopter to save you."
