Now, if you know your history, you’ll know that Germany fought against the Americans and the British and the French during World War One and Two. And yet, when it came to June 1948, Germany had been split in two, under the rule of Soviet forces—rule from Russia.
Then the relationship that Germany, at least in the West, had with American, British and French governments changed, because the Soviet forces blocked the main roads to West Berlin, blocked the railway, blocked the water routes, and the only hope for West Berlin was in American, British and French authorities. They were in charge there in West Berlin.
And the question was, will these people, who were once our enemies, now work for us?
And, as far as the people of West Berlin were concerned, the best way for American, British and French authorities to show them that they were for them was to reopen these supply routes, so that food and fuel could come in. Winter was coming.
But Britain and America did not do that. However, instead, planes started coming over. But even while these planes were coming, people thought, ‘No, this is not good. The supply routes are closed, and now here come the planes to bomb us.’
And some people even started saying, “Perhaps the best thing would be to ask the British, American and French authorities to place the Soviets in charge. Now let’s be ruled over from Russia. Stop these planes.”
On one day, 300,000 West Berliners pleaded for that to happen: ‘Stop the planes, and may we be ruled by the Soviets.’
And yet the planes continued coming.
But the planes were not bringing bombs, but supplies—food and coal for the winter. And the people of West Berlin, despite being in a horrible situation, were actually blessed. One woman speaks of ordering hot chocolate and two pieces of cake and not being able to finish them because their bodies had not been used to eating food—and this is how good they had it now. There was even food to spare.
And the idea, then, is that these rulers over them were actually, at least at that point, there to keep them safe and provide for them. They were committed to the West Berliners.
Now, of course, of course, that only went to a certain extent. The people of West Berlin are no longer looking to the American, British and French authorities for their help, and even if they were still caring for them in that way, their care would be limited.
But the care of the Lord Jesus Christ is not limited at all.
And yet we can be just like those West Berliners. We can fear that our circumstances are beyond the power of he who has committed to caring for us—Jesus Christ.
