I am intellectually disconcerted by statements attributing Donald Trump’s survival to God’s protection. Is God’s power limited (Num 11:23)? Is God’s arm too short (Is 59:1)? Can God prevent death but not a wound? Daniel did not emerge from the lion’s den with scratches and God rescued from the firey furnace “men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them” (Dan 3:27).
The Old Testament attributes many social tragedies to human actors whose evil acts serve the purpose of correcting and disciplining God’s followers (Zech 1:15 YLT).
I am more ready to conclude that God directed the bullet precisely to Trump’s ear. It appears to be the first shot of a skilled marksman. Wind, elevation, distance were evidently taken into account for a precise head-shot. He was adequately skilled to hit a non-center-of-mass target from 1 ½ football fields (1/13 mi). And that marksman only nicked the edge of his target? (Hello…Kennedy…moving?) If the shooter were not confident in his ability to nail the shot, he would have selected the much broader center-of-mass chest-shot. This man did not mis-aim by that thin centimeter. Trump should be soberly speechless.
No, I think there is an important symbolic message here—THE EAR. I think God would tell Trump to listen to God or his life will be taken from him (Dan 4:28-34; Dan 5:1-30; “the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes”). I think that God is equally telling everyone to listen carefully when Trump speaks. It will be impossible but to see that wound whenever he takes his bully pulpits. Trump occasionally speaks truth, but most of his words, historically, are perilous, trecherous, and pompous.
I am reminded of Cassidy Hutchinson’s Jan 6 Congressional testimony that Trump insisted the magnetometers be removed claiming that the attendees were not there to harm him. How can anyone make such a claim unless he knew their intent? Who brings bear spray to an uninspiring speech unless s/he were already inspired before the speech began? How could Trump have actually believed that such persons meant him no harm unless Trump already knew the planned purposes of those event-inappropriate items?
Everyone should listen carefully.
Two scripture passages also come to mind. One is Balaam with Donkey (Num 22:21-39) and the other is Peter with Malchus (Jn 18:10). I am also led to observe how easily Rev 13:3 could come to pass (at least, as imagined by the Left Behind series)