Parallels from History

My hope does not rely on our government. This isn't meant as a political post, one way or the other. But, this is heavy on my heart and I must share.



I'm afraid. Horribly. Terribly. Afraid.

Not only am I afraid, but I'm disgusted. Outraged. 



Why, you ask?

I read something that disturbed me greatly. Here's the link if you'd like to read it as well.

Crazed father tied daughter to tree and hacked her to death...



But even during my darkest musings, I have hope.

Because my hope doesn't rely on our government. It relies solely in my God.



But does God care about the affairs on mankind?



A long time ago, a country was born. A new nation that God had separated for His own glory. This country was Israel. 



In Joshua 24:15, the great leader Joshua makes this statement: "...And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."



...and the verses go on to say that Joshua delivers a strong message. A mighty message. A call to revival and submission to serve the One True God. 

Israel's response?



Joshua 24:21 "And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD."

But see, there was the small issue of lukewarm faith and dedication. Joshua knew these people. He'd led them since Moses had died. He'd spent every. single. day with these people. Living among them. Leading them to conquer their enemies and take the land God had promised them. And he says...

Joshua 24:22 - "And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD to serve him. And they said, we are witnesses." 



And things looked great for a while. They really did serve the Lord. How do I know?

Joshua 24:31 - And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.



(In no way am I judging or being negative toward Israel. Genesis 12:3 - And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. I love and support Israel. So bear with me for a little longer.)



Things were going well. The Israelites were prosperous. They were thriving. They were ... being disobedient to what the LORD had told them to do.  They weren't driving out their enemies. They were allowing them to live in the land God had promised them. 



Judges 2:1-3 - And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. 



How much better would life have been for these Israelites had they listened and obeyed the Lord? Now, let's make this personal. 



How many things would be different in my life if I had just listened and obeyed God?

Now, let's apply the same question to America ~ what would be different if we, as a unified country, served, obeyed, and submitted to God?



Eleven years ago, America was attacked by Islamist terrorists. 

Flags were being purchased by the truckloads.

They were being hung in windows of homes, on doors, cars, trucks, etc. 

People that once had closed ears to God and His message were now open and thirsty to know Him. To learn about Him. 

Churches were filled. 

People sang about Christ and His wonderful grace for sinful mankind.

They rededicated their lives to Him.

They rejoiced.

There was a revival. And it was good.



Then a terrible tragedy occurred. We forgot that love for God. For each other. For our country. And we turned our backs on Him that extended grace and mercy to us as a nation.



Now, we have a leader who has stood against Israel time and time again. 



And I'm afraid. 

Not only because of Genesis 12:3 - I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee... but because of what happened to Israel in the following years after a Godly leader and the older generation had died. 



Judges 2:10-13 - And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.



They forsook the LORD.



I see so many parallels in our country to that of ancient Israel that I must repeat, I'm terrified.

Because when people rebel, there will be consequences.



When God finally punished ancient Israel, how'd He do it?



Judges 2:14 - And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.



God used their enemies to get their attention.



I'm afraid. 



Oh dear reader, won't you listen? Won't you learn with me from the past? Won't you please join me and pray for this great nation that once loved God with fervor and passion? Won't you hit your knees and beg Him for forgiveness and revival? We don't have the power to change the rules, the mandates that have come down to us through sinful mankind. We have something better. We have prayer and a mighty, all-powerful God that hears us when we pray.



This is my call to action. 

I will pray for my beloved country and countrymen. That we will stand against wrong and stand for right. That we will make it a point to do what is right; not convenient. 



What about you?











Amanda Stephan~Christian Author



BooksByAmanda.com



              


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