Because of where we find ourselves as a compromised and deceived nation [struggling to find and follow God’s standard of Truth], I spend a lot of time praying and seeking God for wisdom on how to bring loving and relevant spiritual guidance to the Lord’s people in my care. I have always held the conviction, by the Spirit, God’s plans for Israel and the United States are connected in divine righteousness; we share a vision to be a free society on the pathway to peace by honoring God’s standard and protecting the rights of our citizens.
In fact, history reveals the Jewish nation stood as an example upon which the early American colonists would build. The moral standard God provided Israel proved to produced a more civilized nation; manifesting God’s divine nature of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal. 5:22-23 NLT). The righteous fruit of God’s character was produced in government leaders, released in policies, and revealed to individuals, as God was positioned before the people as the righteous Ruler.
This, of course, was always the plan and purpose of God for Israel; to be a righteous fruit-bearing example to other nations (Ex. 19:6). Keep in mind Israel was not more valuable to God than other nations, they were simply the ones chosen to be the model for the mission of God. The message was clear as nations listened: When God was leading the nation, the people would experience true freedom, as well as divine blessing. “The nation whose True God is the Eternal is truly blessed; fortunate are all whom He chooses to inherit His legacy (Ps. 33:12 VOICE).
However, human beings void of a dependent and devoted relationship with God, act upon the sinful attempts of evil to lure them from freedom into bondage. It happens one idolatrous and unrighteous choice against God’s standard at a time. In Scripture, we read about Israel’s struggle to remain devoted to righteous living in a sinful unbelieving world. Foolish choices cost Israel the blessing over and over again, but God still remained faithful to restore her as we saw in our reading from yesterday with the remnant enduring God’s judgment through the Assyrians (Isa. 10:20 NLT). Listen and learn.
In our Old Testament passage, today, Israel once again learns the consequences of compromise. God had position his daughter—the prophet Deborah—to bring guidance to Israel and for forty years they had experienced peace (Jdg. 5:31). However, the people chose to wander from God’s standard once again. In doing so, they lost control of their homeland; the Midianites [a nomadic tribe] were allowed and used by the Lord to oppress Israel for seven years in order to draw his people back to righteousness. Listen and learn.
The Midianites drained Israel’s resources and supplies. Because of Israel’s disobedience to God, they opened the door for the enemy to come in and rob them leaving the entire nation vulnerable to starvation and lack. Here’s some Good News…When the people finally unite and cry out—realizing and repenting from their sin against God—the Lord rescues them by bringing in Gideon [translates “warrior,” “destroyer,” “one who cuts down”] to walk Israel back to God, rid the land of invaders, and move the people out of their barrenness and back into blessing. God chose a very unlikely man, Gideon, and empowered him to become a hero of the faith in delivering Israel. Gideon told the people, “I will not rule over you…the Lord will rule over you” (Jdg. 8:23). Again, may we listen and learn from history.
As I started this post, I will continue and end with my prayers for this nation. This is our wakeup call. Our choices must be to follow the righteous standards of God. Government will not and cannot save us; government was created by God to lead people toward the righteous Ruler (Rom. 13:1 NLT). Oh, we might survive a bit longer with one human leader over another based on God’s will, but friends…Jesus is making us choose whom we will serve and be assured compromising with evil has temporal, as well as eternal consequences.
Judges 6:1-10 NLT Gideon Becomes Israel’s Judge
1 The Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight. So the Lord handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. 2 The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. 3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, marauders from Midian, Amalek, and the people of the east would attack Israel, 4 camping in the land and destroying crops as far away as Gaza. They left the Israelites with nothing to eat, taking all the sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. 5 These enemy hordes, coming with their livestock and tents, were as thick as locusts; they arrived on droves of camels too numerous to count. And they stayed until the land was stripped bare. 6 So Israel was reduced to starvation by the Midianites. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help.
7 When they cried out to the Lord because of Midian, 8 the Lord sent a prophet to the Israelites. He said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I brought you up out of slavery in Egypt. 9 I rescued you from the Egyptians and from all who oppressed you. I drove out your enemies and gave you their land. 10 I told you, ‘I am the Lord your God. You must not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you now live.’ But you have not listened to me.”
Prayer: Lord, thank you for reminding us about Israel and your plan for her and all nations. May we pray for Israel, America, and the world to recognize Jesus Messiah—the Rescuer of the human soul from sin, destruction, and death. There are so many ways to live that seem right in our human minds, but you are the only One who knows the righteous Truth; so we must follow your lead and rule without compromise. We bow before your authority and cry out for mercy. We repent and reach for grace and forgiveness. We pray for you to heal our lands and raise up leadership that will hold fast to your standard of justice; righteousness that leads to true freedom found only in the divine blessing. We praise you, Lord! In Jesus’ name. Amen.