SEARCHLIGHT
Will your country lose the blessing of God?
SCRIPTURE
So, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and removed them from his presence…2 Kings 17:18
Therefore, the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers, until he thrust them from his presence. 2 Kings 17:20 NIV
SPOTLIGHT
Many countries have been greatly blessed by God because they have chosen to build their nation on Judeo Christian values and ethics. Take for example the United States of America, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, France, and Italy just to name a few. The Bible says, “He makes nations great, and destroys them; he enlarges nations, and disperses them.” [Job 12:23] Many people will agree that what has made and sustained these countries as world leaders is their original commitment to build a nation on ethics and values that come from Judeo Christian beliefs. The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.”
[Proverbs 14:34] Warren Wiersbe wrote, “History is never a series of human events; for behind every nation is the plan and purpose of God...History is His story.” [Whole Bible Study Course]
In 2 Kings 17, there is a description of the decline of Israel and Judah. God chose the Jewish people to become a God-centered nation in the world. In this chapter, Israel’s steps of decline are identified. It came to the point that the Jewish people lost God’s blessing. Serious consequences always follow bad behavior. The above Scripture focus says God removed Israel from His presence. The Message says that “God got rid of them…he threw them out of His sight.”
Is the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Australia, France and Italy etc. spiritually and morally declining? Alexis de Tocqueville said, “America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great.” [Democracy In America, Sherwood Eddy] That could be said about any of the countries previously mentioned. Will your nation someday lose its influence because it is moving away from Godly principles and laws? Could your homeland disappear because it loses favor with God? Will God allow your country to be invaded by foreign enemies? Is your homeland facing a national disaster? Here are the reasons for the downfall of Israel:
- The nation forgot about God. [v7]
- The nation followed practices, customs and lifestyles of ungodly nations. [v8-11, 15c]
- The nation turned away from the 10 Commandments, decrees, and covenants. [12-16]
- The nation resisted God’s call to repentance through God’s prophets. [13,14]
- The nation practiced divination, sorcery, and horrific immorality. [15-17]
There can come a point in time when God says, “Enough is enough!” You need to read the graphic information given in 1 Kings 17:7-17. It details the extent of Israel’s moral and spiritual decline. God can be provoked. Child sacrifice is deplorable. The sinful ways of a nation can reach the heights of God deciding to remove all forms of His blessing.
Christians need to pray for a nation-wide spiritual awakening. It happened in Nineveh. The Bible says, “When God saw what they did, and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion, and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.” [Jonah 3:10] Will you pray for your nation and the leaders who govern it? Prayer can turn your country’s decline into a time when many people become followers of Jesus Christ. Remember that history is His story.
SOMETHING TO DO
Check out 2 Chronicles 7:14 and 1 Timothy 2:1-4. Will you invite people to gather together with you to pray for your country?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Let us pray Psalm 85:4-7… “Restore us again, oh, God, our Savior, and put away your displeasure toward us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you prolong your anger through all generations? Will you not revive us again that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing, love, oh Lord, and grant us your salvation.” AMEN