I would like to continue in relation to a previous article on authority, The Authority of Christ Vs the Authority of the World. Now I want to tackle the question, does God use or ordain ungodly “powers?” For example, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened (Ex. 7) that God could show forth His delivering power. God has used heathen kings and ungodly “powers” thematically, throughout scripture, primarily because Israel consistently rebelled and turned away from Yehovah to idolatry.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.”Pro. 17:11)
In my understanding, worldly “powers” were used to enslave God’s people as a last resort, to convince them to repent of rebellion and return to The Lord–The Father’s loving embrace. Unfortunately, they strayed from God over and over and over again in the history of Israel.
As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly.(Pro. 26:11)
As a point of clarification, in scripture it does not necessarily mean God ordained or caused bondage as part of His eternal purpose. He is an omniscient God and understands the consequences of sowing and reaping in the affairs of humanity. We must be cautious to not accuse God as being cruel or vindictive when people make choices to sin against Him, or each other, and suffer negative ramifications. As a multi-dimensional God, just because He knows the end from the beginning, does not mean He interferes with man’s free choice. Therefore, “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”(Heb. 3:15) If we harden our hearts, God will continue to pursue us because of love and grace. He will even use hard circumstances or ungodly authorities to plead with us so we will return to His “covenant.”
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. 36 Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord GOD. 37 And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant:(Ex. 20:35-37)
Here’s one account, among many, in the history of Israel where the kings “did evil in the sight of the LORD.” Not only did King Manasseh err; he caused the whole nation to err. He refused to repent and the LORD was forced to bring in Babylon “as pleadings” so Judah would repent.
Manasseh… he reigned… And he caused his children to pass through the fire in the valley of the son of Hinnom: also he observed times, and used enchantments, and used witchcraft, and dealt with a familiar spirit, and with wizards: he wrought much evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger… 9 So Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. 10 And the LORD spake to Manasseh, and to his people: but they would not hearken. 11 Wherefore the LORD brought upon them the captains of the host of the king of Assyria, which took Manasseh among the thorns, and bound him with fetters, and carried him to Babylon.”(2 Chron. 33:5, 6, 9-11)
In short, please understand God did NOT ordain Babylonian governance as His model for order, justice, welfare, and righteousness. I explained this in an article aforementioned on authority. I do not ascribe to or believe that every form of leadership/governance is ordained of God. Let’s make this clear again, He simply used the heathen to chasten His children in hope that they repent and return to the heart of God. Read Jer. 50 and 51 of the judgment against Babylon–it would be utterly destroyed. This will give you good understanding of how the Lord of Host felt about Babylon or any nation that follows not His heart. Yes, He’s long suffering, merciful, and loving but balance that with His holiness, righteousness, and justice. Gen. 6 says, His Spirit will NOT strive with man forever. What I have observed biblically and historically, He lifts His hand off an unrepentant people and they fall into a cycle of moral degradation to reprobation which leads to slavery and death. God, not man, determines the timing for this. He wants us to repent. He is always good.
Could God’s dealings with Israel serve as an example (type and shadow) for us today even in a New Covenant paradigm? Is the Lord “pleading” with the Church on the land of America? Could our rejection of the Lordship of Christ breach the hedge of protection and cause the Lord to remove His hand allowing the enemy (serpent) access to devour? “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.”(Ecclesiastes 10:8) Granted, I don’t know every detail about how God orchestrates these affairs but at minimum, I can emphatically say, what we see today in America is not God’s best. Agreed? We need God’s mercy for another great awakening! Father, thy kingdom come, thy will be done…
I can give you an enumerable list of injustices committed on this land from the murder of innocence in the womb and pedophilia to the breakdown of family, from promiscuity and homosexuality to corruption in religion and the highest offices of politics. All of which deserve the judgment of God. In my opinion, these great ills of society are the fruit of a root issue. It stems from the rejection of the Lordship of Christ or the idolatry (every priority higher then Christ) of the church at large resulting in a societal void. As goes the family so goes the church, as goes the church so goes the nation.
I believe God wants to deliver and restore us before it’s too late. What can we do individually and collectively? In our brokenness there’s power in tears and a sincere heart before God. If we as the people of God will repent, cry out for mercy, and amend our ways, who knows, maybe the Lord will heal our hearts, our families, our land, and restore the republic.
