How are you feeling today? Joyous? Relieved? Fearful? Angry? Did you stay awake to watch the results as they came in?
On Wednesday 9th November, the world awoke following a seismic shift, and I had the feeling that nothing would be the same again, I suspect that I’m not alone there.
A New President
Donald Trump is headed for the White House. And you can exchange his name and seat of power for many other highly controversial leaders that the world has seen in times past: Adolf Hitler’s victory in 1930s Germany; Idi Amin’s reign over Uganda in the 70s; Margaret Thatcher in this country less than 40 years ago. These powers rose and fell away, and the cycle continues today. And still, I find myself asking, “What is going on?”
I cannot deny that I’ve prayed to God, asking Him what on earth He’s doing. Like so many, I crave change in the world, a shift from fear and loathing, to a world where true justice, love and peace reign. I believe this change will come, I’m not here to tell you when that will be, as the kingdom I seek will come at a time which we don’t know of, and despite our best intended projections, only God knows when this shift will occur, and we will see a righteous king over all the earth. That’s a subject for another blog.
What does the Bible say?
Let me be clear on how I see things today – God gave us all freewill, a gift and a curse at the same. Scripture backs this up in Deuteronomy 30:19-20:
I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.
Donald Trump is in power because humans willed it to happen, not because God endorses him. Equally, God is not held hostage – he does not delight in the suffering of mankind as some may suggest, and He is in control, He can use the (often poor) choices that I, you, the world may make to bring about His purpose. He demonstrates amazing flexibility; take ancient Israel as an example. God had led His people faithfully through times of oppression, and had brought them into a bountiful land. Despite this, Israel as a nation kept pushing for a king to rule over them, and so God let them have their way. There isn’t sufficient time to go into the aftermath, so have a look at the passages surrounding this account. (1 Samuel chapters 9-13).
God has a plan
I have confidence that whatever I choose (good or bad) in my own free will, God can use it for good.
What I’m endeavouring to do, is to use my free will to mirror Jesus, who, despite his potential for weakness (Hebrews 4:15-16) overturned his own desires to do what God asked him to do.
God is asking you, the reader, to do something amazing today – to follow His desires for us, to live in a kingdom to come as if it were already here. God desires your allegiance. He asks us all to follow His son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to walk in a way which honours the kingdom we so eagerly anticipate.
The world is in turmoil. We don’t know when it will end. (Revelation 1:7 / Matthew 24:44) Investigate the Bible yourself, and examine your standpoint. I believe that Jesus will establish a world order of peace, justice, with its citizens honouring God in spirit and truth.
In the meantime, what are we called to do?
Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
Hi Amy
Thank you for your blog, some really thought provoking comments that encourage us to focus on the prospect of the just reign of Jesus whose return we pray will be soon.
One of your comments I’ve been reflecting on is where you talk about Trump being elected by the will of man. Whilst on one level this might be the case, I’m not sure we can make such judgements? There are some examples in the Bible of God very specifically manipulating human affairs or bringing about the conditions that cause the person he wishes to rule a nation coming to power for good and evil.
I’m thinking particularly of a couple of examples. The angel working in the life of the Prince of Persia (Dan 10:13), and it seems, almost forcing him into a course of action he wouldn’t have otherwise taken. The other example is Pharaoh in the time of Moses. Commenting on these events, the Apostle Paul writes in Romans (9:14-23) “so then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy…” There are other similar examples that seem to indicate that God is actively involved in these events, difficult though that might be for us to understand how and why at times.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts – its been really helpful to reflect on these things when there is so much fear and despair in the world around us.