[This is one in a series of mid-week Reflections published by Horley Baptist Church during December 2020]
The story is told of a charismatic leader who led his people out of oppression, putting a significant body of water between them and those who wanted to control them. Things were difficult to begin with, there were shortages of essential items and many people began to long for a return to their previous circumstances, but the leader persevered, tolerating their complaints, resolving their squabbles, reforming their laws. There were new problems to tackle, new alliances to form. It took most of a generation but in due course the people settled down, building a new society and prospering.
I do not know whether Boris Johnson has ever studied the Old Testament books of Exodus and Joshua, or if he had intended to follow a parallel script. How many times has he cried “Let my people go” and refused to take “No!” as an answer? Has he ever responded with “A plague upon your house”?
Shakespeare wrote that “All the world’s a stage …”. If that is so, there appears to be one element missing from the present scenario. Where is the fiery, cloudy pillar? Moses relied on God to ensure his success but where is God now? Has He abandoned world affairs? Perhaps He is taking a sabbatical on Saturn or enjoying a snack on Mars.
Have the principal characters in this drama dismissed God, discarding Him as irrelevant? Have they no role for Him? Do they not realise that He is actually the puppet-master who has everything under His control?
The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations.
[Psalm 33 v10-11]
We, the small-bit players are not just extras; we do not know the details of the plot but we have the ear of the playwright. Let’s call upon God to resume His rightful roles as producer, director and leading man.
Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance. The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men. From the place of His dwelling He looks on all the inhabitants of the earth; He fashions their hearts individually; He understands all their works.
[v12-15 nkjv]
~~~~~~~~
.
Return to Mid-week Meditations
Jump to Index of Bible Passages
.
Contributed by Steve Humphreys; © the Author
