Not the Chosen - but...
Ok – first off we are not Judah, it’s not 740 B.C., Christ is risen and the old law no longer applies. Still, you can’t help but draw parallels where clear connections exist. My dad used to say the Old Testament foreshadows the New and the New Testament confirms the Old. So what does that have to do with anything? Well, hell seems to be right outside the range of the porchlight and I’m not sure how much longer God is going to keep the light on.
Here are a few facts as background.
Since 1970, the US CDC has recorded over 49 million legal abortions. One of every 225 babies born is aborted. In 2014, 18.9% of all reported US pregnancies ended in abortion.
In 1968, the US Supreme Court (Warren Court) ruled it was unconstitutional for state officials to compose an official school prayer and encourage its recitation in public schools. Recently, on August 23rd, the 9th US District Court of Appeals affirmed no child shall be influenced to God by state officials.
Between 2007 and 2014, the number of adults in the US who self-identify as religious (Note: I don’t like the description “religious” but that’s another blog) has decreased by 6% or 19 million adults. Even the simple belief in God has fallen to 61% of Americans.
This Sunday while the pastor was innocently preaching from 2 Kings 21, I couldn’t help but recognize the terrifying parallels in the passage. Here’s a synopsis: God told the people of Judah to follow the law; Judah’s leadership led them away from God; Judah’s leadership killed innocents; God vowed to destroy Judah.
Now, since the devil is in the details – literally – let’s look at just those simple parallels between the US and Judah during Manasseh’s reign.
Manasseh built altars to false gods and the people worshipped them. They had a clear guide in the Law of Moses to what God wanted, but they chose to follow their secular leader who said they “couldn’t pray to God” but should pray to Baal. The US Supreme Court as affirmed by the 9th District has said children cannot pray to God if led by a responsible adult in school. Those responsible adults may, however, offer condoms in school.
Manasseh worshipped Baal and part of that worship was human sacrifice. Planned Parenthood and the US Supreme Court (Burger Court, 1973, “Roe v. Wade”) worship a woman’s right to choose her convenience over the life of a fetus.
Bookending those parallels are God’s command to follow His word and the destruction of the rebellious people. God’s command hasn’t changed – He still requires clear hearts and obedience. Enter Kim Jong Un, ISIS, and today’s cultural crisis known by many names (i.e., KKK, ANTIFA, BLM).
But the good news is He also hears the cry of the righteous and stays His hand. It just takes one willing to stand for God. At the end of the day, when I have to decide to align with Josiah or Manasseh, I’ll remember Job’s words and pray God stays his hand once more.
“Though he slay me, yet I will trust in him.” (Job 13:15 - KJV)
