The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in 1 Kings 16:1-3,
"Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: 'I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat.'"
In this passage we see the Lord claiming Baasha's throne in Israel was his doing. Baasha had replaced Nadab as king in Israel and we read in 1 Kings 15:27-28, "Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him [Nadab], and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king."
How did that look to everyone back in the day? I'm quite certain it appeared that, very simply, Baasha revolted against King Nadab, and took the throne for himself. Yet... that is not quite the whole story. The Lord himself made it happen! "I appointed you ruler over my people Israel." What appears to be a succession of events entirely within the context of those involved, really turns out to be something ordained and effected by the Lord himself.
We see another example of this when Israel was split into two kingdoms, north and south. Following Solomon's rule, the throne was to go to Rehoboam, however, his rule over the nation was abruptly broken by his own foolish action. In rejecting the wise counsel of his father's (Solomon's) advisers, he followed the counsel of the young fools he grew up with and alienated the northern ten tribes of Israel, losing them to Jeroboam. What appeared to be simply a matter of arrogance and stupidity on Rehoboam's part actually had its origin, again, by the Lord. The Lord effected it himself. We read in 1 Kings 12:13-15, "Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he [Rehoboam] followed the advice of the young men and said, 'My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.' So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite."
What I see in these accounts, is that although political events and intrigues appear to be isolated and confined to the people and their activities on planet earth, the Lord is actually behind what we see. We see what takes place, we assign to it causes we see, and yet, these events actually have their origin, their design, and their accomplishment as directed by the Lord.
In a passage that seems to be foreign to so many today we read, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Romans 13:1-2. Note that Paul is not writing to those residing in Israel, but those in Rome.
"Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu son of Hanani concerning Baasha: 'I lifted you up from the dust and appointed you ruler over my people Israel, but you followed the ways of Jeroboam and caused my people Israel to sin and to arouse my anger by their sins. So I am about to wipe out Baasha and his house, and I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat.'"
In this passage we see the Lord claiming Baasha's throne in Israel was his doing. Baasha had replaced Nadab as king in Israel and we read in 1 Kings 15:27-28, "Baasha son of Ahijah from the tribe of Issachar plotted against him [Nadab], and he struck him down at Gibbethon, a Philistine town, while Nadab and all Israel were besieging it. Baasha killed Nadab in the third year of Asa king of Judah and succeeded him as king."
How did that look to everyone back in the day? I'm quite certain it appeared that, very simply, Baasha revolted against King Nadab, and took the throne for himself. Yet... that is not quite the whole story. The Lord himself made it happen! "I appointed you ruler over my people Israel." What appears to be a succession of events entirely within the context of those involved, really turns out to be something ordained and effected by the Lord himself.
We see another example of this when Israel was split into two kingdoms, north and south. Following Solomon's rule, the throne was to go to Rehoboam, however, his rule over the nation was abruptly broken by his own foolish action. In rejecting the wise counsel of his father's (Solomon's) advisers, he followed the counsel of the young fools he grew up with and alienated the northern ten tribes of Israel, losing them to Jeroboam. What appeared to be simply a matter of arrogance and stupidity on Rehoboam's part actually had its origin, again, by the Lord. The Lord effected it himself. We read in 1 Kings 12:13-15, "Rejecting the advice given him by the elders, he [Rehoboam] followed the advice of the young men and said, 'My father made your yoke heavy; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.' So the king did not listen to the people, for this turn of events was from the Lord, to fulfill the word the Lord had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite."
What I see in these accounts, is that although political events and intrigues appear to be isolated and confined to the people and their activities on planet earth, the Lord is actually behind what we see. We see what takes place, we assign to it causes we see, and yet, these events actually have their origin, their design, and their accomplishment as directed by the Lord.
In a passage that seems to be foreign to so many today we read, "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." Romans 13:1-2. Note that Paul is not writing to those residing in Israel, but those in Rome.
Where we see Democrats and Republicans today, liberals and conservatives, progressives and libertarians bringing about political eventualities, the Scriptures are telling us God is behind the scenes, establishing the authorities within nations for his purposes.
If anyone "hacked" the recent election here in our nation, I don't think it was the Russians, but, ultimately, God himself. If what Paul has to say in Romans 13 is true (and I certainly believe it is!) then all of our elections reflect what the Lord is busy doing to accomplish his purposes in our nation.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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