Do You Sometimes Get Frustrated

by the actions of our political leaders? Their godless moral and ethical positions and so called political correctness often bring a sense of vexation. Many continually act as though God does not exist..

The children of Israel experienced the vicious hand of Pharaoh when they aliens in the land of Egypt. Jacob had taken his entire family to Egypt at the request of his son Joseph who was the second most powerful man in the nation. Over the years the Israelites became numerous and powerful (Ex.1:7).

This became a problem when a new king came to power in Egypt who had not heard of Joseph and his important national contribution. The Pharaoh’s reaction was that Israel’s population most be kept from growing and they must be prevented from joining Egypt’s enemies in a time of war. His solution: Enslavement, crushing labor, thereby making them of no use to the nations enemies (Ex 1:8, 10, 11).

But God had a different plan. He sent Moses to Pharaoh demanding Israel’s release. Pharaoh retorted that he not know the Lord and therefore would not listen to him. Israel would not be allowed to go! Why such a response? The Bible states that God had chosen to make the king’s heart stubborn for the purpose of displaying his miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt (Ex. 7:3). In the final act Pharaoh's army chased the Israelites into the Red Sea and not one Egyptian survived the watery grave God had prepared for them (Ex 14:28). God had accomplished his purpose — to bring his people out of slavery and punish the Egyptians.

Another king --- Nebuchadnezzar --- was also a cruel and proud man. When dealing with rebellious king Zedekiah of Israel he forced him to watch the slaughter of his sons. After this atrocity his eyes were gouged out, he was bound in chains, and led a prisoner to Babylon (2 Kings 25:7).

On another occasion Nebuchadnezzar threatened his personal advisers when commanding them to tell him his dream and its meaning. If they didn’t comply they would be torn limb from limb and their homes demolished (Daniel 2:5). But God had a plan for Nebuchadnezzar. After a number of twists and turns, and the godly influence of Daniel his senior advisor, Nebuchadnezzar met God personally and was able to testify I "looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever” (Daniel 4:34).

God’s plans even at the highest echelons of earthly power cannot be thwarted. To one king and nation he brought destruction. To another king he brought seven years of insanity (Dan 4:25) followed by restoration and a personal knowledge of himself. In his testimony Nebuchadnezzar makes this significant statement: “All the people of the earth are nothing He (God) does as he pleases...No one can stop him” (Dan 4:35). King David supports this view by describing the king’s heart as a stream of water which the Lord guides as he chooses. (Ps 21:1).

Do the words of Nebuchadnezzar and David comfort you? Well they should! These inspired statements are designed to remind us that God has his hand on the affairs of state. He is at work accomplishing his ultimate purposes.Copyright. Bruce September 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.