Turn - Max Lucado [2]
“Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and laws. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else, that is the time to be careful. Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God…. But I assure you of this: if you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods, worshiping and bowing down to them, you will certainly be destroyed.”
(DEUTERONOMY 8:11–14. 19. NLT)
National amnesia destroys nations. Forget God and pay a high price. What would our Lord have us remember? What strand would He call us to preserve? Two key ones come to mind:
America, You Exist by My Power
God determines every detail of every country. He defines all boundaries. He places every milestone. While we applaud Mayflower pilgrims and Lewis and Clark expeditions, they did nothing apart from God’s power.
“He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation.”
(ACTS 17:16, NASB)
God Most High gave the nations their lands, dividing up the human race. He set up borders for the people.
(DEUTERONOMY 32:8. NCV)
God divides His children into people groups, separates His earth into sections, and maps out the boundaries of the nations. Summit conferences don’t shape the geography of countries: God does. Leaders don’t determine the future of countries; God determines the hearts of leaders.
Scripture tells us that “the king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he turns it wherever he pleases”’ (Proverbs 21:I, NLT). The king may think he calls the shots, but he doesn’t. God holds sway over his throne. The stubborn will of the most powerful monarch on earth is directed as easily as a farmer reroutes a shallow canal into his farm.
Remember the account of Cyrus, king of Persia? When God wanted the Jews to return to Jerusalem, He simply took over the king’s heart. “God prodded Cyrus king of Persia to make an official announcement” (Ezra 1:1, The Message).
When Daniel needed the support of a Babylonian high official, “God [caused] the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel” (Daniel 1:9).
When the Israelites escaped Egyptian slavery, they were poverty-stricken slaves. God not only set them free, but caused the Egyptians to equip them with supplies. God had said to Moses. “I will see to it that the Egyptians treat you well. They will load you down with gifts so you will not leave empty-handed. The Israelite women will ask for silver and gold jewelry and fine clothing from their Egyptian neighbors and their neighbors’ guests. With this clothing, you will dress your sons and daughters. In this way, you will plunder the Egyptians!” (Exodus 3:21—22, NLT).
Can you imagine? This would be like post—Civil War plantation owners signing their cotton fields over to the slaves. God prompted the Egyptians to act contrary to normal human behavior.
The LORD caused the Egyptians to look favorably on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So, like a victorious army, they plundered the Egyptians!
(EXODUS 12:56, NLT)
God manages the hearts of all nations. For this reason David, himself a national leader, prayed: “O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not God in the heavens? And are You not ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand so that no one can stand against You” (2 Chronicles 20:6, NASB).
No wonder Paul urged: “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God” (Romans 13:1, NKJV).
Such words test our trust. We think of Nero, Stalin, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein.