God Works in Mysterious
Ways - By Daymond Duck - http://www.raptureready.com/featured/duck/dd123.html
America's poor leadership, the blatant sin in our once great nation, the drought in the southwest and California, high food prices, pestilence and prepping have all been in the news lately.
There is little doubt that Ahab was one of the worst leaders to ever occupy the throne in Israel. The Bible says, he "did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him" (I Kings 16:30). At least until the end of his reign, no leader of Israel had ever exceeded him in evil. He encouraged Baal worship and was often at odds with the true prophets of his day.
He married a Phoenician princess whose name, Jezebel, is synonymous with wickedness. He allowed Jezebel's religion, Baal worship, to be practiced in Israel and he even built a temple close to the palace to make it easy for Jezebel to worship her false gods. She led many of God's prophets astray and ordered others to be killed for protesting against her policies (1 Kings 18:4). One of her greatest sins was to falsely accuse a man named Naboth, so she could have him killed, steal his vineyard and give it to Ahab (1 Kings 21:1-25). Jesus compared her to a harlot who encouraged immorality in the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:20).
Because of sin, God sent the prophet Elijah to visit Ahab one day and say, "As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word" (1 Kings 17:1). Then, God told Elijah to flee to the brook Cherith and drink from it. Elijah did, but while he was there the brook dried up from a lack of rain. God told Elijah to go to a widow at Zarephath who would feed him (Zarephath was located out of the country between Tyre and Sidon). Elijah left Israel, found her and asked her for something to eat and drink. The loss of her husband, and the God-sent drought and famine had hit her hard and she had prepared her last meal for her and her son. Elijah's request was a great test, but she shared with him and God sustained her, her son and Elijah through the drought and famine (1 Kings 17:3-16).
Let's look at the story about Naaman and then I will get to the point. He was a captain in the Syrian army; a great an honorable man, but he had leprosy. On one of his missions, he defeated some Jews, captured a young Jewish girl and carried her back to Syria to wait on his wife. One day, the Jewish girl said unto her mistress, "Would God my lord were with the prophet (Elisha) that is in Sararia! for he would recover him of his leprosy" (2 Kings 5:3). Naaman eventually wound up at Elisha's house and Elisha sent word out for him to go dip in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman was upset, but he eventually did as he was told and he was healed (2 Kings 5:14).
This brings us to the beginning of Jesus' ministry. He arrived at Nazareth where He grew up, went to the synagogue on the Sabbath, read from the book of Isaiah and spoke, but His message was rejected (Luke 4:14-22). Then He said, "I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias (Elijah), when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias (Elijah) sent, save unto Sarepta (Zarephath), a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (Elisha) the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian" (Luke 4:25-27).
Because of wicked leadership and sin in Israel, God sent a drought and great famine that covered the land for three and one-half years. There were many widows (and probably hungry children) among the chosen people in Israel, but God sent Elijah to feed only one widow who lived in a foreign land. There were many lepers among the chosen people in Israel (and all of them probably prayed to be healed), but the only person God healed was a foreign soldier who had defeated some Israeli troops. So Jesus said God sent a drought and famine on Israel for three and one-half years and He didn't send anyone to feed or heal any of the hungry and sick widows and lepers. What He said really upset the people in His hometown and they tried to kill Him.
When I suggest that national disasters are increasing or there could be more terrorist attacks and it might be a good idea to do some prepping, I sometimes hear "God is in control. He will take care of me." There is no doubt that God is in control and He cares for us with a love that will never end. But He doesn't like self-righteousness, being tempted or taken for granted; our blessings are not entitlements. He brings down godless nations (Dan. 2:21); He chastens those He loves (Heb. 12:6). Christians are suffering all over the world and Noah had to build his own boat (Gen. 6:14). My mom loved me, but she spanked me when I needed it.
In my mind, America's leaders are the worst we have ever had. No president has ever supported some of the wicked things our president supports (abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, lying, spying on us, betraying our friends, kind words for Allah, etc.). We have great sin in America; drought in the southwest and California; soaring food prices, millions on food stamps (including widows and children), spreading STDs (especially among the gays) and more. It seems to me that America is already paying a price for sin and if the Rapture doesn't happen soon, the price may increase. His judgment could fall harder and He could decide to feed and heal good people in other countries instead of the United States.
Prophecy Plus Ministries
Daymond & Rachel Duck
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