Exodus 1:8-10
Then a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. He said to his people, "Look, the Israelites are more numerous and more powerful than we are. Let's come up with a wise plan to prevent them from increasing in number. Otherwise, if war breaks out, they would join with our enemies and fight against us. Then they would leave the land."
This is an interesting cycle that repeats throughout history. Unfortunately, in our fallen world, marred by sin, bad rulers are the norm not the exception. You don't have to look very far back into our current history to see that this is the case. You may even be thinking, "Tell me about it. Tyrants rule most of the world today--including my city and my state." That may be true. It may not be. But the reality is that without God and his Word, rulers will be wicked and oppressive. The corollary is also true: Rulers who reject God and his Word will always be wicked, oppressive, and self-serving.
I know you are already thinking of specific people who fit this description. That's okay. That's not sinful. Recognizing sin our world is not a sin, but how you respond to it once you recognize it is the key. If your response is to belittle and verbally attack your governors at every opportunity, then you are sinning. That is breaking the Eighth Commandment: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor, and the Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother, that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth. Even if what you are saying is true, your motivation is to slander and destroy that person's name and reputation which makes it a sin. Also the Fourth Commandment is the command to honor all those God has placed in authority over us in our lives. Honoring people we don't respect, like politicians, can be tough. That doesn't mean we have license to break God's commandments in this instance. It is God's will that we obey all of his commands. Even the ones that we don't like or the ones that are tough to live with.
God didn't give us his Law to make life difficult or boring or laborious. He gave us his Law to show us what his expectations are, and so we understand how we honor him. We honor God, and the First Commandment, by striving everyday to live according to his commands. Obviously, we don't succeed at this any day, but out of love for our Lord we continue to strive for it every day. That includes honoring those in authority--even when they are wicked and oppressive.
Why doesn't Jesus just come back to earth to rule as an earthly king like the Millenialists want, and falsely teach?
First, Jesus never promised to rule as an earthly king. That was never the plan. This is what so many missed in Jesus' day: His kingdom is not of this world.
Second, God has a plan for when all of the pain and suffering of this world will end. It is called Judgment Day, and only God the Father knows when it will be. For now, God is still exercising his patience with this world extending the time of grace for all who don't believe, and reject Jesus as their one and only Savior.
Finally, God has a plan for our world and he doesn't need our advice on how to carry it out.
Then the LORD answered Job out the storm. He said:
"Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone--
while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it and set its bars and doors in place,
when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'?
Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,
that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it?
The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.
The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken.
Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Have the gates of death been shown to you?
Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth?
Tell me, if you know all this.
What is the way to the abode of light?
And where does darkness reside?
Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
Surely you know, for you were already born!
You have lived so many years!
--Job 38:1-21
This is only part of God's response to Job after much banter back and forth between him and his friends. You can read God's entire response to Job, and his friends, in Job 38-41. The point is: God knows what he's doing. He is omniscient, not you. Nothing that happens in our world takes him by surprise. Much like he did with Pharaoh in the opening verses, God uses everything for our good, and to his glory. Pharaoh's oppression of the Israelites would motivate them to want to leave Egypt and go back to Canaan, the Promised Land. Likewise, God uses wicked and oppressive rulers in our day to motivate his people to get off their butts and start living their Great Commission calling!
When will you stop complaining and start leading with the power of the Holy Spirit living in you?
God bless
Jason Fredrick
