For the Glory of God

Heading into Memorial Day, my thoughts are of the country we once were and the sacrifice so many have made to secure it for all the future genertions.  The foundation upon which we are (or were once)  established is one of Biblical values and Divine guidance. 

These are the days that try men's souls and days that challenge our commitment to our Lord Jesus the Christ and to our Biblical values.  We have been warned through so many voices who have it on "good authority" that the boom hanging over the head of the USA is about to be lowered and the Hand of God's Divine judgement is about to be brought against this nation.

We certainly deserve what may be coming due to serious acts of corporate depravity especially with regard to with the horrific abomination of child sacrifice and the shedding of innocent blood.  This "sin" at the hands of some within our nation has garnered a Divine response since the very beginning of time, so is there any mercy left upon which we might make our requests known and for the Lord to send His answers for our deliverance?

Of course salvation through the sacrifice and blood shed by Jesus on the Cross is our ultimate deliverance but absent our sudden departure from planet earth, we have been left to impact the world/nation where we have been placed, with the righteous representation of Yahweh, our God.   

The Old Testament is a recorded history of man and how Yahweh dealt with a nation chosen to represent Him to the lost and dying world of the ancients.  Israel was and is that nation so looking back to the days of Moses gives me the clues as to how we might approach the Sovereign God of all creation in intercession for our One Nation under Him today. 

I know that Yahweh is one who instructs through repetition and repeat cycles of instruction and discipline, so I look for "precedents" (previous ways of acting in similar situations) set by Him to guide my prayers for His intervention in our circumstances today. 

The verses I am drawn to today are found in the book of Exodus 23:7-14.  The children of Israel were led out from their bondage in Egypt, in a very dramatic miraculous way.  Having just passed through the Red Sea, they were camped in the wilderness to meet the One Who arranged for their rescue.  The people vowed their loyalty and worship to the God of their fathers, but even as Moses was getting Divine directives for the people to live by fromYahweh Himself, insurrection leading to idolatry broke out in the camp.  ***Important to remember that the culture they had just left was one having many "gods" and they were therein exposed to all of them.  Notably one of the requirements in Baal worship was child sacrifice.

The children of Israel grew impatient and rallied to an "appeaser" (Aaron) who fashioned a golden calf and gave it the identity of a "god".  The One True God was so angry with these people that He told Moses of His plan to wipe them out and thereafter give Moses other people to lead. Yahweh was about to "lower the boom" on the nation He had just delivered.

Moses in his privileged relationship, talked to the Creator much as we have the privilege to speak to Him today. For his part, Moses pleaded with Yahweh for mercy and made the case to Holiness that His glory, honor, and powerful reputation among the other nations was at stake should this people that He led out of Egypt with signs and wonders come to their end in the wilderness. Moses spoke of Yahweh's reputation in the surrounding nations and reminded Him of His promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Moses's appeal to the Most High for His mercy was not a defense of the indefensible.  And not to save his own skin since the Lord told Moses that He would destroy this people group and raise up another for him to lead. This appeal from Moses was based on the threat of Yahweh's diminished Glory and Honor on earth, and His reputation among the nations looking on.  And then, in a gracious act of mercy, Yahweh relented.  Was all of this (warning of impending doom) just a way for the Lord to get Moses to intercede for the nation?   

I am beginning to understand the bigger question for me today: Is it "For the Glory of Yahweh" that is my basis for wanting the Lord to intervene with His mercy in our nation today?  For His Glory? We are called One Nation Under God.  Even though we are faithless at times, rebellious at others, I believe the Lord's gracious mercy is still available for us today.  

The very foundation of this Republic is based on Biblical values of faith, freedom, liberty and equal justice for all. Could it be that Yahweh's reputation (not just our peace) at the very foundation of our Republic is on the line as we face off (and cast our vote) against a progressive and god-less society? 

I pray Yahweh, God of our nation be glorified as we determine to live by our values according to His directives and then as He enables us to stand upon His principles of conduct even as others try to destroy us.  

May the Lord be glorified as we look to Him and somehow survive yet again the assault on our God-ordained way of life provided by the Constitution written by men seeking His wisdom and Divine guidance through prayer.

I pray the Lord will hear our cries for His merciful forgiveness over  past failures to stop the shedding of innocent blood and then provide a Divine pathway to future victory over these ungodly acts deserving His judgement. 

 I pray that as He answers our prayers and petitions, He will receive the Glory due His Name.  I pray that as He intervenes and upholds this unique nation as One under Him, the other nations of the world will come to honor and respect Him as He is worthy of all praise, worship and adoration we can give him.  He is Yahweh,  the One true God and we are to bring glory to His Name.

It's up to us, His people, to intercede and call out for the Glory of Yahweh and the truth of His Being to be revealed in our nation.  May we do our part and stand in awe and worship as He does His.

The Holy Spirit is calling.  Can you hear Him?