Righteous Nation

“The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will,”( Proverbs 21:1, ESV).

In the early 1980’s, Zimbabwe suffered a debilitating drought. I remember one evening watching the nation’s parliament on television debating the measures they should take to alleviate the suffering.

One speaker, Anglican bishop Dube, to his credit, stood and suggested that they should pray for rain. I’ll never forget what happened next. The entire house of parliament broke up in helpless, knee slapping laughter.

I wondered that night how long God would permit his being mocked before he responded.

I love the Wise Man’s declaration that no matter how great and how powerful a nation’s leader thinks he is, he is actually being led wherever God directs him. He’s a pawn in the hand of the Almighty!

I am grateful that politicians in America invoke God’s name more often than they do in many countries in the world, but I wonder if legislation in this country reflects the principles of a nation that wants to please God.

In ancient days God demanded that Israel live under his rule and control. I have just one question for you. When did God quit caring that nations be righteous?

–by Stan Mitchell