America Has Spoken
November 7, 2008
Please note that the link to Abigail’s page has been moved to the list of links on the sidebar under the “Family” category.
How often does the Lord grant us our desires? I believe He gives us what we want much more often than we realize. The trouble is we often don’t recognize it because we do not properly consider all of the implications of our desires. Sometimes, our distress is the indication that God granted our wish, but we did not realize our desire was not what was best for us.
As a parent, have you ever allowed your children to experience the full effect of the consequences of a poor choice? Those are lessons the children seldom forget. Similarly, I believe that the Lord grants us our desires at times even though He knows that our choices bring us greater harm than good. The harm that we experience in these circumstances is a means of discipline for us.
Consider the nation of Israel at the end of the times of the judges. They wanted a king like the nations which surrounded them. The Lord knew that sorrow and misery would come to Israel from that desire; and in the 8th chapter of 1st Samuel, He instructed Samuel to warn the people of the effects of their wish. The prophet concluded a long list of grievances the people would have with:
“And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day.”
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us”. The Lord’s response was “Obey their voice and make them a king.” Much trouble would come to Israel as a consequence of the Lord granting them their desire.
I am reminded of a short story called “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs which was required reading when I was in public school. I cannot necessarily recommend the story, but there is a great truth in the warning it contains regarding things for which we wish.
The story tells of Mr. and Mrs. White, an elderly couple, and their adult son. The Whites come into possession of a “magic” monkey’s paw – grisly sounding perhaps, but essentially little different from the common rabbit’s foot often seen on key chains. The paw could supposedly grant those that possessed it three wishes. Despite dire warnings from its previous owner, the family keeps the paw and the old man wishes for 200 pounds (the story is set in England). His wish was soon granted in the form of compensation from their son’s employer after their beloved boy was killed on the job.
I will not share the gruesome details of the remainder of the story, but the lesson has stuck with me ever since I first read it decades ago. Foolishness brought tragedy to the family. They thought their wishes would bring them satisfaction and joy, but the result was quite the opposite.
Like the nation of Israel and the White family, many Americans are giddy with joy in believing they have realized their wish-come-true in the election results on Tuesday. I am not convinced that the choice was made with a clear understanding of the consequences. In fact, I am convinced of the opposite and; like Israel and the White family, the choice was made based on the faulty wisdom of man and the rejection of wise council. I am saddened by the lack of fear of God and the disregard for biblical standards that has unfolded during the recent political procedures. However, unlike many people that are dissatisfied with the results of the election, I am not living in fear of dreadful changes in national policy that will lead America down a terrible path. The reality is that the election is evidence of the degree to which the American conscience and moral foundation has already fallen. Our choice of leaders is not an indicator of the direction we will go – it is an indicator of where we have already arrived!
In spite of it all, I remain confident in the promises of our Lord. He remains sovereign on the throne and we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. God’s will is perfect and to Him be all the glory. Soli Deo Gloria!
