Pioneer Christian Monthly - September, 1990

Tensions Around The World
Scott Molebean

One need only look in the newspaper or listen to the radio to know that there have been and presently are tensions around the world. The recent failure of the Meech Lake accord, the present situation in Oka, Quebec, and the ever growing crisis in the Middle East are just a few examples.

No matter what the final outcome will be on these (the problems outlined during the Meech Lake Accord debate are still to be dealt with) and other issues it will affect us all greatly. It is not my intention to set forth all the political possibilities, but Proverbs 1:24-31 triggered a chain of thoughts in me which I want to present for your consideration. God's word reads:

"Because I (=wisdom) have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, and you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you, when panic strikes you like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices."

The personal faith-lives of the various leaders are not known to us. But we do know that the thinking of our governments here at home and abroad is no longer based on the wisdom of the Lord God. It rests on humanistic wisdom. Wisdom of the Lord God comes from above, that is, from outside of us. It is revealed to us. Over against this stands wisdom which is totally the product of us as humans, a wisdom which is from below. God says that His foolishness is wiser than people and that He has made foolish the wisdom of the world (I Corinthians 1:25, 20). But we are also told that we are not left to our own devices. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the wisdom of God (vs. 24, 30). When therefore we read in Proverbs I "Wisdom cries aloud in the street in the markets she raises her voice.... at the entrance of the city gates she speaks," we are reminded immediately of the preaching and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth. We are also reminded that today there remains the proclamation of our Saviour Jesus Christ as the power of God and the wisdom of God. It then becomes an awesome thing to be told that because governments have ignored all of Christ's counsel and would have none of His reproof, He will laugh at their calamity. And in case we find this an impossible scenario we may want to read once again Psalm 2 where "He who sits in the heavens laughs" about the governments of the earth who reject the Lord and His Anointed. It is very humbling to then read once again that these governments, because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord and would have none of His counsel, shall now eat the fruit of their way and be sated with their own devices.

Where does this leave us? It brings us to the situation of Abraham before the Lord God when the Lord was on His way to Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18:16-33). Abraham pleads for the cities to be spared because of righteous people in it. We are also reminded of the apostle Paul interceding for those who are abroad with him and in danger of shipwreck and death how God granted him the lives of all those who were sailing with him (Acts 27:24). And finally there is our Lord's command that we pray "for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way." (I Tim. 2:1-3). How often are nations saved from the foolishness of their own governments because of the intercessions of God's people? We shall never know. But one thing is certain - if Canada hangs together, if the situation in Oka, Quebec and in the Middle East comes to a peaceable end - it will be some human who gets the credit because of his or her cleverness or willingness to yield. It will not be the merciful grace of the Lord God and the prayers of His people. That makes me tremble even more when I re-read those words from Proverbs chapter one. "O land, land, land, hear the word of the Lord! (Jeremiah 22:29)

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