DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: JUNE 19 NO ONE RISES AGAINST GOD AND GOES FREE SCRIPTURE: ISAIAH 15: 1 – 3; 16: 2 -5, 12 – 13
It has been a regular phenomenon in the world when some people in their cities or religious groups will rebel against God. They will use the same gifts given them by God to rise against God. These can be wealth, riches, academic intelligence as well as mineral and human resources. They will allow egos and pride enter into them, causing them to turn against God. They do this by rejecting God and boasting that they are more powerful than God. In the passages above, the people of Moab, after becoming powerful in wars, became proud and arrogant. They turned against God. As known, the Moabites are the descendants of Lot’s daughter who had sex with her father (Gen. 19: 30 – 38). As they ran away from God, God gave them up to external enemies who raided them and subjected them to various degrees of torture and oppressions. The situations got to a level that everybody cried, wept and sought for rescuer. Their gods failed to rescue them. The women joined in the wailing, asking people where they can take refuge to protect them.
Truth is that, God delivered the Moabites to their enemies so that they will return to God. They thought they can outrun or rise against God and go free. But God forced them to return to Him through wars and oppressions of their enemies. God does this to thousands of nations to make them know that no one outruns Him. My own country Nigeria as a nation falls into those God honoured and blessed but turned against Him. From inception, we are blessed with natural and human resources. Our land was a land flowing with milk and honey. At a point, our nation became the richest in Africa. About 1976 to 1979, our currency exchange rate was higher than United States of America and United Kingdom. Thereafter, we rebelled against God. Many political and religious groups in Nigeria turned against Him and our leaders began to play gods. Our politicians formed wicked alliances to rule by selves and by force. Today, we are being overwhelmed by wickedness and blood tasting foreigners in Nigeria clothing.
We must know that God allows this to make us return to Him. In a nation where leaders lost grip of the people they ought to control, lost firm grip of security and became blank in policy making; the only sure option is turning to God who is the custodian of leadership and wisdom to govern. Our leaders should consult Rwanda. Rwanda President, a Christian, made his people repent of hate for one another and genocide wars; invited John C. Maxwell into their country, had the executive leaders talked to, organised leadership seminars for leaders and youth and their story changed. Nigeria cannot outrun God as the Moabites couldn’t. Returning to God is the fastest way out of economic, political and social problems of any country.
PRAYER:
JEHOVAH GOD OF WISDOM, touch Nigerians’ hearts as well as other nations’ hearts to retrace their ways back to You in Jesus name. Those who have arrogantly disdained You should be forgiven in Jesus name.
bishopubaudenyi@hopealivechurch
