July 21

Jeremiah 46
We live in the zenith of the military might of the USA. There are few who can genuinely rival our military power. Even now we are waging warfare on three different fronts. A major reason we are not finished in Iraq and Afghanistan is because the enemy is not a traditional nation, but rather the enemies are connected groups of guerilla fighters. Traditional armies are never effective against guerilla warfare. History has demonstrated that over and over. In the days of Josiah, Egypt was in the zenith of its military might. As Pharaoh Necho traveled the way by the Sea through Israel to face off with Nebuchadnezzar, Josiah led his army out to oppose the military movement. He was a mere flea on a dog as he challenged the might of Pharaoh. Pharaoh’s army appeared to move up the coast like the Nile in flood season. Josiah was easily drowned in the flood.
It would have been easy for the Israelites to despair. Indeed, many did despair. Where is the glory of God when the King who led the nation in revival is so easily defeated? Where is the justice? But what the nation does not recognize is that the Lord is in control of the kings of the nations. He will defeat Pharaoh through Nebuchadnezzar. Pharaoh fell before him. Pharaoh passed by the appointed time like nothing more than a noisy gong. The only reason that Nebuchadnezzar did not immediately sweep down through Palestine to Egypt is that his father died. Nebuchadnezzar had to return home to bury his father and to shore up his rule as head of state of Babylon. His coming was merely delayed a few years. Yes, God was in control. He was shaping the nations to use them as a tool to discipline Israel. Israel still had an idolatrous heart, even though Josiah’s revival had slowed its demonstration for a season.
And the USA? We too can quickly be swept away in the history of the world to become a ‘has been’ in the annals of the world. Once we have ceased to fulfill the purpose for which He raised us up, we will fade like the grass is fading in our current drought. And what is that purpose? He has raised us up to be a light of the glory of God to the nations. As we are gradually abandoning that task, we will fade into oblivion. Why? God raises up nations for His own glory. When that nation ceases to reveal His glory through obedience to Him, like Egypt, He removes their place of prominence in the world. The central issue is His glory. Indeed we serve a glorious King! Speak His glory to someone today!
--Pastor john