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Government: A Man-Made Institution Destined for Failure
by Angel Casiano "1 Samuel 8:1-22" The nation of Israel was born out of the seed of Abraham to which became its twelve tribes under a patriarchal system with Jacob as their leader. By the time Israel was welcomed by Pharaoh in the land of Goshen, Israel became a part of a family of seventy (Genesis 46:27 / 47:1-6). By the time Moses came into the picture; about four hundred years later; the Bible tells us: "Then a new king began to rule Egypt, who did not know who Joseph was. This king said to his people, "Look! The people of Israel are too many and too strong for us to handle! If we don't make plans against them, the number of their people will grow even more. Then if there is a war, they might join our enemies and fight us and escape from the country!" (Exodus 1:8-10) Moses represented, among many things, the beginning of the era of the Judges. Israel had grown too large to properly operate under the Patriarchal System; but still, God remained their King. The idea of a Monarchal system was rapidly approaching, for the great Judge and Prophet Samuel was aging. His two sons were corrupted and they did not have the character, the anointing or the wisdom to properly carry on the work of their dad, whose record as a prophet and judge was without reproach. As Samuel grew old there was also a growing desire in God's people to be like everybody else. (1 Samuel 8:1-22) It is clear as we look at these verses in 1Samuel 8:1-22 that the idea of this new way of Government was not God's idea; it was not approved by God. Through the Prophet Samuel the Bible clearly states the consequences of having a Government centered on a man and not on God. In 1 Samuel 8:7 God's specifically says: "and the Lord told Samuel, "Listen to whatever the people say to you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me from being their king." God actually took the pleas from the people for a king as a direct rejection of Him. The following verses give us the direct consequences of having a Man-Centered Government: "Samuel said, "If you have a king ruling over you, this is what he will do: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots and his horses, and they will run in front of the king's chariot. The king will make some of your sons, commanders over thousands or over fifties. He will make some of your other sons plow his ground and reap his harvest. He will take others to make weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. He will take your daughters to make perfume and cook and bake for him. He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves and give them to his servants. He will take one-tenth of your grain and grapes and give it to his officers and servants. He will take your male and female servants, your best cattle, and your donkeys and use them all for his own work. He will take one-tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. When that time comes, you will cry out because of the king you chose. But the Lord will not answer you then." But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We want a king to rule over us. Then we will be the same as all the other nations. Our king will judge for us and go with us and fight our battles." After Samuel heard all that the people said, he repeated their words to the Lord. The Lord answered, "You must listen to them. Give them a king." Then Samuel told the people of Israel, "Go back to your towns." (1 Samuel 8:11-22) You be the judge of these words! Every government in the history of humanity has failed; every powerful nation in the history of mankind was eventually destroyed by its own pride and arrogance. They lasted for a while, some better than others, but only God's Kingdom will be established forever. I am not asking for Christians to refuse to participate in the political process, God can even use you in it. We do not lack Biblical and even current examples of men and women used mightily by God in politics. What I am encouraging our Christian brothers and sisters to do are to look at government for what it is; a man-made institution destined for failure. No offense to our Founding Fathers; my respect and my honor to them; but history do not have the authority to take away the Truth of God's Word. If your hope is in the Democratic Party, our current President, the Tea Party Movement or the return of the Republican Party to power, you are setting yourself up for another great disappointment. God is our King and His Kingdom (Government) is the only one that is established forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) The author is currently a School Teacher in a Private Christian School, a Martial Arts Instructor and a Senior Pastor: Cell Phone Number 252-506-5374 By e-mail at: [email protected] / Check my Blog: http://angelcasiano.com Facebook.com/glorytoGodmusic Facebook.com/propheticvoice Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |