Most of us will agree that this is the worst general election we’ve experienced in our lifetime.
People are speaking out against Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton alike and threatening not to even bother going to the polls on November 8. There was a time when one could vote for the “lesser of two evils,” but Trump and Clinton seem to be tied at the bottom of the scrap heap.
America has been in a moral, downward spiral ever since we began rejecting the true and living God in our homes, schools, government and all other spheres of influence. The church, which should be the “moral watchdog, is not barking and all manner of things continue to creep in while she sleeps.
The children of Israel were left with hard choices as they continued to reject God. The Bible’s 1 Samuel 8:1-3 reads: “When [prophet] Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders. The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba. But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.”
As a result, the people asked Samuel to appoint them a king. When Samuel consulted the Lord, he was told of all the burdensome things a king would exact from them (1 Samuel 8:10-18). When Samuel reported back to the people they refused to listen, so the Lord said, “Listen to them and give them a king.”
Now, Samuel was God’s representative to judge and guide the Israelites. He taught his sons well, and when he became old, he appointed them to judge.
But, when they started taking bribes, their judgment was perverted. They were both corrupt, so the people did not want to choose either one of them even though they still represented God’s system.
By rejecting God, the Israelites got what they asked for; they voted for the oppression of a king. Likewise, by rejecting God, America is now caught between a rock and a hard place. To those who may want to sit this election out, remember it is our civic duty to vote.
In the end, it was God (through Samuel) who ultimately selected Saul to be the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 9:15,16). God the potter creates vessels for His purposes – for His honor or dishonor (Romans 9:21).
Where do we go from here? Will the church speak out? Will this dilemma cause us to turn to God; to seek his face and abandon our wicked ways?
The choice is ours!
