Pastor's Ponderings, July 11, 2016

Who Is On the Lord’s Side?

In the New York Times, July 9, 2016, Jack Healy and Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote, “people in interviews across the country … felt mired in bloodshed and blame, and … it was fracturing along racial and ideological lines into angry camps of liberals against conservatives, Black Lives Matter against Blue Lives Matter, protesters against the police. Whose side were you on? Which victims did you mourn?”

African American men were killed while being videotaped and police officers were slain during a peaceful protest.  All sides are declaring they have the moral high ground and that any opposing views are wrong.  Major differences have come into sharp relief. Those who love the Lord may find themselves in an emotional upheaval.  Who is wrong, who is right and what should we do next?

In the Bible, the children of Israel had just left Egypt after 400 years of slavery and decided to ignore God who had delivered them and they built a Golden Calf to worship.  When Moses who had been receiving the word from God came down from the mountain (Exodus 32:15, 16), he found them naked and partying.  He asked the simple question, “Who is on the Lord's side?” (Exodus 32:25, 26).

Our nation is wringing their hands and asking why and seeking a quick fix to our intractable problems.  People feel they are justified in doing what is right in their own eyes.  However, we must ask ourselves who is on God’s side?  Who is seeking the face of God in these trying times?  Our answer is not in endless panel discussions, self-serving negotiations, or new laws and regulations.

In the midst of this chaos, I believe God is reminding us that the solution is in Him.  If we would humble ourselves and pray and stop our evil ways and seek Him, He would hear from heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our troubled land (2 Chronicles 7:14).  Let us turn to God and receive His divine wisdom.  We tried the rest, now let us try the best.

Exodus 32:15, 16
New International Version (NIV)

15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back.
16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets

Exodus 32:25, 26

King James Version (KJV)
25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

26 Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

2 Chronicles 7:14
New International Version (NIV)

14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.