A judge once told me that I have a “gift for the obvious”. Although he meant it as a slight (he was always a bit of an ass), I’ve remembered it and have come to claim his assessment as a positive trait. When I started this blog, my goal was to limit my entries to those related to my journey of faith and pointedly avoid any political commentary. However, the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me of the words of the Apostle Paul when he said “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”1. I’ve always interpreted that verse as referencing powers beyond our world, but I have come to understand that the “spiritual wickedness” can be present in those who play an ongoing role in our daily lives. Much of my enlightenment I attribute to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But also I have to acknowledge the influence of those in the media such as Dennis Prager and Bill O’Reilly. The latter openly states that our government is corrupt, but as an objective journalist hopes for the best as our nation circles the drain. Perhaps most, I have to be grateful and thankful to God for my “gift for the obvious”.
So, employing my gift, let’s review the obvious.
Moses was a seriously flawed man. A murderer no less. When he came to deliver the Israelites out of Egypt, many distrusted him, many did not want to be delivered – and certainly not by a man like him. The children of Israel came into Egypt under the protection of Joseph, an Israelite himself and whom God had placed in authority in Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. The Israelites came into Egypt as a free people and their freedoms were protected. We are not told of the slippery slope they went down, but we next see that Egypt’s memory of Joseph was forgotten and the Israelites are now slaves in Egypt. Perhaps they were willing to give up their liberty for the promise of food and housing. Perhaps laws were put into place to ensure the Israelites safety from the tyranny of the unknown. Perhaps their leaders protested the erosion of their freedoms and were imprisoned or killed for insurrection against Pharaoh. Those details are not shared with us. However, the history of slavery has taught us that the cruelty of enslavement is not the same for all of those who experience it. On the lowest level, we find those who are constantly under the lash. At the highest level, we find those who are granted privileges and prerogatives. These often are afforded the freedom to make decisions about those beneath them and frequently wield the lash themselves. Perhaps the higher-ranking slaves were chosen by those beneath them to foster the illusion of self-determination. These were people in need of a deliverer, though not all could see this. And what of the taskmasters and overseers? Surely, they saw the growing unrest and dissatisfaction and cunningly sought to identify some PC (Pharaoh’s choice) individuals in whom the Israelites could place their hope and trust.
Today, many Americans would say that we are in need of a deliverer. We were a free people, having shaken off the yoke of foreign domination and established a new nation on a new continent. Are we still a free nation? If not, when did our freedoms begin to erode? The Civil War represents a turning point. It has been characterized as the war between the states and the war to free the slaves. Remember, though, that history is written by the victors. It could be more aptly characterized as a war against the states, or a war to redefine and broaden slavery. Setting aside the abomination of slavery as it existed before the Civil War, we would repeatedly congratulate ourselves as being a free nation with a government existing by consent of the governed. In 1860, though, many people by and through their state governments withdrew their consent. This was not acceptable, though, to the federal government. Indeed, the federal authorities viewed the union as a one-way affair – you could check-in, but you couldn’t check out. So, the federal government conscripted an army from the remaining states to compel consent by force.
In the 20th century we’ve seen a further erosion of our freedoms. We have a national police force, founded by a corrupt transvestite, which now casts a jaundiced eye on anyone who too openly diverges from the government-approved narrative. We have a judicial system that conspires with the executive branch to quash dissent and imprison anyone who questions government-sanctioned corruption. We have a legislative branch that functions primarily to protect its power and enrich its members. Anyone not aspiring to or currently wetting their beaks in this trough of corruption would agree that we need a deliverer. In response to the discontent of our people, our Constitution affords us the opportunity to select a new leader for the federal government. We are provided with a slate of PC (politically correct) candidates to choose from, and there is little concern regarding the choices we might make since nothing will change.
But in 2016, something happened. A candidate came on the scene who was not PC, but was deemed so outrageous that he was given media attention and praise to ensure that the PC selection would have an easy path to victory. But those in power failed to see that although Donald Trump was a seriously flawed man, a narcissist, an adulterer; these were not disqualifying to a people hungry for change. They were confident that he would be dismissed as completely unacceptable, once they focused their media machine against him. What they failed to understand was that the people did not like where they were, and were looking for someone to take them out, to deliver them, from their situation. They didn’t grasp that when people are looking for a bus, the past failings of the driver are largely irrelevant.
But perhaps there is a better Moses waiting in the wings. Perhaps if we wait we will find a more acceptable alternative. I’m sure our vote will not be diluted or negated by the millions being invited in. It is a cause for prayer, and for the comforting truth that times are unfolding according to God’s plan. Having read ahead to the end of the book, I’m comfortable with the outcome. Meanwhile… the door is opening and I can hear the driver calling All Aboard!
1 Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
In a dry and thirsty land 