GOD’S PEOPLE EXPERIENCE HIS JUDGMENTS for sin in a variety of ways. But one of the most common is that God gives us up to the evil we desire. He surrenders sinful individuals or nations to their idols. The idol comes, however, with great pain, sorrow, and trouble.
The Bible gives us many examples of this principle. God fed the Jews with Manna from heaven, but craving the meat of Egypt, they sulked and complained. So God gave them what they wanted. He instructed Moses,
“Say to the people, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, and you shall eat meat, for you have wept in the hearing of the Lord, saying, “Who will give us meat to eat? For it was better for us in Egypt.” Therefore, the Lord will give you meat, and you shall eat.”
Numbers 11:18
An immense flock of quail came and covered the ground two cubits (3 feet) deep. The Jews harvested the quail, but God was displeased.
“While the meat was yet between their teeth, before it was consumed, the anger of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord struck down the people with a very great plague.”
Numbers 11:33
Then, later they complained about another issue.
“And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!”
Numbers 14:2
Once again, God gave them up to their idol.
“Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me.”
Numbers 14:29
The most graphic New Testament example occurs in Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians. Discussing Christ’s future coming, the apostle lays down the general principle that God gives sinners us up to lies when they refuse to love the truth, but instead delight in falsehoods. When people persist in this sin,
“God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
Now the person, or culture, is completely deluded by the Devil, and behind Satan is God using him to execute the perfections of divine judgment.
State of The Union Address
I couldn’t help but think about this principle as I watched last week’s State of the Union Address. For fifty years, our culture has aggressively promoted the female sex. Evangelicals are for equal opportunity in business or government for women. But we are utterly against lying, deceiving, or manipulating the truth to get there.
Nevertheless, Western Culture has been so obsessed with this idol that we have viciously mangled the truth. We are deceived. We actually believe that there are no differences between men and women, that patriarchy is toxic, that white males are inherently abusive. We have convinced ourselves that the fetus is just body tissue so that we can justify abortion. Women can now have sex without children, thereby eliminating child-bearing—the only biological obstacle to equality with men.
God created men to defend women, not the other way around. This is so obvious that it has been the case in every culture throughout millennia of human history. Nevertheless, women now fly our most sophisticated fighter aircraft and command battleships. Women staff our police and fire departments. We have normalized homosexual behavior, promoting the horrendous lie that gender is not a biological reality but a psychological construct.
To the right is a graphic image of God surrendering us to our lusts. Our president is an incompetent old man. But the Western World is just one heartbeat away from something even worse—Kamala Harris as president. And Nancy Pelosi would be her successor. We wouldn’t mind a competent female president. But this is not the case. The line of succession is now one of utter incompetence, and this is God’s work. Hillary was corrupt and immoral, but at least she was a capable administrator. But Kamala and Nancy? How have we come to this? God has brought us under his judgment. He has given us up to our lusts, and it should scare every thoughtful American.
Conclusion!
Where do we go from here? How do we extricate America from this mess?
First, we need heartfelt repentance for our personal and national sins—i.e., our egalitarian approach to gender and the massive edifice of lies upon which it stands. But there is a problem. There is no way for this to happen without revival—an epochal outpouring of the Holy Spirit on an undeserving people producing mass repentance and conversion.
A second solution is prayer. God wants us to pray for our leaders.
“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Timothy 2:1–3).
So, let’s close with prayer.
“God, we come to you for mercy. You are gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and forgiveness. Keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin.
We don’t deserve mercy. We deserve judgment. We have lusted for lies and in righteousness, you have given us up to them. Now millions believe “strong delusions.” You have given us up to what is false, and it is destroying us. Father, have mercy. Send your Holy Spirit to your church. Revive us again. Add millions to your church for your glory. Display the beauty of your mercy, kindness, and grace to the utterly undeserving.
In addition, we pray for the conversion of President Biden, Kamala Harris, and Nancy Pelosi. Show them grace, mercy, kindness, and love. Lord, give us leaders after your own heart.” We pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen!
