Dear Friends,
What are we to make of the recent turmoil and uprisings in countries such as Tunisia, Egypt and Libya? Isaiah had some astonishing words to describe how God saw the nations of his day: “Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales … Before him all the nations are as nothing; they are regarded by him as worthless and less than nothing” (Isaiah 40:15,17, NIV).
That could be misunderstood as God showing contempt, and not caring for the nations. Rather, it means they are so small and insignificant that he is in no way afraid of them, or threatened by them. They are totally under his control. In particular, they cannot prevent him bringing redemption to his people, as he has promised. God’s people have nothing to fear on that score.
But that shouldn’t lead to smug complacency. We should also pray for these nations, their people and their leaders. Paul urged that “requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority … This is good, and pleases God our Saviour who wants all men to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:1-4, NIV). So, among other things, let’s pray that somehow people will be saved for eternity, perhaps through seeing that human, earthly ‘saviours’ cannot deliver.
Chris Hobbs
Vicar