Bobservations Column
by Pastor Bob Lawrenz
The horrifying news from Syria in the last few weeks has been the source of much debate on Capitol Hill, and much prayer in our nation’s churches. Do we as a country retaliate against such wickedness? Our President wants to because he drew a line in the sand, and made threats if it was crossed.
The problem is that our own country does not hold sovereignty over a single other nation. We are not the Police Force of the United Nations, and we do not hold higher moral ground while we have the blood of innocents on our own hands. An attack on Syria would be an Act of War against another sovereign nation. And, meddlers are not looked upon very highly in scripture.
When thinking about the times of the Old Testament… Idolaters and cruel tribes (governments) like the Canaanites were declared by God to be worthy of extermination, for the sake of the Israelites. Syria is a nation of idolaters as they follow a false god. Inevitably, God judges harshly for idolatry.
Yet, the voices of Syria’s victims already cry from their graves. The cruelty of Syria’s leaders is evident in the number of deaths. Shamefully, morality (to know good from evil) has become a variable, depending upon where one lives. Justice is elusive among the nations of mankind.
Romans 13:1-7 begins, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power, but of God: The powers that be are ordained of God.” These words are echoed several times throughout the New Testament, and even Jesus adhered to this as He stood before Pontius Pilate. In His human form, God made Himself subject to the authority of the Roman government.
It really doesn’t matter if the gas attack came from the Syrian government, or from the rebels. We must pray to discern whether such hardships can be used to further God’s plan for Israel, and all the world, for it is He who has Sovereign Authority over all things.
Pray that America’s actions do not put Israel in further danger. God still favors His People, and true Christians are among those counted as His.
Psalm 141:10- “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while that I withal escape.”