By Pastor Bob Lawrenz
Political wars are nothing new in this world. Kings of nations, ethnicities, and tribes all battled against other Kings regularly to conquer them and expand their own kingdoms. They would even form alliances, but always with their own agendas in mind. The reign of Jehoiakim’s father, Josiah, as King of Judah was a pivotal point in Israel’s captivity into Babylon. Pharaoh Nechoh King of Egypt, went to the aid of the King of Assyria, and King Josiah went up against Pharaoh Nechoh. Nechoh killed Josiah at Megiddo (2 Kings 23), and appointed Josiah’s son Eliakim to be King of Judah, and at the same time changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim.
In previous chapters of Jeremiah, God relayed through the Prophet that Judah should submit themselves to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, or face famine, disease, and death in the battle for Jerusalem.
Today in Jeremiah, with his contemporary Daniel, we learn that it is Jehovah who removes kings, and raises other kings to replace them.
God does this, and He does it because HE has HIS agenda for HIS people! God’s actions and directives are always for the good of His faithful believers. As we have learned, God will even use heathen kings to provide for His people, just as He did with the Twelve Tribes in Egypt. And if God provides national leaders that we fight against, then we ultimately fight against God’s provision, and His will. The political climate in our own country is testimony to this truth. But it doesn’t stop there: God raises up Prophets, Pastors, Apostles and Disciples; He has even raised up Gentiles like us to follow and believe in Him!
In Acts of the Apostles, Gamaliel warned the Pharisees to leave the Apostles alone, to do them no harm. If their work was of man, it would not last, but if their work was of God, then those that opposed them would be fighting against God Himself. The Pharisee Saul ignored Gamaliel’s words, and met Jesus on the road to Damascus. This was a pivotal point in Saul’s life, and the King of kings changed his name to Paul (a beloved Apostle, Teacher, and Evangelist!).
“I am Jesus whom thou persecutest:
it is hard for thee to kick against the goads.”
Acts 9:5, 26:14
