Trust in God and Get Out and Vote

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 30:1-19

 

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall ^[a]direct your paths.

(NKJV)

 

As believers in Jesus as our Savior, we are to trust God and not lean to our own understanding but depend on God to direct our path (Proverbs 3:5-6). However, this is not an excuse for Christians to stay home on election day, using trust in God as an excuse. In Romans 13:1-7, we are reminded to submit to government because governing authority is appointed by God, even those authorities we may not agree with. However, in countries with elections, like the United States, Christians have an opportunity to voice their Godly values by voting for the candidates for office that best support these values, keeping in mind none of the candidates are perfect. We must continue to trust in God but also get out and vote.

 

The Lord gives Ezekiel another word from the Lord, this time a word bring wailing and woe (Ezekiel 30:1-2). The day is near even the day of the Lord, a day of clouds and the time of the Gentiles (Ezekiel 30:3). The word speaks of the sword coming upon Egypt and great anguish in Ethiopia with many slain in Egypt, the loss of wealth, and the foundations of Egypt broken down (Ezekiel 30:4). Nations allied with Egypt will also fall by the sword (Ezekiel 30:5).

 

The word of the Lord continues by warning those upholding Egypt they will also fall by the sword, becoming desolate with their cities laid waste (Ezekiel 30:6-7). When there is a fire set in Egypt and Egypt’s helpers are destroyed, they shall know the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 30:8). In this day, messengers shall go out in ships, making the careless Ethiopians afraid with great anguish (Ezekiel 30:9).

 

The word of the Lord continues with the Lord telling the Egyptians Egypt will cease by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon (Ezekiel 30:10). Nebuchadnezzar and his people, the most terrible of the nations will destroy the land and slay many with their swords (Ezekiel 30:11). By the hand of aliens, the Lord will make the rivers dry, sell the land into the hand of the wicked, making the land a wasteland (Ezekiel 30:12).

 

The word of the Lord continues with the Lord vowing to destroy the idols of Egypt along with the images from Noph. There will no longer be princes from the land of Egypt and fear in the land of Egypt (Ezekiel 30:13). The word of the Lord then names specific places in Egypt that will become desolate (Ezekiel 30:14-18). The Lord will execute these judgments upon Egypt so they will know that the Lord is the Lord (Ezekiel 30:19).

 

In the Bible, Egypt symbolizes the world and its system. While this text foretells the fall of Egypt to the Babylonians, it is also a foretelling of the fall of the corrupt world system and all those aligned with it when the Lord returns (Revelation 19:11-16). At the time of this word of the Lord, some in Israel were seeking protection from Egypt (Isaiah 30:1-7) with this passage telling them the might of Egypt has an expiration date, with the people still going into exile in Babylon or dying in Egypt. Trust in the might of armies of the world or one's wealth may provide security for a time, but these things have an expiration date and will disappoint and fail us in the end. Eternal trust and security are in the Lord, and how we overcome the trials of the corrupt world we live in (Hebrews 11:30-40).

 

By faith, we must trust in God and not be tempted to trust in the apparent security in wealth or the might of earthly armies. This is an election year in the United States offering Christians an opportunity to voice their opinions by voting their Godly values. While all the candidates for office are sinners (Romans 3:23) we still must vote and vote for the candidate that most represents Godly values. However, we cannot vote according to Godly values unless we are in the Bible, the word of God, to become familiar with these values.

 

In this election year, God’s people must,

 

1. Read and study the Bible to recognize Godly values.
2. Pray to be connected to God.
3. Fellowship with other believers at a local Church to see Godly values in action.
4. Vote!!!

 

Most of all, no matter the results of an election, we must place our trust in God remembering Psalm 23.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.