AMERICA’S ONLY HOPE
“When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the Lord will not answer you in that day.” - 1 Samuel 8:18

Why didn’t God answer their prayers in the verse above? Because they had rejected God so He gave them the leadership that they deserved. At the time Samuel wrote those words, God was Israel’s King and Samuel was His prophet. But when Samuel was old, the people wanted a human king like all of the nations around them. When Samuel complained, God told Samuel, “It is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.” (1 Samuel 8:7) Then the Lord told Samuel to warn the people about all of the taxes and property that the king would demand from the people and that they would eventually cry out for relief but God would not hear them in that day. But they didn’t care. They demanded a king so God gave them the leader that they deserved: King Saul. And he was terrible. Americans should learn this lesson: When we remove ourselves from God’s instruction, then we remove ourselves from God’s blessing and protection. When we remove ourselves from God, it puts us in a realm where Satan can destroy us mentally, spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. (Psalm 78:46) Think about the violent crime, injustice and destructive behaviors of people in America. This has happened because we removed ourselves from God’s blessing. We rejected God’s instruction and made our own laws that He calls sin. And then we wonder why we’re in the mess we’re in. Watching the impeachment trial, reminded me that of the words of Walt Kelly’s Pogo, “I’ve seen the enemy and he is us.” Seriously, these people are NOT our best and brightest. They act like power-hungry, hateful, hypocrites. Does that sound harsh? In Matthew 24, Jesus called the Jewish leaders, blind guides and hypocrites. I’m not suggesting a revolution, I’m just saying that if we put our hope in political leaders to solve our problems, then we are doomed. But there is hope. When Israel returned to God, then God restored His blessing on them. (Joel 2:25) If only Americans would remember our Godly heritage, repent of our national and personal sins and return to God, then He would restore us.
Gary Varvel