"THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS"

                As we evangelicals look....look and tremble actually....at the political climate in America today....I would ask them to consider Gideon. The Israelites were so under the thumb of the Midianites that many were carving holes in the rocks of the mountains to at least be safe. Please read of Gideon in Judges 6-8!
               We all know the story....the Angel of the LORD appeared to that young and insignificant Gideon and told him that he was going to lead the people in ridding themselves of the Midianites. We are familiar with how Gideon wanted a sign to make sure that what he was hearing was true....so we see the two evenings with the fleece....and then the Lord turned the testing around.
               Gideon started with 32,000 men....then God pared that down to 10,000....and then to the 300 that we are most familiar with. We do know why God did this do we not. Had God given the victory with 32,000 men....or even 10,000....the Israelites would have been tempted to think that their own might and power had defeated the enemy. This cannot be emphasized too much or too often! There were others examples of where God had to do odd things so that the Israelites knew that the victories were not because of their own power! Moses would be one example....whereas the Israelites would be winning the battle when Moses raised his arms....but they would begin to lose if he lowered them. Someone eventually had to hold his arms up! How long do you think that you could stand with your arms raised. I might go twenty minutes.
               Folks....the 32,000 men point to our misguided dependence on Donald Trump....and the MAGA movement. God is telling us no! Pare the numbers down....10,000 is still too much. Get rid of all these podcasters and radio talk show and Fox cable hosts. Get rid of them all as to where our trust is! Read if you will....the 23rd chapter of Jeremiah...."Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep"...."I will set shepherd's over them (the people) who will feed them."...."Both the prophet and the priest are profane"...."They prophesied by Baal"...."They speak a vision of their own heart".....(We are one glorious nation under God....and the best is yet to come)....."Behold I am against those who prophesy false dreams."
               It's just an odd coincidence but 32,000 Republicans caucused in Iowa in 2020....with 97% voting for Trump. (That's the notation that I came to in researching this) Friends....there is a remnant today....and hopefully you are in that remnant. The odds....as the world would look at it....are terribly against us....but as Jeremiah proclaimed in that 23rd chapter...."THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
               If we just try to make America great again....God will as He has said......just tear it down again. (Is that not what happened with the pandemic?) We had our opportunities to turn to Him.....this for the past fifty years or so....and we did not. Our hope and prayer today should be that God will have mercy upon us His remnant....increases us in size.....not for victories....but that more will shout His praises as He nears!