God’s leaders can save a nation

As we celebrate this July Fourth weekend, this nation is at a crossroads. One person said, “We are now faced with a burgeoning national crisis that is challenging virtually every aspect of the American way of life as we know it, including the ability to own a home, the opportunity to have a job and even one of the fundamental freedoms that we have long enjoyed in this vast nation — the freedom of mobility.”

This nation is facing a perfect storm of circumstances the likes of which haven’t been seen since World War II. The biggest difference between now and World War II is that today our country is at war with itself. We’ve become a nation of warring factions hell bent on destroying each other. Back then there was a common goal that unified this nation like no time before — or since.

Is there hope for America today? Of course! The hope for America is found in God. Winston Churchill said, “The farther back in history a person can see, the further in the future he can see.”

Ancient Israel faced far worse circumstances than we face today. God responded to the prayers of the Israelites. He will respond to our prayers today — if we seek him with all of our hearts. During the dark days of the judges, God raised up three heroes who saved the nation of Israel. During a time of religious confusion, rampant idolatry and tribal warfare God raised up three great heroes.

The first hero was Samson. Samson was a one-man wrecking machine. He was the greatest warrior who ever lived. Samson was born after 20 years of Philistine domination. He was a Nazarite. In Numbers 6 a Nazarite never cut his hair. He was to be different in his appearance. He never went near a dead body — even if his father or mother or wife died. He was to be different in his relationships. He ate nothing from the grapevine whether wine or grapes. He was different in his eating and drinking. A Nazarite was completely separated unto God.

Samson’s purpose in life is spelled out in Judges 13:5. “… he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” The Israelites were afraid to stand against the Philistines. God created a one-man army in Samson. At his wedding feast he defeated 30 Philistine young men. Later he ruined the Philistine economy. “So Samson went and caught three hundred foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails. And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards” (Judges 15:4-7) A Philistine army was sent to arrest him. He destroyed a thousand of the enemy with the jawbone of a donkey.

Unfortunately, the Philistines knew Samson better than he knew himself. He could never be defeated on the battlefield. He could only be defeated from within. They sent Delilah to seduce him. The leaders of the Philistines came to her and said, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies …” (Judges 16:5) His great strength lay in his uncut hair — a picture of his relationship with God. He was captured. His eyes were put out. He was forced to grind grain. But God’s mercy and God’s grace began to work in his life. As his hair grew his relationship with God grew. At his death he destroyed the Philistine leadership (Judges 16:30).

Samson held back the Philistines for 20 years while a second hero began his work.

Samuel faithfully taught the Word of God while Samson defended Israel’s western flank. Samuel’s mother, Hannah, was unable to have children. She prayed, “O Lord of hosts, if you will indeed … give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head” (1 Samuel 1:11). God gave her a son. She weaned the boy and then gave him to the Lord in the tabernacle. She dressed him in a linen ephod. It was cute to see the little boy in the clothing of a priest but a holy man is a mighty instrument in God’s hands. Later, Samuel taught the Word of God throughout Israel. As Samson held back the enemies Samuel faithfully taught the truth. Samuel paved the way for the third great hero.

The third great hero was David. The book of Ruth is the story of a Moabite woman. Her husband died. In fact, her brother-in-law and father-in-law also died. Three widows left together was a desperate situation in ancient times. But Ruth had faith in God. When her mother-in-law urged her to return home, Ruth said, “For where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God” (Ruth 1:16). God honored her faith. She “happened” to glean in the field of Boaz (Ruth 2:3). God was providentially orchestrating her steps. She met Boaz. The rest, as they say, is history. Boaz married Ruth. Ruth became the great-grandmother of Israel’s greatest king — David.

In the darkest days of Israel’s history, God raised up three unlikely heroes. A barren couple gave birth to a son, Samson. Samson held back the Philistines for 20 years. This allowed Samuel to faithfully teach the Word of God. Samuel laid the foundation for David’s later reign. God used a destitute Moabite widow to provide Israel’s greatest king — David.

During these difficult times may God raise up great heroes in our midst. We need to go back and understand why this country was formed. We must not only survive as a nation but thrive with the principles of our founding fathers alive and intact. May we as God’s people join together in prayer for God’s blessing upon our nation. May God bless America.

Ethan Hansen (ethanchansen@gci.net) is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake.