One nation under God

Scripture:  Acts 25:26-27  “26 At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. 27 When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.”

​Observations:  In Numbers, a census is taken.  I think this gives a perspective of just how many people were in this band of Israelites trudging through the desert.  If there were 603,550 man over the age of 20, how many women and children with them?  Also, this didn’t even count the family of Levi.  I’ve often heard there were in excess of 2,000,000 people.  Can you imagine how large a group this would be?  I looked it up and that would be somewhere between the number of people living in Phoenix, Az and the number of people living in Houston, Texas.  I’ve seen both cities, and that is a lot of people.  Can you imagine what it would be like to have them all on the move at the same time?  Just stopping for the night would be a major accomplishment.  How did they keep them all together?  I can’t help but think of the telephone game where you tell one person and it changes before you get to the end.  Getting God’s law passed among all these people would be a major accomplishment.  I can see why God was so concerned about foreign influence.  In Acts, Paul went before Felix to tell his side of the dispute.

Application:  I am bothered by Felix’s reason for keeping Paul in prison.  Paul could have been released for a bribe.  Also, Felix didn’t release Paul, even though it was the right thing to do, because he wanted to please the Jews.  It sounds like what we still find going on in government today.  It isn’t a Christian way of governing.  It is following the old Pagan practices.

Prayer:  Lord God, sovereign ruler of all set before us, I pray for the leaders of this great country, and for those attempting to run for political offices today.  Lord, I know you are in control, and I know you allow corruption to exist because of fallen man’s desires, but I do pray that you will change hearts.  I do pray that you will put people in charge of the judiciary, the congress, the White House, people of integrity and people who care about people.  People who love you and love their neighbors.  Lord, I know there are tough times ahead.  We see the signs, but I pray that you protect those who bow the knee only to You. I pray this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. Amen

Tomorrow’s Reading:  Numbers 3-4; Acts 25