Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV) – Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it shall spring up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Presently in Nigeria (within the week of
Friday 3rd and Friday 10th):
Ø Twin bomb blast at Jos – one at a crowded mosque
and another one simultaneously at a restaurant on Sunday the 5th of
July;
Ø Female suicide bomber detonated an improved
explosive device, killing no fewer than 40 people at Sabon-Gari in Kaduna;
Ø Male and female suicide bombers blowing
themselves up in the midst of crowd (in markets, churches; hospital etc);
Ø More than 200 people killed (not to mention
injured) over the series of attacks by Boko Haram over the past few days. Their
intention is to implement a strict form of Islamic law in Nigeria;
Ø Reports revealed that the elected President
urges Muslims in Nigeria and across the world to reject with one voice the
attackers claim to be acting in the name of Islam, and tell the terrorist to
stop the abasement of their religion;
Reaction of some of the citizens:
- Mouth wagging against the President not being able to meet the expectation of the people in dealing with the major deepening economic crisis and the Islamist insurgency in the northern part of Nigeria; other expectations are:
- Fight and eradicate corruption,
- Nomination of ministers,
- Rise from the present fall of the currency,
- Economic stability,
- Rescue and return of the Chibok girls [Bring-Back-Our-Girls campaigners],
- Seek and attain international supports/assistance, even if these are to the detriment of the country,
- Roll out employment programme as promised during his campaign,
- Improve the quality of education while still making it affordable for the masses,
- Housing for people with low income,
- Critics are beginning to mock him as a sluggish elderly man and termed him as “Baba Go Slow” after his barely over a month or two months of attaining office.
Any Similarities Of The Above In The Bible? Yes, The Israelites!
Exodus 3:7-8a (TLB) – I have seen the deep sorrows of my
people in Egypt and have heard their pleas for freedom from their harsh
taskmasters. I have come to
deliver them from the Egyptians and to take
them out of Egypt into a good land, a large land, a land flowing with milk and
honey…
Seen…. Come…. Take….
These are only actions [deeds,
accomplished, achieved] that can be completed only by GOD, and not man. The
complaint of the Israelites about their hardships (to mention a few):
1. Bitter water of Marah – Exo
15:22-25 (TLB)
2. Cry for food – Exo 16 (TLB)
3. Wail for water to drink
(Meribah) – Exo 17:1-7 (TLB)
4. Complaint against each other –
Exo 18:13 (TLB)
Making reference to the wilderness experience of
the Israelites, Apostle Paul warned us:
1
Corinthians 10:1-11 – The Living Bible (TLB)
1 For we must never forget, dear brothers, what
happened to our people in the wilderness long ago. God guided them by sending a
cloud that moved along ahead of them; and he brought them all safely
through the waters of the Red Sea. 2 This might be called their
“baptism”—baptized both in sea and cloud!—as followers of Moses—their
commitment to him as their leader. 3-4 And by a miracle God
sent them food to eat and water to drink there in the desert; they drank the
water that Christ gave them.* He was there with them as a mighty Rock of
spiritual refreshment. 5 Yet after all this most of them did
not obey God, and he destroyed them in the wilderness. 6 From
this lesson we are warned that we must not desire evil things as they did, 7 nor
worship idols as they did. (The Scriptures tell us, “The people sat down
to eat and drink and then got up to dance” in worship of the golden calf.) 8 Another
lesson for us is what happened when some of them sinned with other men’s wives,
and 23,000 fell dead in one day. 9 And don’t try the Lord’s
patience—they did and died from snake bites. 10 And don’t
murmur against God and his dealings with you as some of them did, for that is
why God sent his Angel to destroy them.11 All these things
happened to them as examples—as object lessons to us—to warn us against doing
the same things; they were written down so that we could read about them and
learn from them in these last days as the world nears its end.
Prayers:
Ø On behalf of Nigeria, we will cry for mercy. GOD’s mercy because
just like the Israelites who had barely come out of Egypt had started
complaining, so are the people of Nigeria complaining about the present government
within their almost two months in office.
Ø Plead for Christ mercies for the murmurs, groanings and
complaints of the masses of/in Nigeria. The bible says Moses was always
pleading and begging GOD on behalf of the Israelites. Beloved, let us ask for
His compassion upon our nation and our people that are dying daily.
Ø Beg GOD that as we stand in the gap and as we intercede that
Nigerians will not try the patience of GOD. Verse 9 of the above scripture says
“…. they did and died from snake bites.” Could these snake-bites be the
increase in the waves of raids, explosions and suicide bombings in the northern
part of Nigeria?
Ø For the GOD who is interested in the affairs of men, are His
dealings, plans and programmes too slow in our sights? Plead that He will not
send destruction unto the nation as He dealt with the Israelites. Ask for His
mercy of forgiveness.
Heb 3:16-19 (TLB):
16 And who were those people I speak
of, who heard God’s voice speaking to them but then rebelled against him? They
were the ones who came out of Egypt with Moses their leader. 17 And
who was it who made God angry for all those forty years? These same people who
sinned and as a result died in the wilderness. 18 And to whom
was God speaking when he swore with an oath that they could never go into the
land he had promised his people? He was speaking to all those who disobeyed
him. 19 And why couldn’t they go in? Because they didn’t trust
him.
Heb
4:1-3a (TLB):
1 Although God’s promise still stands—his promise
that all may enter his place of rest—we ought to tremble with fear because
some of you may be on the verge of failing to get there after all. 2 For
this wonderful news—the message that God wants to save us—has been given to us
just as it was to those who lived in the time of Moses. But it didn’t do them
any good because they didn’t believe it. They didn’t mix it with faith. 3 For
only we who believe God can enter into his place of rest.
Heb 4:11 (TLB):
11 Let us do our best to go into that place
of rest, too, being careful not to disobey God as the children of Israel did,
thus failing to get in.
PRAYERS:
Ø There is a gap between promise(s) and its fulfilment. Let us
pray that the whole nation be blessed by the Spirit of GOD with the wine of
patience - patience to be able to experience that rest, for in patience, can we
possess our soul. Lk 20:19; patience in trusting GOD and patience in obeying
Him; so that Nigeria is not wandering in her wilderness.
Ø Perhaps Nigeria is still enslaved in/with her past (Egypt), and
cannot enter the “promised land” (GOD’s rest) without leaving “Egypt.” Thou Our
Saviour, Deliverer and Healer – JESUS CHRIST – please set Nigeria free. Where
Nigeria and Nigerians needs healing, heal. Where Nigeria and Nigerians needs
deliverance, deliver. Where Nigeria needs salvation, send men/women of
salvation.
Ø Amidst the instructions and promises of GOD concerning Nigeria,
O LORD, let not fear or lack of faith make Nigerians to see the “roads ahead”
look difficult. Help Nigeria to humble herself before the LORD, seek His help
and be able to enter into that rest of GOD.
Ø Holy Spirit as You observe Your cleansing, daily breathe upon
and through the churches, so that the complete message of the gospel is
preached so that men/women/youths/children comes into understanding that
development cannot take place in a day but gradually; and that promises could
only be fulfilled seeing GOD and not the government.
Ø LORD JESUS, You said “My peace I give unto you, not as the world
giveth.” Therefore O LORD, endow Nigeria with Your divine peace.
Ø As of the matter of Boko Haram and all their worldwide co-horts,
JESUS, encounter them in Your own way, as You do not delight in the death of
sinner but for them to come into repentance. Thank You for as many of them that
You are rescuing and bringing out of this coven of darkness into Your divine
marvellous light.
THANK YOU BLESSED TRINITY THAT YOU ALWAYS HEAR US WHEN WE
CALL ON YOU.
