Fathering Nations
I'm intrigued with a paradigm shift.
This may not be a typical Prophecy Dude examination of end time events, but it does relate to them in the sense that it's about leaders of nations. This is a new revelation for me about how best to deal with nations and wicked rulers. Follow along with me--this may offend your mind at times, but travel with me to the end.
I recently heard a minister of the gospel quote something from the Bible that for some reason I had no idea was there--I immediately looked it up. Here's the scripture, and it's Joseph talking:
So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 45:8 NKJV)
Joseph saw himself as a "father" to Pharaoh. Other versions use the word "adviser" but I really believe the heart of Father God is the familial word "father" that perfectly fits this whole concept of "fathering a nation."
As you know, it was a dream that got Joseph into trouble with his family. Dreams are used throughout the Bible as legitimate means of communication providing guidance and direction from God. Joseph was just beginning to learn about dreams and how they operate, so initially he was unskilled, and that is what got him into trouble, but over the years, he learned to perfect the interpretation of dreams, and those perfected skills landed him a huge promotion from the bowels of a prison to the throne room of the Pharaoh when he interpreted a couple of dreams for Pharaoh. Pharaoh followed the interpretation which prepared the nation to weather a severe famine, and not only that, but Egypt prospered during that famine.
This mere prisoner standing before the most powerful man of the world took a risk in speaking what God had given him for Pharaoh and this resulted in a move of God:
So the advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God? Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt. (Genesis 41:37-41 NKJV)
You see, it's only God who can take a lowly prisoner, place him in front of the most powerful man and have that man declare him not only the wisest, but also put into his control all that was Pharaoh's. Repeatedly, the Bible demonstrates that God is the God of impossibilities.
Out of this we see Pharaoh responding to God's message through Joseph. He is listening to God. Now, here is an amazing concept: God speaks to leaders , even those who don't recognize Him as God of the Universe. God even speaks to wicked leaders. One of the most important things we can do as Christians is to recognize and honor the leadership that is in place.
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, The dreams of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do: (Genesis 41:25 NKJV)
Don't get mad yet; follow me a little further. The Bible is very clear about leadership and from where it's derived:
Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (Romans 13:1, 2 NKJV)
It doesn't get any plainer than that. In democratic countries like the United States, where citizens go through a process of choosing and electing their leaders, it's easy to disengage from an administration that doesn't fit our values. In fact, to put it lightly, we often get offensive in expressing our displeasure with those leaders. Nevertheless, in the realm of God's Kingdom, whoever is elected is the one He has chosen. Why even bother to vote then? Because it is the duty and joy of Christian's to express righteousness, morality, and decency through the power of the vote. Failing that, we fail God's plan. Further, I believe we are accountable to demonstrate and employ the freedoms we enjoy.
Now, let me push you a little further. It is easy to say, "I respect the office of president." People who say this are really saying: "I respect the office, but I hate the person because he or she is wicked and doesn't fit with the Biblical world view." But the truth is, we must honor both the office and God's chosen person who is in that office. Honor and respect are due the person because that person is chosen by God. If you don't do that fully, then you are not honoring God. Ouch. Yeah, it hurts. Paradigm shifts do that, you know.
Here is what we need to do:
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-4 NKJV)
Even though Pharaoh didn't recognize or fear God, God raised up a father for Pharaoh for the quietness and peacefulness of His people living in Egypt. Egypt is a parable or metaphor for the world system in which we have to live, but even in that, if we pray and intercede for our leaders, God will raise up fathers for them. He also raises up mothers.
In the days of Shamgar, son of Anath, In the days of Jael, The highways were deserted, And the travelers walked along the byways. Village life ceased, it ceased in Israel, Until I, Deborah, arose, Arose a mother in Israel. They chose new gods; Then there was war in the gates; Not a shield or spear was seen among forty thousand in Israel. My heart is with the rulers of Israel Who offered themselves willingly with the people. Bless the Lord! (Judges 5:6-9 NKJV)
Prophet Deborah was a mother to Israel as she served as a spiritual mother to the leader and judge of Israel, Barak.
There are many leaders of nations today who need mothers and fathers, including the President of the United States. President Obama didn't have a natural father who was there for him--he needs a spiritual father. Certainly we can pray for the heart of our President and for God to raise up spiritual fathers to guide him.
One of the keys that is repeated in Biblical examples that causes the leader to accept and even appoint a father to themselves is where God proves Himself with something miraculous. The life of the Prophet Daniel is a perfect example, and even a model for Godly concept of fathering a nation.
In raising up fathers for leaders of nations, the chosen father receives a grace of favor that begins to move them into this special office.
Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. (Daniel 1:9 NKJV)
As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. (Daniel 1:17 NKJV)
And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. (Daniel 1:20 NKJV)
God troubled Nebuchadnezzar with dreams that just seemed to drive him to find the interpretation, just like Pharaoh. The difference in Nebuchadnezzar's case is that he upped the stakes by requiring not just the interpretation, but that the interpreter also describe the actual dream. That requirement, as all magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and others who fancied themselves spiritually wise, agreed raised the interpretation to an impossible level. Nebuchadnezzar threatened death.
Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. And the king said to them, I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream. Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap. (Daniel 2:1-5 NKJV)
I find it interesting that Daniel, in desiring to reverse the king's execution decree, willingly responded to a national crises by calling a prayer meeting. He boldly asked God for both the dream and the interpretation and knowing that Nebuchadnezzar was king by God's appointment, Daniel was able to go to God with the request. Daniel saw God was the source in placing Nebuchadnezzar in power and giving him the dream and now God us the resource who would intervene in His servant the king's poor choice.
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand. (Daniel 2:17-23 NKJV)
Following the prayer meeting, Daniel received the revelation of the dream and its interpretation from God and want back to Nebuchadnezzar to prove the power of God. In facing the king, notice that Daniel approaches him with honor and respect. He respects not only the office, but the office holder as well because he recognizes that God placed Nebuchadnezzar in the place of leadership.
As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. (Daniel 2:29, 30 NKJV)
You, O king, are a king of kings. For the God of heaven has given you a kingdom, power, strength, and glory; and wherever the children of men dwell, or the beasts of the field and the birds of the heaven, He has given them into your hand, and has made you ruler over them all you are this head of gold. (Daniel 2:37, 38 NKJV)
Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel, and said, Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret. Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. Also Daniel petitioned the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego over the affairs of the province of Babylon; but Daniel sat in the gate of the king. (Daniel 2:46-49 NKJV)
Nebuchadnezzar may be be topping the charts of the egotistical scale, but he knows a miracle when he sees one and calls Daniel's God the God of gods. A supernatural miracle got the king's attention which resulted in a release of favor on Daniel and his prayer buddies. Daniel became a father to Nebuchadnezzar.
And they all lived in harmonious happiness ever after. Nope, of course not. This is what is exciting about the relationship of a "father" and the leader he fathers--the relationship is tested with opportunities for God to reestablish his sovereignty through more miracles.
I think Nebuchadnezzar's dream and Daniel's interpretation of it impacted Nebuchadnezzar tremendously. He decided if he represented the head of gold in the dream, then an image of him all in gold must be even better, so he decided to manifest that dream image into a real figure. I also think Nebuchadnezzar was a challenge for Daniel to father.
Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. Then a herald cried aloud: To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. (Daniel 3:1, 4-6 NKJV)
Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up? Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up. (Daniel 3:14-18 NKJV)
Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire. And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the kings counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them. Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the kings word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon. (Daniel 3:26-30 NKJV)
For whatever reason, Nebuchadnezzar needed another reminder and witnessed another and more powerful miracle that reminded him of the mighty God he honored through Daniel's dream interpretation. What activated this? The three Hebrews refused to dishonor God for Nebuchadnezzar, they took risk and stood faithful to God, and a mighty miracle took place. Nebuchadnezzar was tremendously impacted, received revelation from God on who was the fourth man in the fire.
Spiritual fathers of national leaders work on the inside, they are submissive, respectful, and honor the leader as chosen by God. Spiritual fathers are aware of how critical their position and ministry is in the overall plan, and they realize their resource is only God. Spiritual fathers are disciplined and highly attuned to their position in God's kingdom over their position in the natural kingdom.
We need fathers of nations in these last days. It doesn't matter how wicked the leader, God can still move that leader on behalf of His people. He can also move that leader out as we see in Acts 12:20-24.
God is very interested in the concept of nation fathering today as much as he was in Abraham's time and it's even part of the great commission:
No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. (Genesis 17:5 NKJV)
And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV)
The design and destiny of every nation and every leader of that nation is to have a father or mother appointed to them by God. The rapture is a hope for which the church looks forward with anticipation, but it's been used as an excuse to not engage in the nations. Jesus didn't tell us to hole up until He comes, but to occupy--He expects us to occupy the earth with His kingdom through fathering nations. It's not just presidents and kings who need mothering, but governors, senators, representatives, CEOs, superintendents, principals--all leaders need spiritual fathers and mothers to guide them.
Our prayer needs to be for God to raise up mothers and fathers full of the Holy Spirit and power who move supernaturally, who gather to themselves prayer warriors to support them, who are willing to take risk and speak into rulers' hearts the word, guidance, and direction of God to lead in peace and respect for God all nations, organizations, and governments.
You yourself may be a mother or father in the making. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...
Now that is a Master's Piece from the heat of Father God.
PD
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