POSTED 05 SEPTEMBER, 2008

A Time to Fight

by Mark Huey
mark@outreachisrael.net

reproduced from the McHuey Blog

For the past two weeks, the cultural war for the future of our country has taken place before our very eyes. On so many different levels, whether one wants to admit it or not, in less than sixty days the American electorate is going to make a decision that will determine whether our elected national leaders choose to serve God, country, and the people—or whether they choose to serve self and their multiplied self interests.

Oddly enough, as we have been exposed to the political machinations of the recent fortnight, the Biblical story of Esther has come to mind frequently. In that ancient historical account, the people of God, represented by the dispersed Jews in Persia, were on the verge of extermination because one man, Mordecai, determined that he would not worship a human leader and succumb to his corrupt paganism.

Of course, the analogy from antiquity is not exact given the circumstances of current events. However, it is interesting to note that an elder man of principle stood for what he believed was right. At the same time, a young woman of character, Esther, was chosen for “a time such as this” (Esther 4:14) to not only do the right thing, but also be an inspiration to a people of faith facing complete extermination.

While many will argue that physical destruction is far more alarming than a mere societal shift in mores and direction, only the Almighty can reveal to people the severity of the terminal challenge that our once God-fearing culture is facing. Only He can impress upon His children the pivotal spiritual battle that is taking place in the visible political arena, as it unfolds on the various mediums.

It is at times like these that modern-day watchmen of both sexes with eyes to see and ears to hear, should gird up their loins and enter the fray through prayer and fasting.

As the modern day Mordecai has exhorted all who listened, it is time to work and fight for a cause greater than self!

But to do so is to sacrifice self for the greater good of others. This is a wonderful test for all who claim to serve the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Let us be up to the challenge.

May God have mercy on our country and upon us, His faithful servants!

Mark Huey (B.A., Vanderbilt University in History and Graduate Studies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University) is the Director of Outreach Israel Ministries (www.outreachisrael.net). He is the author of several books, including: TorahScope, Volumes I & II, and Counting the Omer: A Daily Devotional Toward Shavuot. He is also co-author of Hebraic Roots: An Introductory Study.