Nebuchadnezzar for President

A few weeks ago a coworker and I were sitting in our lobby watching the last Presidential Debate.  I tried not to miss any of the debates – including the Vice President.  My coworker looked at me and said, “You’re voting for McCain, right?”  I looked at her and asked way she assumed that.  She said because “you’re a Christian!”  I told her Obama was a Christian too and I was still considering candidates.  She apologized because the same thing had happened to her that morning.  She was at her dentist and with his hands in her mouth said, “I got me an Obama supported!”  After he was done, and his hands kindly removed from her mouth, she asked why he was inspired to say that.  He said because she was black — but he was an Obama supporter too so it was “cool”.

I was stereotyped as a McCain supported because I’m “Christian” and she was pigeonholed as an Obama supported because she is black.  Do you think something is wrong with this picture?

As I read Jeremiah 27 and 28 today I was reminded of God’s view of politics – He decides elections.  Jeremiah 27.5-6 God’s message is “I’m the one who made the earth, man and woman, and all the animals (elephant and donkey) in the world.  I did it on my own without asking anyone’s help and I hand it out to whomever I will.  Here and now I give all these lands over to my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.”

This word from God was shocking to Judah.  They are the people of God and He was handing them over to an unbelieving ruler (I know one day he will be, but not yet)!  Two messages were advocated among the prophets.  One message was from Jeremiah that said, “Harness yourself up to the yoke of the king of Babylon. Serve him and his people. Live a long life!”  The other message was God would break the yoke of the king of Babylon within two years and return what was stolen.  God will reinstate Jehoiachin as king of Judah and return all exiles that were taken off to Babylon.

Jeremiah’s message was meant to bring hope (Jeremiah 29:11), the other was to tickle the ears of the listener.  Jeremiah’s message was meant to preserve the life and legacy of Judah.  Hananiah’s message was meant to make Judah feel better immediately.

I’m not telling or asking you to vote for anyone.  I’m simply saying VOTE.  Make a decision about national, state, and local officials not based on skin color, age, religion, gender, or national origin.  But vote by listening to your heart and the Spirit.  And guess what – God may lead me to vote for the other candidate because ultimately He decides the election.  Whoever is in the Oval Office Wednesday is who God put there.