The Patriotism of the Patriarchs 

February 2021 

First I will say that I am proud to be an American. I would assume that most everyone who reads this article would echo the same line as I still believe that this is the greatest country in the world. Do we have a whole host of issues that are certainly in desperate need of addressing? Sure. Yet there is nowhere on earth that freedom is as celebrated as it is here, men and women have sacrificed for over 200 years for the protection of our liberties, some have even given their lives. I have no desire to demean or take away from that certain to be respected truth. However, as Christians, we are part of a far greater kingdom of which the government has no end. Again, I am proud to be an American but America is not my home nor does it have any hold on me. I want to take this opportunity to encourage you, dear believer, though things within our borders are questionable, indifferent to any particular party or person, we are in trying times.  

In Genesis 17, as God entered into the covenant with Abraham, we read these words, “And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” God made the promise that he would rule over his people regardless of the land that they were in, remember Abram was told to “go” leave your kindred and your land. He was now a sojourner, a resident alien, he was no longer of this world but set apart for a kingdom that is not here. God promises Moses to walk amongst them, ruling, “And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…” Leviticus 26:12. It was not until the people, desiring the culture of the other nations surrounding them, cried out that they should have a king to rule over them. After the time of Judges, while Israel was repeating the cycle of enslavement, deliverance, peace, rebellion, and repeat, the cycle consisted of deliverance and then peace, the danger of peace is that man forgets who is in control. Sound familiar? Then we are given a warning through the Judges of what follows such independence from God. “Every man did what was right in his own eyes.” There was no biblical worldview, commands of God obeyed, and the people would return to bondage. It is after this they cried out in the book of Samuel, the last judge, for God to “give us a king that will judge (rule)us.” 1 Samuel 8:6. God was the only King they ever needed, yet they trusted that an earthly king would be better. Brothers and sisters our King has never ceased to reign. Those who are in Christ Jesus have no need to worry nor be dismayed for Romans 8:31-37 is clear where our hope is to be. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” I pray that this article brings you peace, as it is the word of God and therefore it is absolute truth, peace I extend to you. Love each of you, Pastor Matt