Scripture:
1 Timothy 2:1-2 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
Jeremiah 23: 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?
Ezekiel 22:30 “I looked for anyone to repair the wall and stand in the gap for me on behalf of the land…”
Reflection:
- This week we witnessed history. Sometimes history takes years or even decades to unfold; other times it happens in mere days. For the years to come, we will remember what happened in Kabul this week, unfortunately much like the fall of Saigon at the conclusion of the Vietnam war. No matter what side of the aisle you lean toward in your political persuasions, everyone reading this devotional on this Saturday morning is aware that a great catastrophe has taken place before our eyes this week.
- The Afghan people have once again seen their government fall. History seems to be repeating itself once again. It is a cruel irony that in the past 150 years that 3 nations have tried to construct a functional moderate society in Afghanistan. The British invaded Afghanistan three times in the 19th and 20th century, then the Soviet’s invaded in 1979 that launched a 10 year brutal war of oppression that left over 2 million Afghans dead. After the attacks on New York in September 2001, then, President Bush committed American forces to Afghanistan to uproot terrorism. Yet it wasn’t long until America, along with its western allies changed their focus from defeating extremist Islam into building an independent Afghanistan society. President Bush made a pivot in the fall fo 2002 and was explicit that the hallmarks of western efforts would be to help the Afghans build a military capable of withstanding extremist, establish stable democratic institutions and provide access to quality education for both men and women.
- With the sudden collapse of the government by the withdrawals of troops, the people of Afghanistan are now suddenly at the mercy of the Taliban. Fanatical groups overcame the corrupt government and military quickly and the future for the Afghan people looks bleak. There will be not western intervention as other nations move to create ties with the tribal Taliban.
- So what is our response to the events of this week? Even if our nations leaders turn a blind eye on the tragedy of the Afghan people, we must not. Our best response, as always, is to stand in the gap and intercede in the council chamber of our God through prayer. It is God that can bring about a change in the hearts of people, whether it is in our nation or in Afghanistan. While it breaks our hearts to see governments not listening to the cries of the oppressed, we believe that prayer matters to God and that the seeds of the gospel can still flourish.
- Would you intercede in prayer for the very few Afghan Christians? There may be only as few as 750 believers there. Pray for those believers to be protected from evil and to bring the peace and presence of God wherever they go. Now is the time to pray for Afghanistan and the neighboring nations. (P.S. I heard from a friend in Tajikistan that there is some fear amongst the leaders that the ideology of the Taliban could begin to spread into their country. Please pray for the other nations of the region as well.)
Praying!
David
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