DAY 12: APOSTOLIC ADVANCEMENT

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn–both men and animals–and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD”— Exodus 12:12.

Yesterday, we remembered dear friends who passed into glory. Today I want to concentrate an underlying theme of yesterday’s posting–that God is faithful to avenge the lives, and unjust deaths of His own.

Whether in the womb or in the prime of life, the enemy often seeks to abort the destinies of God’s people. Why? It’s primarily an issue of governance. The enemy perceives how their lives threaten his rulership.

From the moment of birth, both Moses and Jesus faced this peril. So did their generations. Throughout history–especially during this period of Dire Straits–Jewish people have faced down the enemy’s unceasing attempts to exterminate their race. Iran’s vehement dedication to wipe Israel off the map clarifies our worst fears on this issue.

Lets look at America. Especially since 1973, parents of virtually every baby have at least thought about aborting their child. Makes you wonder–what is the enemy so afraid of?

Swift Cloud: God’s Sign
We began the year with a word from Rick Ridings where he declared for Washington DC that God is riding on a swift cloud, and the idols of Egypt will topple. “Behold, the LORD is riding on a swift cloud and is about to come to Egypt; The idols of Egypt will tremble at His presence, And the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them” (Is. 19:1).

Does anybody find it interesting that, after the Supreme Court validated a Congressional bill providing for the largest expansion of government-funded abortion since Roe v Wade, an “inland hurricane” struck Washington DC? Anybody find it interesting that this unprecedented storm, whose destructive power evaded the radar of even the most competent weathermen, came exactly a day after this verdict was announced?

Or that it knocked out “power” throughout Washington DC?

You could literally say that God rode in on a “swift cloud.” As noted before, I believe this storm was a sign–literally a signpost–for our season. It was a storm warning. God is riding on a swift cloud, and the gods of Egypt are going to topple.

The primary correlating verse to Isaiah 19 is Exodus 12:12. When God brought His terrible scourge to Egypt in Exodus, He was bringing judgment on both unjust bloodshed and idolatry. “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn–both men and animals–and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD.” 

The prophet Ezekiel affirms this correlation. “Therefore I poured out My wrath on them for the blood which they had shed on the land, because they had defiled it with their idols” (Ezekiel 36:18). Idolatry and unjust bloodshed are inseparable.

A Time to Advance
Again, I believe the recent storm was a sign of His work in our land. It’s vital to understand that when Egypt shook, Israel advanced. For those who fear shaking is coming to our nation–you are not alone. But God has a plan to advance His kingdom even in the midst of any shaking.

This is perhaps the most clear message of what we now call Dire Straits and Tisha b’Av. Chuck Pierce will make this clear in tomorrow’s posting. But Tisha b’Av was originally supposed to be a celebration. The Israelites were poised to finally possess the promised land. Twelve spies came back with initial analysis of Israel’s potential to actually possess Israel. Two saw the grapes, and ten saw the giants.

And on Tisha b’Av, Israel decided not to possess the land on God’s timing. Due to the giants, they chose not to advance!

And Israel’s unbelief set up a cycle of destruction that would last not only for 40 years, but even to this day.

A Gideon Season
So I want to write to you–and first to myself–let us not draw back in this season of dire straits. Lets press into God’s promises and destiny both for America and Israel. Believe it or not, a window is indeed opening to bring deliverance. We are now in a Gideon season. Do not let future historians write that our nation perished because of our own unbelief!

Instead, let them write that a window opened for apostolic advancement. As the idols of Egypt toppled, God’s covenant promises became established! And we remained “the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”