Where Do We Go For Help?

Where do we go for help in these very difficult days?

In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we tend to look to our leaders for solutions and we want to trust that they are receiving and paying attention to good advice from the medical and scientific communities.

In dealing with the protests rocking our world, we tend to look to our leaders for solutions and we want to trust that they are sorting through all the issues and are working for the best interests of all who are involved.

But are these trusts well placed?  Well…

In the book of Isaiah, we find this description about leaders:  “your princes are rebels and companions of thieves.  Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts.  They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow’s cause does not come to them.”  (Isa 1:23)

And in the book of Ecclesiastes we find this:  “If you see the extortion of the poor, or the perversion of justice and fairness in the government, do not be astonished by the matter.  For the high official is watched by a higher official, and there are higher ones over them!”  (Ecc 5:8)

Both verses touch on corrupt officials robbing people of the fruit of their labor through bribes, gifts, extortion and the perversion of justice.

Does this mean that all leaders are corrupt?  Does this mean that all can be bought?  Does this mean that they all extort bribes and gifts?  Of course not, but it does mean that some are and some do and we shouldn’t be surprised.  .

On the other hand, to hold them to a standard of perfection would be very frustrating and counterproductive.  All leaders are human and will make mistakes.  Yet, whether our leaders are acting corruptly or are just making mistakes, we do need to hold them accountable.

So back to the question with a slight variation to it:  where do we go for help in these difficult days when we know our leaders will fail to some degree or another?

The Scriptures provide some insight to the question:  “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.  It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”  (Ps 118:8-9) 

Why is it better?

We find a very clear and definitive answer in the book of Numbers:   “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it”?  (Num 23:19)

God does not lie as men do.  He does not waffle on the issues and change his mind.   There are no promises with God that go unfulfilled.  God doesn’t use a lot of words to say nothing nor does He privately say things that contradict with what He says in public.

When God speaks, He speaks the truth and you can count on Him to do what He says!