Cause and Effect
6 min read
21 While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David rested with his ancestors and that Joab the commander of the army was also dead. Then Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me go, that I may return to my own country.”
— 1 Kings 11:21
Because of Solomon’s idolatry, God raised up Hadad as an enemy of Israel. It’s so interesting that Hadad had the potential to be an enemy of Israel ever since he was a boy, when the army of Edom had been slaughtered by the army of Israel under King David. But Hadad had everything his heart could desire, including acceptance into the royal family of Egypt!!
From the perspective of the world, Hadad became an enemy of Israel because Israel slaughtered his family. But that is not the cause-and-effect of God’s sovereignty. According to God’s sovereignty, it was because of Solomon’s attitude of disobedience and idolatry (verse 11) that Hadad took the path of becoming an enemy of Israel.
We must seriously check the attitude of our hearts. None of us are perfect in our Christian walk, but the question we need to consider is this: Do our hearts desire the idols in our lives more than the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives? The Holy Spirit abides in our hearts when we have an attitude of faith and obedience. The Holy Spirit will not occupy the same heart with our idols. But if we choose our idols over the Holy Spirit, the enemies of the kingdom of God will sprout up all over the place.
Because of an attitude of disobedience and idolatry, the people of God are effectively in collusion with the enemies of God. And the Bible even suggests that our attitude of idolatry is the reason that the enemies of God are raised up.
If we would only put on our spiritual glasses, we would see that that is what has been happening in the US and in S. Korea. The problem has never been nonbelievers. The problem has always been the people of God. As a whole the people of God have preferred to chase after idols rather than seeking first (making it a priority) His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).
The Busan Mission Team is almost set. Now, we begin the important work of solidifying, preparing, and equipping the team. And I am finding that just as God has given me a message and vision for this Canvas family, He is beginning to stir in me a message and vision for our summer missions efforts, especially this one that takes me back to my own country and my own city.
I refuse to go back there as an enemy of God by carrying an attitude of disobedience and idolatry in my heart. I go there as a servant of Christ, carrying the gospel of my salvation in my heart and the love that comes with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I praise You Father for those You have called to participate in this year’s Busan Mission Team. Protect us from the evil one. Protect us from his lies. Put a hedge of protection around us with Your Holy Spirit. Shield us with the faith we carry in Christ Jesus. Open our eyes to see everything from Your perspective and not our own. Strengthen us with love so that we may love one another. Stir in us Your jealous love for the young people of S. Korea. In Your love, make us a mighty fist to deliver a mighty blow against the devil in Busan, Jeollado, and Gyeongsangdo. In Jesus’s name. Amen.