How God Grants National Favor to His People

How God Grants National Favor

HOW GOD GRANTS NATIONAL FAVOR. We can compare the favor that Christian leaders have gained in government with the time of King Cyrus. Many think of the reign of Cyrus of Persia as a time of great favor for the Jews. And it did begin that way. But it didn’t end that way.

Cyrus fulfilled God’s word through Jeremiah that God would bring the exiled Jews back to Jerusalem. Ezra 1:1-4. “…to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia… he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:

“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. And He has appointed me to build Him a house in Jerusalem… ‘Whoever there is among you of all His people, may his God be with him! Let him go up to Jerusalem…and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel…Every survivor, at whatever place he may live, let the men of that place support him with silver and gold.”

Wow! So the king told all his kingdom’s people to support the returning Jews with silver and gold. But that didn’t last long. Because of what happened later in Cyrus’ reign. The Jew’s enemies “heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel.” Then they said to the Jewish leaders in Ezra 4:2, “Let us build with you. For we…seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria.”

See below how to pray about this

Here let me draw a parallel. God gave Belize churches favor when the government started the Ministry of Religious Affairs In 2021. Then He gave favor to church leaders to greatly influence the constitutional process in 2022. Then in 2023 He gave favor to church leaders to sign a Statement of Agreement with the government. It set out the church as advisory partner due to its history of moral influence and God’s supremacy in Belize. In fact the Constitution begins by basing Belize on principles that acknowledge “the supremacy of God.”

But Muslims—less than 2% of Belizeans—in effect claim the same God as the 70+% who are Christian. So some of them say “Let us build with you” on a relationship that took Christians decades to build. They have freedom to build their own relationship with the government, but not on our relationship. Muslims should be thankful they have that freedom which Muslim nations harshly deny to Christians.

Likewise the Jewish leaders said, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God.” Then their enemies “hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus” (Ezra 4:3-5). That’s happened to Christians in Belize and worldwide too. We gain the favor of a politician or get a Christian-friendly politician elected. But then evil counselors frustrate our counsel and we fall out of favor.

Prayer, favor and power

How do we not only gain favor but also remain in favor? Let’s see what happened to the Jews. After Cyrus, the new king Darius arose. So Israel and its enemies—led by Tattenai—took their argument to King Darius. Darius found the long-lost decree of Cyrus and agreed with that decree that the Jews deserved favor. He told Tattenai and his colleagues to stop interfering with them.

Ezra 6:6-10. “Now therefore, Tattenai…and your colleagues…keep away from there. Leave this work on the house of God alone; let …the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.” Why did King Darius want God’s house built? So “they may offer acceptable sacrifices to the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king and his sons.”

The king realized the power that the Jews’ prayer had over his life and his sons’ lives. Likely he experienced that power when they prayed for him, and wanted more of it. He found out their God was the God of heaven and he wanted more of that heaven in his kingdom.

So when we gain the government’s favor, let us keep meeting with them and praying for them. Then they will experience God’s power and covet more of our prayers. And keep giving the work of God their favor.

Do we call that Christian nationalism? No, we call it Christian participation in democracy. If Christians win, no one should disqualify us by labeling us Christian nationalists. Because we have freedom of religion. And of course Christian want to win on national issues and win races for national office, like everyone else. If anyone derides that as Christian nationalism, they should be laughed off the stage. Christians have as much right to be nationalists as anyone else.

PRAY WITH US about how God grants national favor

Father God, we exalt You as Sovereign over the nations. For You have made Your Son Jesus King of kings and Lord of lords. And You gave us the Great Commission of discipling nations. But we have great works to do, and much opposition. So show us what You are doing in each nation. Then we can build on Your work there.

Help us do it together with all Your people in unity. Then they will see we are one as You are one. Raise up Your Christian statesmen to reach the leaders of each state. Help them to represent You, Your people, and the people of each nation well. Thank You for the favor You have given us in nations like Belize. Help us to keep seeking Your kingdom first. And to build on the favor You give with prayer, prophecy and power to do good as Jesus did. Then the increase of His government will prevail without end. In Jesus’ name, amen.