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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration : IT IS LAWFUL TO RENDER TRIBUTE TO CAESAR

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 25, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

IT IS LAWFUL TO RENDER TRIBUTE TO CAESAR

   “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute due; custom to whom custom [is due]; fear to whom fear [is due]; honor to whom honor [is due]. Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” Rom. 13: 7, &, KJV. 

The true and faithful disciples and followers of Jesus Christ—God’s law-abiding Christians—have clearly-defined, separate duties to ‘church’ and to ‘state.’ 

In today’s mid-week “Manna,”we shall first consider what Christ and His apostles taught regarding “tax paying tribute to Caesar” or tax returns. Prayerfully read the following Scriptures on your Bibles: Matt. 22: 15-22; Mark 12: 12-17; Luke 20: 19-26; Rom. 13: 1-8; preferably the KJV, then, RSV. 

Now these (all emphases, bracketed words provided): 

    “The ‘taxing’ of Luke 2:2 (KJV), is a rendering of the Greek ‘apographe,’ ‘registration,’ ‘census.’ Doubtless the registration of names and of property was also the basis for the LEVY of a property tax. Levi Matthew, a Jewish tax collector (see Publican) under Roman appointment, was called by Christ to be a disciple (Matt. 9:9; Luke 5: 27). 

Christ disapproved the general practice of EXTORTING amounts ABOVE THE OFFICIAL TAX (see Luke 3: 12, 13), yet earned the reputation of ‘a friend of tax collectors’ (Matt. 11: 19, RSV; cf. ch. 9:10-13). When asked whether it was LAWFUL to pay taxes (see RSV) to CAESAR, JESUS ENDORSED the practice, BUT USED THE OPPORTUNITY to enjoin the fulfillment of THE OBLIGATION  TOWARD GOD, thus setting forth the CHRISTIAN’S SEPARATE DUTIES TO CHURCH AND TO STATE. (Matt. 22: 15-22).” – SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald, WA D.C., 1960, entry ‘Taxes,’ p. 1067

TRIBUTE. “In general, forced contributions of money, goods, or labor to be made at stated times by a SUBJECT PEOPLE TO THE RULER by whom they are conquered and are under whose suzerainty they live. MOSES instructed Israel (Deut. 20:11) concerning the placing of other nations under ‘tribute’ (the Hebrew ‘mas’ ‘forced labor,’ is commonly rendered ‘tribute’ in the KJV. Gen. 49:15; Judges 1:28; 1 Kings 4:6, etc.).

    “A ‘tribute’ of a spoil captured by the army was to be given to the Lord (Num. 31: 28-30). 

    “The Israelites paid tribute at various times to Moab (Jgs. 3:15, RSV), Egypt (2 Kings 25:33; 2 Chron. 36: 3, RSV), Assyria (2 Kings 17:3; 2 Chron. 28:21, RSV), and Persia (Est. 10:1, etc.). 

    “Taxes were always heaviest at times in times of emergency, did the MILITARY campaigns of kings [or ‘kingly powers’] and emperors were FINANCED BY SUBJECT PEOPLES. 

    “Xerxes (Ahasuerus) king of Persia distinguished himself as a great raiser of tributes (see Est. 10:1). His disastrous campaign against Greece necessitated increases burdens on those he ruled (see Dan. 11:2). In Ezra’s time the Jews were still under tribute to Persia [modern-day Iran] (Ezra 4:13).

    “Paul counseled CHRISTIANS  to pay ‘phoros,’ ‘tribute,’ ‘TAXES,’ to the civil government. (Rom. 13: 6, 7).” – Ibid, p. 1110. 

God’s appointed way, “It is written,” “Thus saith the Lord,” “To the law and the testimony,” is always the best way for it is the “way of righteousness.” 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration : SEEK THE PEACE OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU LIVE

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 18, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

SEEK THE PEACE OF THE COUNTRY WHERE YOU LIVE

Omniscient, omnipotent, and all-merciful God is in full control of the rise and fall of the nations and their final destinies—from the first and most glorious of the world empires, Nebuchadnezzar’s neo-Babylonia—to the final antitypical global spiritual “Babylon the great” described in Revelation chapters 13, 17, and 18! 

The only wise and safe way for any and all of fallen mankind, from the least of men to the mightiest of the “great men and kings of the earth,” is to simply exercise faith, trust and obey God’s plan, fulfill His revealed will and purposes and heed all His counsels as declared by His chosen prophets and messengers. He “is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

None need fear the forebodings future except he chooses sinful ignorance of God’s recorded dealings, or carelessly “forgets how He has led in the past,” that is, from Old Testament times! 

Thus, “It is written” in Jeremiah 29: 1, 5-7, KJV (all emphasis mine): 

    “Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue [remnant] of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people to whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive to Babylon.  . . . Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sins, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished. And SEEK THE PEACE OF THE CITY wither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and PRAY UNTO THE LORD FOR IT: FOR IN THE PEACE THEREOF SHALL YE HAVE PEACE.” (end quote from the KJV Bible. 

(Next week: God’s Word says it is lawful to “pay tribute to Caesar,” or pay taxes). 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration : GOD CALLS EVEN HEATHEN NATIONS ‘HIS SERVANTS’ TO DO HIS WILL BUT ALSO ARE PUNISHED FOR WICKEDNESS

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 11, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD CALLS EVEN HEATHEN NATIONS ‘HIS SERVANTS’ TO DO HIS WILL BUT ALSO ARE PUNISHED FOR WICKEDNESS

     God Almighty is “no respecter of persons,” that is, “all nations are of one blood,” “whether Jew, Greek, or Gentile”, “all have sinned and come short of the glory [character] of God;” therefore, “all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”

     “God is love” and “His mercy endureth forever” but equally true is that “He will in no wise clear the guilty” for “He loveth righteousness but hateth iniquity.” God loves the sinner with perfect love and hates sin with perfect hatred. He died to “save” the sinner, yes, “His people from,” not in “their sins”-the meaning of His name, Jesus. (Matt. 1: 21). 

So, in the rise and fall of empires, kingdoms, and nations,  depicted in type and antitype of the shared and interlinked histories of the prophetically-relevant nations of the earth and God’s own spiritual kingdom,

the “weeping prophet” declared God’s edict, then verdict upon ancient Babylon—the type of the antitypical end-time spiritual Babylon of Daniel and the Revelation. 

Thus we read from JEREMIAH CHAPTER 25 KJV), written about  606 B. C. (all emphasis mine): 

     “The word came to Jeremiah concerning ALL THE PEOPLE

OF JUDAH in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.” verse 1. 

Then verses 9-11 says: 

     “Behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, MY SERVANT, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against ALL THE NATIONS round about, and will UTTERLY DESTROY THEM, AND MAKE THEM AN ASTONISHMENT, and AN HISSING, and PERPETUAL DESOLATIONS. Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. And the whole land will be a DESOLATION AND AN ASTONISHMENT; and these NATIONS shall serve the king of Babylon SEVENTY YEARS.” 9-11. 

Then follows what God declared and did to Nebuchadnezzar and his Babylonian empire after the seventy years!:

    “And it shall come to pass, when the seventy years are accomplished, that I WILL PUNISH THE KING OF BABYLON and that nation, saith the Lord, FOR THEIR INIQUITY, and the land of the Chaldeans, and make it a PERPETUAL DESOLATIONS. And I will bring upon that land ALL MY WORDS WHICH I HAVE PRONOUNCED AGAINST IT, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied AGAINST ALL NATIONS [both backsliding, rebellious Judah and heathen Babylon!] verses 9-13. Read also chapter 50: 11-20. 

Remember these when we address the amazing 70-week (490 year) prophecy of Daniel 9: 24-27. Prophecy reveals how God is in full control of the affairs of the nations of the earth from the beginning to its rapidly-approaching stupendous climax! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration : GOD IS IN CONTROL: HE USES ONE NATION TO PUNISH OTHER NATIONS 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

February 4, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD IS IN CONTROL: HE USES ONE NATION TO PUNISH OTHER NATIONS 

Babylon punishes Egypt. Be sure to read first from your Bibles (KJV recommended) Ezekiel 29: 1-16. 

Now follows verses 17-20 (all emphasis mine):

    v 17 And it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year, in the first month, in the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 

    v 18 Son of man, NEBUCHADNEZZAR, KING OF BABYLON caused his army to serve a great service against Tyrus: every head was made bald, and every shoulder was peeled: yet had he no wages, nor his army, for Tyrus, for the service that he had served against it. [see Jer. 27: 1-22]. 

    v 19 Therefore thus sainthood the Lord God; I WILL GIVE THE LAND OF EGYPT UNTO NEBUCHADNEZZAR KING OF BABYLON; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, and take her prey; and it shall bethe wages of his army.

   v 20 I [God] have given him [Nebuchadnezzar] the land of Egypt for his labor wherewith he served against it, because THEY WROUGHT FOR ME, saith the Lord God.”

God calls even heathen and non-Christian nations as His “servants” to do His bidding and carry out His divine purposes! Read Jeremiah 25: 9-11; 50: 11-20.

The leaders of all the nations of the world, and those who voted them into their positions of power should ever remember these: 

     “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the PEOPLE whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” Ps. 33: 12. 

     “Righteousness EXALTETH a nation: but sin is a REPROACH TO ANY PEOPLE.” Prov. 14: 34. 

And what is sin? “The transgression of God’s law (1 John 3: 4). It is God’s covenant law of Ten Commandments (Deut. 4:13). To break or transgress any one of the Ten is to break all for it is a unit! “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

January 28, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

If only the “great men and kings of the earth”, the so-called “shakers and movers”, architects and shapers of the destiny of the global world order, would find precious, dwindling time to search and understand God’s Word and examine their own hearts, lives, and true ambitions! 

For proper context, plead for the Holy Spirit, then read Dan. 4: 1-12 first on your Bibles, KJV or RSV preferred. 

Now follows verses 13-17 (emphasis mine): 

    “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a WATCHER AND HOLY ONE came down from heaven; and He cried aloud, and said thus, HEW DOWN the tree and, and CUT OFF his branches, SHAKE OFF his leaves, and SCATTER his fruit: let the BEASTS get away from under it, and the FOWLS from its branches;

     “Nevertheless LEAVE THE STUMP of his roots in the earth, even with a BAND OF IRON AND BRASS, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and LET HIS PORTION BE WITH the BEASTS in the grass of the earth;

    “LET HIS HEART BE CHANGED FROM MAN’S, AND LET A BEAST’S HEART BE GIVEN UNTO HIM, AND LET SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER HIM. 

    “This matter is BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS, and THE DEMAND BY THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES: TO THE INTENT THAT THE LIVING MAY KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH RULETH IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN, AND GIVETH IT TO WHOMSOEVER HE WILL[s], and SETTETH UP OVER IT THE BASEST OF MEN” (end of Scripture text). 

Now this magnification from inspired pen of God’s messenger:

    PK 536-7: “The history of nations speaks to us today. To EVERY NATION and every individual GOD HAS ASSIGNED A PLACE IN HIS GREAT PLAN. Today men and NATIONS ARE BEING TESTED BY THE PLUMMET in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. ALL ARE BY THEIR OWN CHOICES [individuals and nations] DECIDING THEIR DESTINY, and God is OVERRIDING ALL for the accomplishment of HIS PURPOSES. 

    “The prophecies which the Great I AM has given in His Word, uniting link after link in the chain of events, from eternity in the past to the eternity in the future, TELL US WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE PROCESSION OF THE AGES, and what may be expected in the time to come! 

    “All that prophecy has foretold as coming to pass, UNTIL THE PRESENT TIME, has been traced in the pages of HISTORY, and we may be assured that all which is yet to come will be FULFILLED IN ITS ORDER.” – E. G. White, Prophets & Kings, Pacific Press Publishing, 1943, p. 536. 

This is an urgent Present, testing Truth of the end-time Gospel Christ’s kingdom of righteousness for both individuals and nations who profess Christianity! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 28, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD WATCHES OVER THE NATIONS! 

If only the “great men and kings of the earth”, the so-called “shakers and movers”, architects and shapers of the destiny of the global world order, would find precious, dwindling time to search and understand God’s Word and examine their own hearts, lives, and true ambitions! 

For proper context, plead for the Holy Spirit, then read Dan. 4: 1-12 first on your Bibles, KJV or RSV preferred. 

Now follows verses 13-17 (emphasis mine): 

    “I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and, behold, a WATCHER AND HOLY ONE came down from heaven; and He cried aloud, and said thus, HEW DOWN the tree and, and CUT OFF his branches, SHAKE OFF his leaves, and SCATTER his fruit: let the BEASTS get away from under it, and the FOWLS from its branches;

     “Nevertheless LEAVE THE STUMP of his roots in the earth, even with a BAND OF IRON AND BRASS, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of heaven, and LET HIS PORTION BE WITH the BEASTS in the grass of the earth;

    “LET HIS HEART BE CHANGED FROM MAN’S, AND LET A BEAST’S HEART BE GIVEN UNTO HIM, AND LET SEVEN TIMES PASS OVER HIM. 

    “This matter is BY THE DECREE OF THE WATCHERS, and THE DEMAND BY THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONES: TO THE INTENT THAT THE LIVING MAY KNOW THAT THE MOST HIGH RULETH IN THE KINGDOM OF MEN, AND GIVETH IT TO WHOMSOEVER HE WILL[s], and SETTETH UP OVER IT THE BASEST OF MEN” (end of Scripture text). 

Now this magnification from inspired pen of God’s messenger:

    PK 536-7: “The history of nations speaks to us today. To EVERY NATION and every individual GOD HAS ASSIGNED A PLACE IN HIS GREAT PLAN. Today men and NATIONS ARE BEING TESTED BY THE PLUMMET in the hand of Him who makes no mistake. ALL ARE BY THEIR OWN CHOICES [individuals and nations] DECIDING THEIR DESTINY, and God is OVERRIDING ALL for the accomplishment of HIS PURPOSES. 

    “The prophecies which the Great I AM has given in His Word, uniting link after link in the chain of events, from eternity in the past to the eternity in the future, TELL US WHERE WE ARE TODAY IN THE PROCESSION OF THE AGES, and what may be expected in the time to come! 

    “All that prophecy has foretold as coming to pass, UNTIL THE PRESENT TIME, has been traced in the pages of HISTORY, and we may be assured that all which is yet to come will be FULFILLED IN ITS ORDER.” – E. G. White, Prophets & Kings, Pacific Press Publishing, 1943, p. 536. 

This is an urgent Present, testing Truth of the end-time Gospel Christ’s kingdom of righteousness for both individuals and nations who profess Christianity! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: GOD INCREASES AND DESTROYS NATIONS 

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 21, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD INCREASES AND DESTROYS NATIONS 

    “He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: He enlargeth the nations, and straighteneth them again.” Job 12: 23, KJV. 

Read Habakkuk 1: 5-17 within this topic’s context and thought.    

Now follows this elucidation of Daniel chapter two by E. G. White in her book, Prophets & Kings, pp. 499, 500. All  emphasis and bracketed words provided. 

Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of the whole composite metallic image of a man represents the most powerful kingdoms, empires, and nations of earth starting with ancient Babylon. Daniel interprets Nebuchadnezzar’s dream for him, declaring: 

     “In the days of these kings [kingdoms] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, WHICH SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall BREAK INTO PIECES AND CONSUME ALL THESE KINGDOMS, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the STONE was cut out of the mountain WITHOUT HANDS, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold [the metallic symbols of the world’s empires], the great GOD hath made it known to the king, WHAT SHALL COME TO PASS hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.’ 

     “The king was convinced of the truth of the interpretation, and IN HUMILITY AND AWE [‘fear’] he ‘fell upon his face and worshipped’, saying, ‘Of a truth it is, that YOUR GOD IS A GOD OF GODS, and a LORD OF KINGS, and a REVEALER OF SECRETS, seeing thou [Daniel] couldest reveal this secret.’ 

    “Nebuchadnezzar revoked the decree for the destruction of the wisemen [of Babylon]. Their lives were SPARED because of Daniel’s connection with the Revealer of secrets. . . .

    “In the annals of human history, THE GROWTH OF NATIONS, the rise and fall of empires, appear AS IF dependent on the will and prowess of MAN; the shaping of events SEEMS , to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice. But in the Word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, ABOVE, BEHIND, AND THROUGH ALL THE PLAY AND COUNTER PLAY of human interest and power and passions, the AGENCIES OF THE ALL-MERCIFUL ONE, silently, patiently working out the counsels of HIS OWN WILL. 

     “In words of matchless beauty and tenderness, the apostle Paul sets before the sages of Athens the DIVINE PURPOSE in the creation and distribution of RACES AND NATIONS. ‘God that hath made the world and all things therein,’ declared the apostle, hath made ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN FOR TO DWELL UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH, and hath determined THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, and the BOUNDS [boundaries] of their habitation; THAT THEY SHOULD SEEK THE LORD, IF HAPLY they might feel after Him, AND FIND HIM.’ (Acts 17: 24-27, KJV).” End quote. 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS (Part 2)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 14, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS (Part 2)

ALL NATIONS ARE OF ONE BLOOD.  In apostle Paul’s public address as he stood in the midst of Areopagus (Mars’s Hill) before the Athenian Jews, the pagan philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics, he declared: 

     “Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, whom therefore YE IGNORANTLY WORSHIP, Him I declare unto you. 

    “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with [human] hands. Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though He needeth anything, seeing He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 

    “And hath MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS of men

for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before, and THE BOUNDS OF THEIR HABITATION; 

    “That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after Him, and find Him, though He be not far from every one of us.

    “For IN HIM WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING; as certain as also of your own poet have said, For we are also His offspring.

    “Forasmuch then as WE ARE THE OFFSPRING OF GOD, we ought not to think that the GODHEAD is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” (Acts 17: 22-29, KJV. 

Indeed, it is God alone (the one God of the Godhead, made up of the three Persons of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) who “made all nations of one blood,”—is the One who establishes the boundaries of all nations, according to His will and purpose, not the “great men and kings of the earth” who, in their foolish pride, forget that they are but fallen, sinful, finite, mortals whose bodies simply “return to the dust of the earth” at death! Note this:

    “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will show thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee: WHEN THE MOST HIGH DIVIDED TO THE NATIONS THEIR INHERITANCE, when he separated the sons of Adam, HE SET THE BOUNDS OF THE PEOPLE, according to the number of the children of Israel” (Deut. 32: 7, 8). 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

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Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS

MID-WEEK MSNNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

January 7, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN NATIONS

We begin first with a couple of key texts for this topic following the rule of first-mention in the Bible (all emphasis and bracketed words provided): 

AFTER THE FLOOD: 

     “These are the sons of Shem, after their families, after their tongues, in their lands, after their NATIONS. These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their NATIONS: and by these were THE NATIONS DIVIDED IN THE EARTH AFTER THE FLOOD.” Gen. 10: 31, 32, KJV. 

THREE MONTHS AFTER ISRAEL’S EXODUS FROM EGYPT: 

     “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilder eras of Sinai. . . And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou SAY TO THE HOUSE OF JACOB, and tell the children of Israel; ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians. . . . Now therefore, IF ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above  all people; for all the earth is Mine: and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an HOLY NATION. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” Exo. 19: 1, 3, 5, 6; cf. Lev. 20: 23- 26; Deut. 14: 2; 1 Pet. 2: 9. 

    “Blessed be the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance.” Ps. 33: 12. 

     “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” Prov. 14: 34. 

Now, a spiritually-profound quote from the inspired pen: 

    “In the annals of human history the GROWTH OF NATIONS, the rise and fall of empires, appear as dependent upon the will and prowess of man. The shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or CAPRICE. 

    “But in the Word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, behind, above, and through all the play and counter-play of human interests and powers and passions, the agencies of the all-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will. The Bible reveals the true philosophy of history [in and

of the rise and fall of the nations and empires of man].” -Ellen G. White, Education, p. 173. 

    If only the “great and mighty men” and “kings and princes of the earth” who constantly plot and scheme to effect “regime changes”, “nation building,” and “controlling economic and strategic hemispheres” of this fallen world, would humbly consult the Word of God, how different the world history, current developments, and prophesied future events would have been! 

But rest assured, faithful followers of Christ, God’s will and purpose for nations will be soon fulfilled in the triumphant and glorious emergence of the final antitypical “chosen generation, royal priesthood, HOLY NATION, and peculiar people.” 

You, of course, can and should be part of it, if and when you simply trust and willingly obey God’s perfect plan of redemption of the true gospel! 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.