Written by Uyoyou Christiana Charles-Iyoha
He increaseth
the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth
them [again]. Job Chapter 12 verse 23.
God has absolute power over recessions, famine and
soaring inflation, all of which can be adduced to a number of causes.
Recessions, famine and soaring inflation can be as a
result of sin by the people of the land as in the case of the nation of Israel
under the rule of King Ahab (1st Kings Chapters 17 and 18); the
oppression of Israel by Midian for seven years so that the people of Israel
continually labored in vain because Midian always came into Israel to destroy
whatever crops were sown, and to take away their livestock,; thereby leaving
them impoverished. But when the nation of Israel repented, the recession came
to an end as the source of that recession, the extreme wickedness of Midian was
dealt with when Gideon and his army routed out Midian from Israel.
Recessions can also be caused by besiegement of a
nation or people by a seemingly militarily stronger, economically stronger,
mentally stronger nation as the case when King Ben-Hadad of Syria besieged
Israel and the head of a donkey was sold for eighty shekels of silver and one
fourth of a kab of dove droppings was sold for five shekels of silver (2nd
Kings Chapter 6 verses 24 to 25). The siege was so fierce that hunger ravaged
the land and some people resorted to cannibalism; eating their children. But
when God intervened, the recession came to an abrupt end leaving the people
with an abundance of food and other material resources. Please read 2nd
Kings Chapter 7 for details of the abrupt end.
Healing the Nations is about standing on the word of
God, the word of God that does not return to God void. God promises peace in
our borders – Psalm 147 verse 6, in point of fact abundance of peace in
Jeremiah Chapter 33 verse 6. He also gave a covenant of peace in Ezekiel
Chapter 34 verse 25. God promises peace in the land in Leviticus Chapter 26
verse 6, the kind of peace that guarantees the absence of fear because nothing
will make anyone afraid in the land, people will lie down and not be afraid,
sleep peacefully in Jesus mighty name. In Micah Chapter 4 verses 1 to 4, God
promises no more wars and that violence will cease in the land. Please see also
Isaiah Chapter 2 verses 1 to 5, 66 verse 12, and Haggai Chapter 2 verse 9.
Peace in the land is integral to development as it
guarantees sustainable economic, social, political and other activities which
foster development and abundance in the land so that recessions do not
impoverish people and make them unhappy. Peace in the land also guarantees the
preaching of the gospel, evangelism, assembling together, teaching, and living
happily as families and nations. I believe this is one of eh reasons the Bible
admonishes believers in 1st Timothy Chapter 2 verses 1 to 5 to pray
for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life in all godliness and reverence.