One headline reads, “Burying the Old World Order.”[1] Multiple experts are reporting similar doomsday like phrases. The comment on the news was something like, “Nothing like this has happened since World War II.” Maybe it is hyperbole or not, but with the Russian invasion of Ukraine many of us are wondering what is going on.
Here is an excerpt from one article in the Atlantic, “There is no longer any point putting on the uniforms of the old world, pretending it has not just been blown apart. The old ways of dealing with Russia (and potentially China) no longer apply. The belief that autocratic regimes will democratize and liberalize as they bend into our rules-based order was naive.”[2]
Wasn’t a global pandemic enough drama for this decade? Do we really need this? What is going to happen? What does this mean?
The more I think about it the more I feel anxious but also angry. Why would any leader throw our world into chaos? Why would he inflict enormous harm and the inevitable deaths of thousands of innocent people? How dare he? How is he going to be held accountable for this?
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”[3]
These words and these images came to mind as I climbed in my car to drive to work.
Moments earlier I felt anger and a desire for violence against the perpetrators (especially Putin and his colleagues.) I wanted brute force to be applied against their brute force to make them pay for violating the balance of peace in Europe. I imagined the force of NATO coming to bear against him. I hoped he would feel the pain of retribution for the pain that he is inflicting on others.
And then Psalm 2 came to mind. The image was of God on His throne. The Lord God Almighty is not surprised or intimidated by Putin or anyone. His purposes are being worked out.
I certainly don’t understand why this is happening or the purposes behind it. Sarah and I have been asking this since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. What is the Lord doing in this? To be honest, I just can’t see it. It has not driven revival or unification of the church. It seems if anything to have caused division within the church and derision of the church from those outside of it. So far, I haven’t been able to see the Lord working through the pandemic.
I also can’t see any good coming from war coming to Ukraine. There are over 44 million people living in Ukraine. They have all had their lives suddenly upended and put at risk. The news yesterday brought interviews and stories of common people taking up arms to defend their country. I imagine the deaths and grief that the coming days are going to bring. I imagine the escalation and potential future conflicts that could happen if Putin has designs beyond the Ukraine. This is not good.
But the Lord is on His throne. Conflict like this is nothing new. I think about what our parents, grandparents and great grandparents endured. History has not been smooth, nice and pretty. I cannot imagine the fears and horror and grief of WW1, WW2, Korea and Vietnam. Human history is just not very nice.
Consider this quote from Arnold Toynbee: “We expected that life throughout the world would become more rational, more humane, and more democratic and that, slowly, but surely, political democracy would produce greater social justice. We had also expected that the progress of science and technology would make mankind richer, and that this increasing wealth would gradually spread from a minority to a majority. We had expected that all this would happen peacefully. In fact we thought that mankind’s course was set for an earthly paradise, and that our approach towards this goal was predestined for us by historical necessity. “[4]
To be honest, this is a bit of the way I felt when the Berlin wall came down and throughout the breakup of the USSR. Was it possible that the world was finally gaining some sense? Would democracy and improved conditions and human rights prevail? Were we as humans finally growing mature?
The interesting things is that Toynbee was not referring to the modern era. He wrote this about Europe before 1914 in the years leading up to the 1st world war. At that time also, there was a general optimism about man and civilization. Many had thought that we as a human race had finally grown up. We were getting beyond the savage and violent “might makes right” of our history.
On Facebook video suggestions often pop up. For some reason it seems that a lot of the video suggestions are clips from movies that feature bullies getting their “come-uppance”. Maybe that says something about my heart and my desire to see justice. I think most of us hope for a world where justice prevails, and bullies can no longer have control. I want to watch this conflict like watching one of those clips, waiting for the moment when the bully is confronted to his shame.
And yet God has been on His throne through all of this. What is happening today is no greater than many times and events in the past. God has a plan. His timeline is far different than mine. His purposes are beyond my understanding.
“The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass;
he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children.”[5]
Maybe it is not just Putin who is unrighteous. Maybe it is not just that the people who disagree with me need redemption. I too am flawed and marred and sinful. I too benefit from a God who is merciful, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. I have come to expect God to be patient with me. I am dependent on His wisdom and His grace.
I can’t have it both ways. I can’t trust God in His patience and grace with me and that His purposes are being worked out and then not trust Him when it comes to what is happening in the world.
I still don’t understand it. I don’t like it. I will, and should, pray earnestly for the people of Ukraine and for peace in our world. I hope and pray for wisdom and action from our world leaders to act in this situation. Faith doesn’t mean that I must like what is going on or sit in passive inaction. But it does mean that I can function and live and not be afraid.
“We can live in a world where seemingly there is violence and injustice because we know that God is in control and that His purposes are being worked out.”[6]
I am encouraged when I am reminded that, “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.”[7] Like my father, my father’s father, and his father before that, I can endure and live in a world torn by conflict. I do not have to live in fear. I can take solace in my faith in an eternal and loving and just God.
As the psalmist reminds us, “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”[8]
[1] https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2022/02/us-europe-russia-putin-new-world/622917/
[2] https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2022/02/us-europe-russia-putin-new-world/622917/
[3] Psalm 2:1-4, English Standard Version
[4] Toynbee, Arnold Joseph, “Surviving the Future”, Oxford University Press, 1971
[5] Psalm 103:6-17, English Standard Version
[6] Habakkuk Multimedia Presentation, InterVarsity Press, 1980.
[7] Psalm 103:19, English Standard Version
[8] Psalm 2:12b, English Standard Version
3 replies on “Our world is thrown into turmoil. How do we process this?”
Your words and scripture references were on point and helpful, Mike. I often stop to wonder what God is telling us, what he wants us to learn, when there are happenings in the world, (or just in our lives,) that are beyond our understanding. It is very comforting indeed to remember that God is on His throne, and His will be done. I join you in praying for all those affected by this act of aggression.
thank you for the reminder of who is in control.. We sometimes feel like us humans can do it.. only to be reminded we are a speck of dust and can only control ourselves. thanks again..
Well said Mike. Agreat reminder of our faithful God who is in control.