Remember the story recorded in Acts 12, where Peter is arrested and placed in jail? The story tells of Peter in jail and asleep when an angel of the Lord appears and wakes him. The angel then instructs Peter to get fully dressed and follow the him out of the Roman jail.
During this time some Christians were at the house of John’s mother, Mary, praying specifically for Peter’s miraculous release. In fact, it states that, "prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God." It was to this house that Peter went after the angel of the Lord led him out of the prison walls and into the city. But a funny thing happened when Peter arrived.
Upon coming to the gate of the house, Peter knocked and in response to his knocking a servant-girl named Rhoda went to answer. She heard Peter’s voice and knew it was him so she ran back and told everyone inside, praying, that Peter was at the gate. And their response? Well, let me quote the text:
14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, because of her joy she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter was standing in front of the gate. 15 They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she kept insisting that it was so. They kept saying, “It is his angel.” 16 But Peter continued knocking; and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed.Donald Trump and the Prayers of Many
For quite some time many people, Christians in particular, have been praying to God for a new leader for the United States come this election, one who shares many of their values with regard to nationalism and American exceptionalism. However, they know such a modern pioneer is less and less among us in the political class. Additionally, those praying know that America's future Executive must be a man or woman whose values, political motivations and decisions and personal constitution, haven't already been brokered by special interest financiers and backroom deals.
I am not here to tell you with certitude that Donald Trump is, indeed, the answer to many prayers but I do strongly suggest you consider that possibility. We don’t dictate to God how he answers prayers, we ask. We got a Savior born in a manger, God as a baby, hidden yet there he was. Another time we were given the ridiculousness of a river split in two and on another occasion, God gave his people a man named Solomon whose wives and concubines were countless.
And in case I am misunderstood I am using these illustrations, not to equate the United States with the people of God, particularly because the U.S. is not a theocracy but a constitutional republic and God's people are the church. My point, instead, is to demonstrate that God answers the prayers of his people in peculiar ways at times and the United States has a tremendous Christian population who have been praying.
God is as audacious as his wishes. I don’t know who or what you were expecting to arrive on the scene in answer to your prayers but I do know that Donald Trump, with all of his alleged excesses, also has many fundamental qualities that are rather desperately needed today.
Possibly, just possibly, you need believe Rhoda and let Mr. Trump in.
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