2Kings 23:26, 27 But the LORD's fierce anger had been aroused against Judah by what King Manasseh had done, and even now it did not die down. The LORD said, "I will do to Judah what I have done to Israel: I will banish the people of Judah from my sight, and I will reject Jerusalem, the city I chose, and the Temple, the place I said was where I should be worshiped."

2Kings 25:21 ... So the people of Judah were carried away from their land into exile.

My husband and I are reading through the Bible. We just finished 2 Kings. It was interesting to read about the rise and fall of Israel. This nation was promised to Abraham, ended up in Egypt because of Joseph and his brothers, and then rescued from Egypt by Moses. Because of their unfaithfulness towards God they were not allowed into the promised land for 40 years. When they finally get in and conquer Canaan, the land is divided up among the tribes and the people spread out over the land.

Next we see various judges and kings appointed by God to rule the people, but as time goes by, they start appointing their own kings. Each king turns from God and Israel wanders further from God. Other gods are brought in until it seems the one true God is forgotten. By the time young King Josiah comes along, God has declared to bring “such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle .” 2Kings 21:12. Josiah removes all the idols, shrines, restores the laws, and cleans the place up, but the kings after him did not follow God and He still allows Judah and Israel to be captured. Jerusalem is destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Now jump ahead in time to the beginning of the United States of America. The early pioneers saw this as a land to conquer and as their version of the promised land. These people had their flaws and made their mistakes, but they had a firm belief in the one true God. They even put God's name on our money, our Pledge of Allegiance, and in our National Anthem. Most people only sing the first verse of the National Anthem so don't realize that God is mentioned in it. There are four verses and God is mentioned in the last verse.

Now this country has come to the place where there are other gods being worshiped. In the early 90s, while being a Co-System's Operator for a local computer bulletin board, I was surprised to discover a large group of people in Walla Walla who were Buddhists. Even more disturbing to me is the push to get God removed from our Pledge of Allegiance, our schools, and out of the court houses. Other gods and religion seem to have a higher priority. This year Walla Walla's high school decided not to have their usual Halloween party. Now I'm not a fan of Halloween, but their reason for not having the party is what astounded me. They didn't want to offend the Wiccans, a religion that is made up of witches and worships several different gods.

I wonder how much longer until God pulls back His protective hand completely? The 9/11 attack in New York awakened an interest in God, church, and in prayer, but it didn't last long. Instead the push to remove God is still going. We seem to be walking the same path as the Israelites.

It is so important to read the Bible and make worship to the one true God a high priority in our lives. It is the only way we can remain strong in our love and trust in God. Just as the three Hebrews remained standing while others bowed to the image, we need to stand firm for our beliefs while others bow to things that take them away from God. Just as Daniel's life was a testimony of his worship to God, our lives should be a testimony so those around us will know we belong to God. When God calls us into duty, as He did Daniel, we won't be able to hear Him unless we are use to talking with Him and hearing His voice.

Never be afraid to take a stand for God. Whatever fiery furnace or den of lions you may end up in, God with be with you through it all.