The Scene Behind the Scene

Genesis 16:15

So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

In the aftermath of the massacre at a center for people with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino, California where fourteen people were killed and seventeen hurt the big question that is asked is why? Why would two individuals take it upon themselves and walk into a place meant to help people and begin shooting the innocent? What could possibly be the motive behind this tragic waste of life? In order to understand the reasoning behind this you must understand the animosity between Ishmael and Issac. Ishmael was born to Hagar a servant to Sarai who was Abraham’s wife. Now I will not go into all of the covenant God established with Abraham but suffice to say Ishmael was not a part of Gods plan for Abraham. Ishmael was a son born out of covenant with Hagar with Sara’s consent and as a matter of fact she insisted that Abraham sleep with Hagar. Why? Because she knew Abraham wanted a son and that Abraham wanted to continue his linage. Abraham chose to help God with Gods plans for him by moving in the natural ahead of Gods will in the supernatural. This line of thinking would produce animosity between Sarai and Hagar beginning a feud that would continue down both Ishmael’s and Issac’s line to this day. We know these two lines as the gentiles and the Jews. Yes I know I have over simplified the conflict between the two families but I believe you get the general idea where this is going. Now Ishmael’s line includes the Arab nations who surround the state of Israel who of course is Jewish. Within in this hodge podge of Arab nations we see many splinter groups including Isis, the Muslim brotherhood,  al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, and the Taliban bathed in radical Islam who are determined to destroy Israel and its Jewish population. Many in Ishmaels line become radicalized whether through personal ideology or through attending radical mosques here in America or in the middle east. These men and women become radical Islamic extremists hell bent on destroying Israel and those who are not of the Islamic faith. The gunmen in this incident were Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik who were married both Islamic radical terrorists of Arab descent from Ishmael’s line. Their goal? Apparently to take out the infidels and any Jews inside the center without any regards to their own lives. The ending was tragic but there are lessons we, as the church, can grasp if we open up our spiritual eyes. what are some of these lessons?

1-Nothing happens in the natural that is not birthed in the supernatural!

John 10:10

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

This tragedy was not born in the natural minds of man but it was born in the supernatural by the twisted mind of (s)atan himself to destroy Gods creation in the natural. My question is if the church had been walking in the supernatural and able to see in the supernatural could we not have prayed against this plan stopping it before it ever began? I include myself in this as I was just as guilty of not hearing the Holy Spirit.

2-The war going on between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of (s)atan in the supernatural always manifests itself in the natural.

Galatians 5:17

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish

What goes on in the supernatural whether it is of God or of (s)atan will always show its fruit in the natural good or bad. (Galatians 5:19 – 25) In this incident (s)atans scheme birthed in the supernatural showed its fruit in the natural causing great destruction in the natural. In other words (s)atans will in the supernatural was fulfilled in the natural. My question is if the church had sentries on the wall would we have seen this plot in the making and sought the Fathers will to raise up a wall of grace against it?

3-The end conclusion of any conflict in the supernatural will manifest itself in the natural for all to see either glorifying Jesus Christ or glorifying (s)atan.

Romans 8:37 – 39

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The shooting in San Bernardino, California allowed the whole world to see the end result of (s)atans mindset. Whether one believed in the supernatural or not deep down everyone knew this evil had to come from somewhere. I must admit this was not the churches finest hour as we try and put a band-aid on after the wound was opened instead of preventing it from happening in the first place. The good news is we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ IF we allow the Holy Spirit to teach us how to walk in His Spirit. This life in the Holy Spirit is a love walk allowing us to be open to the Fathers will, the mind of Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. It requires of us a rich prayer life, a rich word life, and a good grasp of spiritual warfare while walking in the Holy Spirit. Yes war will continue between Ishmael and Issac and yes there will be more violence if (s)atan has his way but why allow him free reign when we as the church can use the sword of the Holy Spirit and win against him in the name of Jesus?

Think about it!

Jesus is Lord!

Lee