Keep Your Interior Eyes on the Lord,
Not the Domination System
Being Led By the Spirit,
Not by the News or Politics
By Jonathan Mitchell

Only our Father knows and understands His "plan of the ages" (Eph. 3:11). But as the Spirit leads us into all Truth (Jn. 16:13), little by little we gain insights and understanding which reveal overviews of His plan. By focusing on the Lord, we can come to realized that all things come from out of the midst of God, and ultimately return into the midst of God (Greek: ek... eis; Rom. 11:36).

Having a grasp of spiritual constructs, such as "The Seven Mountains" metaphor (Johnny Enlow, and others), are helpful to show us that all of us participate in one or more aspects of the main categories of our culture - and that the Life of Christ within us should be an effective influence on each of these "mountains." Others have simply said, "Bloom where you are planted."

As within the Christian religion, so also within our political and economic perspectives, there are divergent points of view, and many divergent groups within each "mountain" of our society. This is not necessarily a bad thing; actual critical thinking (and not just thoughtless or biased criticism) and debate can lead to better solutions for serious problems.

We suggest that "minding the things above (i.e., the realm of Spirit)" rather than "the things on earth (i.e., the "flesh realm") is the Way of the Christ Life (Col. 3:2; Rom. 8:6ff). Economic theories, or political constructs, may be helpful to our understanding of aspects of our natural lives, but for those who are drawn into Christ and into His sovereign influences upon humanity (1 Cor. 3:9), a higher viewpoint serves us better.

Many followers of Christ have viewed aspects of the life of Jacob’s son, Joseph (Gen. 37-47), as a paradigm of some aspects of the life of Christ. Joseph’s brothers had sold him into slavery, but this resulted in him becoming second in command of the Egyptian Empire. When Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt, seeking food because of the famine in Canaan, they did not recognize him. So when Joseph reveals to them who he is, they naturally became fearful. Then Joseph makes this startling statement:

"Now, therefore, do not be grieved nor angry with yourselves, because you sold me into this place, because God sent me before you to preserve life" (Gen. 45:5).

Now that is grace lived out, and very practical, and we rejoice at the mercy which Joseph gave to his brothers. But Jacob’s family being provided sustenance through Joseph, and then all of Egypt being preserved through the wisdom given to him for his management throughout all of that Empire, this is not the end of the story.

John J. Collins makes an insightful observation of what happened in the rest of that story:

"Joseph is credited with centralizing wealth in the hands of the pharaoh and bringing the people into a state of slavery: ‘So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. All the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine was severe upon them, and the land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he made slaves of them, from one end of Egypt to the other’ (47:20-21). Only the land of the priests was exempt. One-fifth of all the crops was to go to Pharaoh. It would seem, then, that even as Joseph saved his family from famine, he set the stage for their future oppression. But that oppression, in turn, would be the occasion of their greatest deliverance." (Introduction to the Hebrew Bible, Second Edition, Fortress Press 2014 p 104)

Collins' overview of this particular story from Israel's history lends insight into at least one aspect of God's plan of the ages. Joseph saw beyond the immediate circumstances, and gave instructions for his bones to be eventually carried out of Egypt when Israel would return to their own country.

How does this help us in our present circumstance? God has more in mind for the world (the aggregate of humanity), which He loves (Jn. 3:16). We are called to trust Him. His love will cast out all fear from us (1 Jn. 4:18). Along with this, as we are led by His Spirit (Rom. 8:14), we will come to see our part in building His Temple, and facilitating Peace (which comes from the Joining - Eph. 2:14-18).

If we do not perceive what God is doing in this world, our own reasoned conclusion about what should be done may counter the end which God has in view. Through the wisdom given to Joseph concerning the coming famine in Egypt, he showed Pharaoh what should be done in the short term, and that worked. At the same time, in the long term, this led to all of Egypt, including Israel who came to live there, to become slaves to Pharaoh. That was not given as a part of Joseph's plan, but it was a result of what God showed him to do. Did Joseph know what God had said to Abram, in Gen. 15:13-14? Yahweh prophesied that Abram's seed would serve in a strange land and be oppressed for four hundred years. We should not judge anything "before the time," unless God has spoken to us about what He will be doing.

So if we are in, or are just now entering, one of those metaphorical seven mountains of a particular society, upon what basis will we make choices that will have consequences for that mountain? What will we do to benefit our sector of society? Will we listen to the thinking or perspectives that are derived from what Paul called "the minding of the flesh" (as contrasted to "the minding of the Spirit - Rom. 8), or will we keep the eyes of our spirits focused upon the Lord, and our ears tuned to our Father, who resides within us?

As with the story of Joseph, sometimes short term "fixes" will have unexpected long term consequences. So, in our everyday lives, let us continue centered in the Lord with whom we are one spirit (1 Cor. 6:17). This joining is our Peace.

We close with Proverbs 3:5-6,

"Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and do not lean to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He Himself shall straighten your paths." (CVOT)

Jonathan

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