Expert: Pastor Don Carpenter - 8/12/2011

Question
Based on Dan. 4:17 and other like Scriptures that speak of God being the one who places certain souls in leadership positions and turns the hearts of kings as easily as He does the course of rivers; do you think it is correct to refer to President Obama as one of the basest of men that God has allowed to be in the position he is in?

Answer
Hi Monty.

Thank you for this interesting question.  I am sorry for this very late response.  Let us look at the passage in question:

Daniel 4:17 (AV)
17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.


I think that we can indeed believe that President Obama is where he is by God's permissive will.  I do not think that by the abive verse we can assume that he is one of the basest men ever put into rule.  

I do think that God gives a people what they cry for even if it may be thier destruction. There is a point where God no longer fights with those who would supress the truth and allows them to feed their own base desires.

Romans 1:28–32 (AV)
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.


I am not going to jump on the bandwagon to condemn Obama as the antichrist or some such thing.... the reality is that we Americans deserve what we get when we vote for free hand outs even if they come from folks who kill the unborn.  We must remember that America's hope lies not within a different president, but within God's people standing up and acting like His people once again.  It lies within believers getting right with God and living their faith out loud.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (AV)
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.


I hope that this helps you.

In Christ
Pastor Don