Out-manned, out Navy-ed, and out-aircraft carrier-ed

 Leading up to the great anniversary festival for all Americans on the Fourth of July, I would like to spend some time with you this month discussing the hand of victory placed upon this nation by almighty God. So slip on your sandals, pull out your favorite Hawaiian shirt or sun dress, and put on the shades because we’re going to Hawaii.

In early December 1941, at 7:55 am, on a warm Sunday morning, nearly 200 Japanese aircraft attack our naval fleet at anchor in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. The attack lasted for about an hour. Close to 200 of our fighter planes were destroyed as well as most of our pacific naval fleet. Nearly 3,800 servicemen were killed in a surprise attack without a declaration of war. On the next day, Dec. 8, president Franklin Roosevelt declared war, and our nation’s Congress approved. Our home had been attacked, our citizens killed, our naval fleet decimated, and our servicemen dejected. But there’s always a leader with a plan.

King David wrote in Psalms, 25, 38, 40, 55, 69, and 139 that he was outmanned and outnumbered by the enemy.  He cried that his strength had failed him and his hope weakened. He numbered his enemy beyond the ability to count. He was hated and despised, and, by all accounts, he was outmanned, outnumbered, and dejected. But there’s always a leader with a plan.

Admiral Chester Nimitz arrived at Pearl Harbor and quickly uncovered three major blessings in the midst of chaos. The enemy had attacked on the wrong day and the wrong time, and, although they had inflicted severe pain and devastation, they didn’t’t attack the right places. They had forgotten the dry docks and fuel storage. There’s always a leader with a plan.

Six months later, the battle for Midway began. The Japanese imperial fleet set out to completely destroy our Pacific presence ,and Midway was the battleground for which they would try to accomplish it. We were outmanned, out Navy-ed, and out aircraft carrier-ed. If the U.S. lost this battle, there would be no military defense in the Pacific and for the West Coast of America. In three days, we lost lives, lost fighter planes, and saw warships destroyed, but we won that battle. In three days, we destroyed their battleships, their aircraft carriers, and their aircraft. In three days, a determined U.S. military completely crippled the Japanese war machine. There’s always a leader with a plan.

King Jehoshaphat was out manned in 2 Chronicles chapter 20 and led his people to victory. They were out manned and outnumbered, and they won the battle through worship. Elisha’s servant saw they were outnumbered and outmanned in 2 Kings chapter 6, until Elisha asked God to open his eyes. There’s always a leader with a plan.

God’s plan for our country has always been to bless it. He has always had a plan, and he’s always leading. The question is are we following orders? Are we catching the vision? Are we seeing what he sees, or are we busying ourselves in dejection. Warfare is messy and bloody, and lives are lost. But there can be no peace and no freedom without it.  America won the battle at Midway because we knew what we were fighting for. That generation has been called the greatest, maybe it’s because they knew what they were fighting for. Greatness is a result of focused determination. It’s the will to find a way when there doesn’t’t seem to be a way. It’s knowing and depending on God to always have a plan.

We’re Christpoint Church, located on Liberty Square, in Sparta, and we will be waiting at the door for you at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., this Sunday. We’re real people, living real lives, serving a real God. Welcome home.