Thanksgiving Service
“And Miriam, the Prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them “sing ye to the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea” Exodus 15 vrs 20-21.
In one of my articles in the run-up to the 2016 general election, I wrote that the NDC, led by President Mahama could be likened to Pharaoh and the Egyptians. For eight years, they enslaved Ghanaians and treated the people with contempt. As they went about stealing from the state coffers, the people went to bed without food. As they and their dependants continued to grow fat, the people grew lean and died prematurely. Like the Israelis, the people of Ghana cried to high heaven for a deliverer and the deliverer came in the person of Nana Akufo Addo.
Like Moses, Nana Akufo Addo had no weapon apart from his rod. In fact, he had no horses not to talk of chariots. Nana Addo told the world that the battle was the Lord’s because he believed when the Lord stretches His hand the mighty shall fall. Pharaoh Dramani Mahama had well fed, well armed and well trained war horses and chariots and soldiers. Pharaoh Mahama had the support of all the gods of Egypt and he dared the Lord of Israel. For eight years, Moses Nana Addo tried everything to convince Pharaoh Mahama to let his people go but hard-hearted Pharaoh Mahama was adamant because he wanted Ghanaians to continue to be his slaves. While Ghanaians who were baboons in Pharaoh Mahama’s Egypt worked so hard to keep the country moving, the Pharaoh and his cohorts grew Epicurean.
When Joseph who was virtually the Prime Minister of Egypt, did reign supreme in Egypt, the Israelis lived well in Egypt and went about their duties without any harassment but when the Pharaoh died and a new one mounted the thrown, he did not know Joseph. That was the beginning of the problems of the Israelis. Similarly when Mr. Kufour was the President of Ghana, Ghanaians enjoyed life to the fullest. He introduced pro-poor programmes which really assuaged the suffering of the masses but sadly when Mills/Mahama took over the reins of power, things started tumbling down. That was the beginning of the woes of Ghanaians. The floodgate of corruption was widely opened and thievery of state funds became a convention. Incompetence in governance became a norm and insulting the citizenry became the hobby of Pharaoh Mahama.
For eight years, the situation grew from bad to worse and the people became slaves to those in power and who have money. The power and glory made them look like tin gods and they ruled with iron hands. Any complaint of hardship was met with insults from babies with sharp teeth but the people bade their time, knowing very well that no condition is permanent. The battle to uncoil ourselves from the grip of this incompetent regime was not easy. The obstacles were awesome and the grounds were slippery. Pharaoh Mahama will never give out power without a fight and so huge amount of monies were pumped into the war chest. Moses Akufo and his people had only the mighty hand of the Lord to lead them to battle while Pharaoh Mahama thought his wealth could make him victorious at the battlefield. As the battle became hotter day by day, Moses Akufo and his people sometimes went to bed without supper.
On 7th December 2016 the Lord of Israel commanded Moses Akufo to raise his rod and point it to the Volta River. Moses Akufo did and the Volta River parted into two for the people to pass through to the other shore, on their way to the land of milk and honey. Ghanaians heaved a sigh of relief. I could not attend the Thanksgiving Ceremony which was organized to mark the one year anniversary of the conquest of Pharaoh Mahama and the Egyptians because I was hovering up there in the firmament. I understand why NDC as a party kicked against the thanksgiving service because they would not like to be reminded of their sordid past. In fact, they did not understand why they should join a thanksgiving service meant to thank the Lord of Israel who caused their shameful defeat.
NDC ACTING LIKE MICHAL, DAUGHTER OF SAUL
David was returning from battle where he was victorious. When he reached the city of David he danced before the Lord with all his might; and he was girded with a linen ephod. The Holy Bible said David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of trumpets. The Bible continued that as the ark came into the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul and the wife of David looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart. She came out to meet David and said:”How glorious was the king of Israel today, who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovered himself”
This was David’s reply: “It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me Lord, over Israel, therefore, will I dance before the Lord.” You know the punishment God gave to Michal when she rebuked David for dancing almost naked in public in praise of the Lord? She was rendered barren and never gave birth to a child. God will punish anyone who did not see the reason why the Nana Addo – led government should not organize a thanksgiving service in praise of God for bringing us this far. Before and during the 2016 general election, the country was sitting on tenterhooks because there were rumors of war and the fear was that Ghana could experience what happened in the Ivory Coast. The Good Lord of Israel raised His mighty hand and Ghana went through the process peacefully.
Listen to the Psalmist in Psalm 124 verse one to seven: “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, now may Israel say: If it had not been the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us: they would have swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: The waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our souls: Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: The snare is broken, and we are escaped”. Having preached so well to you today, I do not want to taint my holy teeth with any cigar. I am drinking coca cola, a chilled one, of course!!! See you in Jerusalem, where Donald Trump has stirred the Hornet’s Nest!
By Eric Bawah