We have come to a moment of destiny for South Africa.
We stand at a crossroads with one path leading to dictatorship and national destruction, and the other to the realisation of the dream of a democratic, non-racial, and prosperous country. We have, and we continue to intercede fervently for God to intervene…
The ‘worm’, in Shakespeare’s quaint saying ‘the worm has turned’, refers to the ancient, fire-spewing dragon of myth and fairy lore. In our nation, South Africa, the dragon has not turned of his own choice, but because of the efforts of hundreds of brave saint Georges. The bravest of all dragon slayers is our erstwhile Public Protector but in her wake has risen a legion of true freedom fighters. And as the swords of truth and integrity rise high to strike, we look and observe with surprise that the dragon is actually just a worm after all.
I am convinced that we will look back on the 2nd November 2016 as the day the worm was turned. On that day the judges of the Supreme Court issued an order that the Public Protector’s ‘state capture’ report be immediately made public, and between every page crawled the maggots of corruption! Crooked business men, corrupt politicians, leaders of state-owned entities, and assorted other wigglers. The report does not so much reveal the danger of state capture but rather documents the critical evidence that the state has already been captured. Men and woman of ill will, greedy disposition, and misdirected loyalty sit snugly under every key rock in the formal garden of our state.
But light is now shining brightly on the areas of corruption. Paul wrote ‘Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible’ (Ephesians 5:11-14). The rocks are being turned over one by one and the light is shining brightly on the worms beneath. And what do worms do when exposed to light? They wiggle – and what a wiggling we are now witnessing! Barefaced lying, inane excuses, arrogant and angry claims that the Public Protector’s report is incorrect, biased and riddled with ‘gossip’… wiggle, wiggle, wiggle.
We delude ourselves if we think that the number one worm will line up all his invertebrates behind him and slither off into the sunset. On the contrary, he will wiggle all the more, rage against white economic colonialism, disparage those wise and seasoned men and woman within his own party, and dig in as deeply as he can into the mud of control, manipulation, lies, and arrogant recalcitrance.
And all the while our economy is strangling and is gasping for breath, the horde of angry and disillusioned unemployed men and woman is growing to record highs, while the rating agencies are poised to downgrade our nation to junk status. But our leaders simply blame the rating agencies of being unfair and biased against emerging economies and bluster about creating their own rating agency, despite the lunacy of the notion. The next generation of thought leaders are either throwing stones at university security officers in their violent demands for free education or struggling to be able to write their examinations and qualify. All the while, provincial governments and state-owned entities are exposed as chalking up tens of billions of unauthorised expenditures, to the extent that the entire higher education bill could have been paid from the corruption and wastage alone. The power utility CEO brags about how clever he has been in keeping the nation supplied with electricity when everyone knows that the failing economy has reduced the demand for power considerably. Then the Public Protector reveals that this CEO is under scrutiny for mismanagement at best and blatant corruption at worst. His response is to cry crocodile tears, literally, and then resign – problem solved… not! The head of the National Prosecuting Authority tries to have the Minister of Finance arrested on trumped-up charges and at the same time, he does nothing about obeying a court order to reinstate the over 700 charges against the State President. And so it goes, a painful and pathetic litany of moral and ethical failure, greed, and arrogance, followed by exposure, denial, and a total lack of accountability.
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth
and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
and his glory appears over you”.
Isaiah 60:1-2
In the early hours of Friday the 31st March 2017, the president of South Africa made his big move to grab power over the country from the hands of the ruling party. Without consulting his leaders, he announced a massive cabinet reshuffle designed to achieve three tactical objectives; to place his sycophants in the remaining cabinet posts not yet personally loyal to him, to secure a greater number of parliamentary seats that he could count on, and to capture the national treasury. In a flagrant display of arrogance and contempt for his party and the people of the land, he fired the most efficient minister in his cabinet on the grounds that he was improving efficiency and effectiveness. His flimsy and unpublicised excuse for axing the minister of finance was a ridiculously inept and incomprehensible ‘Intelligence report’ claiming that the minister was engaged in treasonous activity. Yesterday one of the three major rating agencies degraded South Africa to junk status and a second will follow suite by the end of the week. As I write this, our markets have not yet opened but I am expecting a disastrous fall in the value of the Rand. However, despite the deepening darkness let me switch on the light of hope.
On Monday 27th March the Revival Prayer Meeting of our local church met as usual. Unsurprisingly, the major focus of our prayers was intercession for our nation. We prayed that God would step in and dramatically intervene and we acknowledged our dependence on Him. One prayer went as follows;
I believe that over the next few weeks we are going to witness, and even participate in, the decisive ‘turning of the worm’ and the start of a new era for our nation. There is more drama to come and I anticipate brazen and desperate attempts by the Zuma faction to stay in power. But, I do believe that God is acting on behalf of righteousness and that soon, very soon, we will be praising His name for another great miracle in our land.
The Lord Jesus had remarkably little to say to the political rulers of His time, but what he said to Herod is so appropriate. Luke 13:31-32 ‘At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.” He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will drive out demons and heal people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’…” Perhaps we could paraphrase this and apply it to our times and situation with these words; “Go tell that worm, ‘I will drive out the demons and heal this land and her people, and surely I will accomplish my goal’”.
20 thoughts on “The worm has been turned”
Brilliant article and calling to us all to rise up.
Excellent! It’s time.
Lukes comment is appropriate as we approach Palm Sunday. The people shouted’ Hosanna’ ( Save us now), Praise God in the highest heaven. They expected Him to remove the Romans and save them from occupation,but Jesus had another plan as to how to save the people in 3 days. We should all pray on Palm Sunday to be saved from corrupt leaders but more important for our own salvation which will last much longer than any corrupt leader.
If you live by the sword you will die by the sword and what you sow you will surely reap.
Amazing ! Totally inspiring!
Amos5:15 “Hate evil and love good, then work it out in the public square. Maybe God-of-the-angel-armies , will notice your remnant and be gracious.”
Accurate assessment of our nation Chris.
God sees all. ?
Our God is able to do exceedingly abundantly far above that which we ask or imagine! He is in control! He is busy shaking everything that can be shaken! It is time for heaven to invade the earth! Rise up Church of the Living God and take back what Satan has stolen from us! The Kingdom of God which is our inheritance must be taken by force! (Not physically, but spiritually)! We are at war against principalities and powers of darkness, so beam forth the Light! For it is: “Christ in us the hope of Glory”.
That is so profound and wonderfully written Thanking you for Boldness ,Trust ,Hope and Focus (On Him ) We Stand firm but
Kneel in prayer for this country and all it’s
People .
A good word which is how I’ve been praying What was exposed last year is still in the light.John 1 v 5
Profound. Describes accurately the devastating situation our country is in, yet leaves us hopeful and inspired to continue praying.
This is awesome. Therefore good people be there on 22nd of April at It”s Time National Prayer day in Bloemfontein
“If My People, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray, AND SEEK MY FACE, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from Heaven, I will forgive them their sin AND I WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.”
The Lord God Almighty is waiting for us…..
In Jess Name – I endorse that and pray for South Africa – and all pray and intercede for the 23.April – Bloomfontein event –
Well written, sad that we see what’s happening in our country. Having said that, history informs us that change normally happens with the middle class involvement.
The poor do not always have the means and just follow while the rich are comfortable and move their portfolios.
The last week’s have seen all walks of life, all of colour, all of religion , all of political affiiation, standing together, this a miracle as
we have not experienced this in decades.
Mandela’s rainbow nation has mobilized and let’s make sure that this progresses into the plan he was building for all of us before we were hijacked.
We all need to have faith to believe.
All truth & justice will prevail Excellent article.
You have captured the essence of the problem and our hearts desire. Excellent article. .thanks Chris. There is hope surging and the people of God are full of expectancy that God is keeping His promise .. and is with them
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