WWII began on September 1, 1939, and would end on September 2, 1945. England entered the war on September 3, 1939, but found themselves ill-prepared for the battle.
Since 1937, Liberal government leader, Neville Chamberlain, served as the Prime Minister. Even though England was a part of the war, Chamberlain proposed in 1938 the Munich Agreement, an act to appease Nazi Germany. His country, as well as those around the world who were a part of the Allied Forces, disagreed strongly with this proposition.
Winston Churchill, who was going through what historians call his “wilderness years,” had been out of the public eye and service from 1929-1939. Chamberlain recalled Churchill to service, appointing him as First Lord of the Admiralty. By 1940, Churchill and his conservative party were swept into office with Churchill becoming the Prime Minister.
Churchill held this position with an over 80% approval rating throughout the war. As the war neared an end, though, it was time for elections in England. You would think that Churchill would have easily won and that the election would have been merely a formality. Think again. Despite Churchill’s exceptional leadership, the socialists and reformers wanted a leader who could provide them with programs to better their billfolds and lead the nation into a profitable post-war era. They had tired of hearing about war and wanted to hear about prosperity. Labor Party liberal, Clement Attlee, was elected.
Be careful what you wish for!
On this day in 1945, Winston Churchill resigned and Attlee became the new Prime Minister. The Labor Party talked a big talk but had problems internally agreeing on anything and the extent of reforms and projects. Also, the Korean War started in 1950, causing problems in the international realm.
Churchill was reelected as Prime Minister in 1951 and served until his retirement in 1955. The last 10 years of his life were spent with many medical problems and strokes. He died on January 10, 1965.
The people of England are no different than the people of America. Perhaps we’ve all taken our cues from Israel.
1 Samuel 8:5 says that the elders approached Samuel and said, “…now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.” Samuel took this to the Lord and was told to give the people what they wanted. However, Samuel was told to tell them they were not going to like what they got.
1 Samuel 8:11-18 records the message: “And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. (12) And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. (13) And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. (14) And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. (15) And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. (16) And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. (17) He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. (18) And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”
After such a description, you would think everyone would have put their heads together and concluded, “This really wasn’t a good idea. Samuel, tell us what God wants for us.” That would have been the logical and right thing to do, right?
“Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; (20) That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” (1 Samuel 8:19-20)
The Brits wanted a socialist without realizing that they weren’t going to like what they got. The good thing is that they came to their senses and brought Churchill back. Israel wanted to be like the other nations, however, they didn’t have the good sense to turn around from their ill-fated decision. If only they would have called unto the Lord and surrendered to HIS leadership and Lordship.
Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it and you will not be pleased with the results.
Hebrews 13:5 reminds us, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
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