“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 -— a date which will live in infamy – the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.” As President Franklin D. Roosevelt was addressing Congress, the nation was reeling from the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor the previous day, a Sunday, and a day that people would not soon forget. A nation was shaken by the attack on our naval base.
Hawaii wouldn’t become our 50th state until August 21, 1959. It had been a U.S. territory since 1898. The strategic advantage of this location makes it the perfect home for the United States Pacific Fleet and the deep-water naval base. It also made them a great target in the midst of deteriorating relationships between the United States and Japan during WWII.
“The attack on Pearl Harbor started at 7:48 a.m. Hawaiian time (6:18 p.m. GMT). The base was attacked by 353 Imperial Japanese aircraft (including fighters, level and dive bombers, and torpedo bombers) in two waves, launched from six aircraft carriers. Of the eight United States Navy battleships present, all were damaged and four were sunk…A total of 2,393 Americans were killed and 1,178 others were wounded.”1
Just over a month earlier on this day in 1941, life at Pearl Harbor was going on as normal. Nobody in Hawaii knew that “the Combined Japanese Fleet received Top-Secret Order No. 1: In just over a month’s time, Pearl Harbor is to be bombed, along with Malaya (now known as Malaysia), the Dutch East Indies and the Philippines.”2
The application of this story takes a couple of different angles. First, I’m reminded of Matthew 24:36-42. “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. (37) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (38) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, (39) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (40) Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (41) Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left. (42) Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
This is a prophetic reference to the Second Coming of Jesus at the end of the Tribulation Period. The lesson is directed at the Jewish people. Many will just be going about their normal daily routines without an awareness of the impending coming of Christ. Armageddon will be devastating but the believing Jews were supposed to be anticipating the Lord’s coming. While they waited, they were to be “faithful and wise servants.” (Matthew 24:45)
Today, we are waiting on the Rapture. How much more should we be those faithful and wise servants, working for the Lord and leading others to Jesus?
The second application is from James 4:13-15. “Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: (14) Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (15) For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
The people in Hawaii had no idea what was getting ready to happen. They had made plans, just like we do. They had said, “Tomorrow is Sunday. We are going to get up like normal, eat breakfast like normal, go to church like normal, etc.” However, “tomorrow” fell off the rails!
As we make plans for today and tomorrow, let’s bathe them in prayer. Let’s preface our plans with “if the Lord wills.” And let’s remember the admonition found in Proverbs 27:1. “Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor
2https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-order-is-given-bomb-pearl-harbor
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