The Hands of God in His Time -1^st in the series of Obama’s Victory 

Sam Aweda 

“But you, O despised race, yet a powerful ruler of the world will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant part. The children of Cush have been abandoned until the time when the woman in labour gives birth to her son” (adapted from Micah 5:2-3). 

I am quite used to see happenings, which are beyond human explanations, imaginations, manipulations and expectations. 

The Black man in the White House is another of such. Of course, God will not Himself come from heaven to execute the event; He uses man to achieve His purpose. But for anyone who is thoughtful, careful and watchful, he will appreciate that those events are completely the hands of God. 

The different actors in the fulfillment of such events only play their parts at such a time the ball is in their net without giving much thought to it nor questioning themselves what the end result of their actions could be. And when the actions of all the different players converge, it will be clear without any doubt in a thoughtful mind that it could not have been an accident or a coincidence. Such is the case of Barack Obama’s election to the highest political office of the most powerful government of the world. 

It is just someone said it at the night vigil while collating the results of the election and reported by Jim Clemsy on the Cable Net Work (CNN) programme “Rosa Parks (1913-2005) sat so that Martin Luther King (jnr) could match. Martin Luther King (jnr) matched so that Obama could run” 

I never heard the name Barack Obama at any time until I stumbled at Oprah Winfrey in the middle of a news about 24 months ago when she was yelling to a crowd ‘Do not vote for me, vote for Barack Obama’

Few months later, Barack announced his candidacy for the President of the United States. 

I believe in the Bible. It is my wisdom. The Scripture says that it is God who appoints kings and governments (Daniel 2: 21; 1Tim. 2:2; 1Peter 2:14). But at what time does He start preparing such people? And at what time does it dawn on such people of the glorious position awaiting them? I tell you, some might not even have dreamt of it. As a preacher, I never fail to tell my audience my conviction that God has a divine purpose for each of His creation. Our own part in the fulfillment of God’s plan for us is simply to be prayerful, to ask Him not to allow us to miss His plans and purpose for us but to direct our steps rightly. 

In actual truth, on occasions, our prayers though desired by God and helpful to Him to strengthen His hands, do little because He will do what He has decided to do. 

When Barack Obama (Snr) left the shore of Kenya for further studies in Hawaii, in the U.S, hardly would he know that he was harbouring in his loin a germ, which must fertilize an egg of a Hawaii white woman that will grow to become a future world leader, who will take away, the reproach of the Black race. Obama Snr. could have had some dreams in his sleep at one time or the other, signifying such a thing but which he could not interpret or understand. He could have wondered what those dreams meant. Unfortunately, he is no longer with us to tell us his testimonies, if it ever happened. 

In the years when the blacks groaned under racial prejudice and sub-human treatments; in the years of their struggle for fair treatment; in the years of million matches and prayers etc leading to the proclamation of “I have a dream------“by the leader of the Civil Right fighter, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King (jnr), if someone had prophesied that the child in answer to their prayers, who will take away their reproach was still in the loin of someone far away in the black continent of Africa, some will say “Dear Lord, is that not too long a time?” Some will even respond in disbelieve that such an expectation is too much. They will label the prophet, a day dreamer. They will say, only if we are recognized as fellow human beings, only if the segregation is stopped and we are allowed to vote in political elections, those will be sufficient for us. But to say one of us will live in the White House and lead the country is like asking too much from God.

One of such is a Civil Right Movement leader of the 1960s, John Lewis of Atlanta. Hear him few hours ago as reported by Alex Johnson of MSNBC and which the ‘Nigeriaworld’ made its headline story promptly. 

“I never imagined, I never even had any idea I would live to see an African-American president of the United States,” He was “overwhelmed and had broken down in tears” A friend told me he saw Rev. Jesse Jackson also broke down in tears. I saw many others myself. 

But what has Apostle Paul said? “It is God, which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). He said again “God is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3: 20) 

Look at it: What gives Barack Obama (Snr) the audacity to talk into marriage, a white woman at such a time when it was most dangerous to do? 

Of course the legend 1^st black world boxing champion, Samuel Johnson had many years earlier married some white women at different times, but that was an isolated case because those white women wanted to be associated with the famous and of course for the monetary gain. 

At the time when Barack (Snr) married Ann Dunham, a white woman, there were black men drowned in the river just by walking side by side on the street with white women. So what gave Barack Obama (Snr) the boldness and such an extra ordinary courage except that God was up to something. And what was in Barack (Snr) that attracted Ann, a white woman and to have the audacity to introduce the man to her parents, knowing fully well that it was not the accepted practice? She was still young and it could not be said that it was getting late for her to get a white suitor. 

What made Barack Obama snub a highly rated judicial clerk offer with a good monetary reward and which had a better chance of shooting him promptly into prominence, after his Law school, for a volunteer humanitarian Church-based group job representing the down trodden, racially discriminated people? 

It is all in preparation for God’s plans to be achieved. 

Barack Obama is smart. That is not deniable. He is intelligent, no one doubts it. He is cool, good natured and has good temperament. He is a smooth talker and an orator. All these attributes are correct. His electrifying acceptance speech at Grant Park, Chicago, which he made just less than 2hours ago and which attracted the largest audience in America history, in the mist of personalities like the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Oprah Winfery etc is a testimony. 

He or any other person may have qualities that surpasses those and yet be ignored. And in the time past, as a black man, he would have had no chance to vote talk less of contesting. 

Certainly some un-seen hands must have been at deck, at the background working unconsciously in the minds of Americans to make them recognize and appreciate those attributes irrespective of his race. It is all God’s hands that made it possible at His appointed time. 

Some inexplicable mysterious hands made him to come out (contest) at the right time, when the citizens were disfranchised with the Government of the day and the dissatisfaction make them to care less about the race of the opponent. 

The mysterious hands can be none other but God’s. He prepared the ground in such a way that the citizens were tired of the rule of the Republicans and He gave him (Obama) the right choice of words, which registered in the hearts and minds of all the multiple races that make up an entity known as the United States of America. 

I cannot remember a race to the White House that was already decided with such a wide margin, weeks before the real election date. Yet it was a decision for a black man because the votes of the African-Americans alone could never give Obama the mandate. 

What else can anyone say? It all happened at God’s appointed time. 

In 2000, he could not make it to the Democratic National Convention, being not able to secure a reservation for the flight. But four years later in 2004 he gave the key note address at the same convention, the speech which brought him into limelight, and into prominence. His popularity rose like a lightning and four years later, with Michelle he is moving to the highest esteemed office in the world. 

The process, which God started at a time, which no man knew or can claim to know, has materialized at His appointed time. 

In His time

He (God) makes all things beautiful in His time.

God please show me everyday

As you are teaching me your way

That you do just what you say in your time.

(Diane Bell (1978) 

But here is the thing again about God, both machines that produced Barack Obama did not live to witness this epoch making historical day. Perhaps, the one who would have enjoyed much of the glory, Madelyn Dunham, the 86 year old grand mother of Barack, who it was that really raised him up died on Monday, just few hours to the election. This is why the Yorubas’ worship name for God is “Kabiyesi” meaning “No one dares ask you” 

Sam Aweda,

President & Snr. Pastor, Jesus for the World Revival Mission

Robot  Villager

# 1 The Hands of God in His Time -1stin the series of Obama’s Victory Sam Aweda “But you, O despised race, yet a powerful ruler of the world will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant part. The children of Cush have been abandoned until the time when the woman in labour gives birth to her son” (adapted from Micah 5:2-3). I am quite used to see happenings, which are beyond human explanations, imaginations, manipulations and expectations. The Black man in the White House is another of such. Of course, God will not Himself come from heaven to execute the event; He uses man to achieve His purpose. But for anyone who is thoughtful, careful and watchful, he will appreciate that those events are completely the hands of God. The different actors in the fulfillment of such events only play their parts at such a time the ball is in their net witho...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 06.11.2008 23:29

Norris  Villager

# 2 Sam, Your piece is the best I have read ever since the Obama media hurricane. Yours remains the most sensible, an embodiment of wisdom, rare foresight and spiritual mystism. As a fellow that subscibes to mystism and it intricacies I make it bold to say you are spot on on this assessment. I have read millions of write up on Obama most of which I have skimmed through because of the myopy and hypocrisy found there in. So many have been so quick to pen down articles in support of Obama but they lack the same attributes and uprightness they praise in Obama, they lack those ideals they hold forth as rare in a man whom God has so elevated. They lack tolerance, love and patience; most if not racists are ethnicists cum tribalists. Your piece hasn't garned much response on the thread not surprisingly because a lot prefer to dwell in the short sighted worldly explanations or interpretations of the latest happening; they prefer to subscribe to wordly profanities that smack of spiritual blindness and mystical epilepsy. The eyes have been scaled so no one can understand the spiritual side step to what actually happened, but I am overjoyed you have done a good intellectual job. When Obama went over to Berlin and addressed a 200000 capacity crowd of Germans, a people known to be the worst haters of the black race, I told the people around me then that God just gave the world a sign of what is to come but just a few will get that message. With the enthusiasm, pomp and pageantry with which they celebrated and welcomed Obama at the occassion, it was clear that something naturally abnormal was going on in Berlin. When McCain committed political suicide and picked Palin as running mate, I told people around me that McCain didn't do that with his clear eye, his eyes had been scaled hence he picked a morally depraved woman, a woman whose family had just been stained with the stigma of a tenage pregnancy. A woman who lacked the credentials to boost a ticket but on the flipside possessed all it took to sink the ship; but all was done so Obama could move on ahead, part of what I will call the spiritual master plan. Not to say much, I say well done yet again on a wonderful piece. For those who think an Obama Presidency will turn Africa around into paradise, I respectfully urge they should please desist from such lunacy, Africa will only grow when Africans themselves decide it is time to shun trivialities and mundane distractions and embrace genuine peace,understanding,tolerance and most importantly sincere patriotism. Posted by Norris| 07.11.2008 14:24

bob  Villager

# 3 it is the Lord's doing, it is marvelous in my eyes. since last year, i was expecting some big event tn 2008 in america but i never thought it would be the election of obama. infact i started taking notice of him when he won the 1st primary. since then i watched as mccain made mistake after mistake, along with the collapse of the economy which set the stage for the unthinkable. as an african, i just say thank you God. i am still expecting more shaking and stirring, in 2 years time. Posted by bob| 07.11.2008 19:30

Jagunlabi  Villager

# 4 Pasitor Sam, Our dear pasitor, thanks for your spiritual take on Obama's victory at the polls, cause iwe mimo says except the Lord(oluwa) builds the builder builds in vain. However i have a little question for our pasitor(don't mind my spelling oh), and i would play the devil's(ye, that old sleuth again!!)advocate. knowing that within the republican Party(GOP), we have the part which is rightly or wrongly referred to as the religious right and the influence that it garner and had exhibited in the presidency or past presidential election. And one of the issue that really constitute a deciding factor to them is that of abortion, would it be right to say Obama election is a validation of the rightness of the anti-abortion group or more rightly that God takes a liberal view when it comes to the issue of abortion. As someone who has followed this election also and seen how the christain right in America has used this issue as a canning rod for Obama, and at the same time someone who appreciates the blood that was shed at calvagry, i begin to wonder if i'm too liberal to be washed with the blood or the christain right has manipulated the bible to suit their own views,irrespective of who's ox is gore. Remain you ever faithful omo ijo worldwide!!!!!!!!!!! Posted by Jagunlabi| 11.11.2008 06:52