The Troubles of Haiti

Unfortunately, the nation of Haiti has been no stranger to calamity, having been struck on several occasions by destructive earthquakes, cyclones and other “natural” calamities, causing many to conjecture that the island nation is under a curse. In fact, this most recent devastation to Haiti caused a very well-known and respected Christian leader during his televised program to comment on the nation’s continual ill fate. Pointing out that the nation of Haiti, which shares the western third portion of the same island (Hispaniola) as that of the Dominican Republic – one of the most prosperous nations in all of the Caribbean – is in contrast one of the poorest nations on the face of the earth and steeped in poverty. Very often it is the Haitian part of the island that is hit hard by calamity while the Dominican Republic located on the eastern portion is left unscathed.

It was also pointed out that the Haitians, during a slave rebellion led by Boukman Dutty at Bois Caïman in 1791 while under the power of the French, participated in a voodoo ritual where they sacrificed and drank the blood of a pig in order to form a pact with the devil in exchange for their freedom. This “pact” was reinforced by President Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 2003 when he reportedly declared voodoo to be the national religion of Haiti and “an essential part” of their identity.

Although there is no denying these facts, the comments of this particular Christian leader did not go over too well with the general public and one other well-known Christian leader in particular. In issuing a formal rebuttal to these comments, this particular leader expressed his great shock, sadness and regret over what he refers to as “the insensitive, untimely and ungodly implications” made by this leader over Haiti. While calling for a formal apology, this leader makes the case that there are many born again people in Haiti, many of whom are a part of his own community and fellowship, or relate to him and his network in some way. He reminds us that we were all created in God’s image and that it was never God’s desire that any should perish; therefore, we should think twice before passing judgment or blame during times of massive human disaster.

With respect to any satanic pact or curse still hanging over the nation, this leader states that many of the Christian leaders in Haiti have done similarly to believers in the US by holding private and public events, and even solemn assemblies, in order to address the spiritual issues and denounce any former pact made over the nation. This begs the question: Is the nation of Haiti free of the curse and consequences of this satanic pact as this leader purports? Were the Christian leaders of that nation able to take authority over that former agreement and cause it to be disannulled? Judging by the recent evidence and what we have seen and known regarding Haiti during the last two centuries, we would have to be either completely blind or in stark denial to answer yes, especially when considering the welfare of their very close neighbour, the Dominican Republic.

In my opinion, the subjects of prayer, intercession and spiritual warfare are among the most misunderstood – and as a result, some of the most futilely performed – exercises being taught and practiced by believers today. We’ve been taught how to shout, travail, make declarations and decrees, perform “prophetic” acts and numerous other exercises, including “binding and loosing,” in an attempt to dislodge enemy strongholds, experience God’s blessings and obtain answers to our prayers. And for many of us, if we would take a careful and honest evaluation of ourselves, it has been a “hit or miss” where many times we have found ourselves as one that “beats the air” (1 Cor 9:26).

The reason there has been so little success in our prayer lives is because we have tried to erect a house of prayer on a poor or faulty foundation (Matt 21:13 with Matt 7:24-27). It doesn’t matter how grand or spectacular your prayers may appear or sound to others; if the foundation has not been properly prepared your prayers will be futile. Therefore, our prayers will only be effective to the degree that it is founded and established securely upon the Word. In other words, you can pray, fast, intercede and scream at the top of your voice until your vocal muscles are exhausted, but if your prayers violate the principles already established in God’s Word, all of your screaming, fasting and praying would have been in vain.

One of the first principles established in the Word of God is the principle of divine order. During the creation of the heavens and the earth, including everything in them, God established a system of order and set specific boundaries for his creation. For example, the sea was created by God to operate within a prescribed boundary which it could not pass over, just as the sun and the moon were given a specific path to follow (Gen 1;9, 14-18; Job 38:8, 12; Ps 33:7; 74:16-17; 104:5-9; Prov 8:29; Jer 5:22).

Included in the principle of divine order in Scripture is the understanding of rank or authority. Everything was meant to function according to the divine parameters set by God, with a very clear authority structure in operation which, by the way, is also demonstrated by the eternal Godhead and the angels in heaven. Mankind was given dominion over the entire earth, but within his existence there was an order of authority established even before the fall. Wives are to submit to husbands. Children are to submit to parents, etc. As various institutions were established, such as the family and civil government, so was there also a clear authority structure from which to operate from and to abide by. This was by God’s design (Rom 13:1-2; Eph 5:22-6:9).

This principle of divine order with its included systems of rank and authority are interwoven throughout the entirety of Scripture, but seldom in this principle made clearer than in the Pentateuch where God gives specific instructions concerning women and their vows.

Num 30:1 And Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel, saying, This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded.

Num 30:2 If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.

Num 30:3 If a woman also vow a vow unto the LORD, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father’s house in her youth;

Num 30:4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand.

Num 30:5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth; not any of her vows, or of her bonds wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand: and the LORD shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her.

Num 30:6 And if she had at all an husband, when she vowed, or uttered ought out of her lips, wherewith she bound her soul;

Num 30:7 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it: then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.

Num 30:8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it; then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect: and the LORD shall forgive her.

Num 30:9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her.

Num 30:10 And if she vowed in her husband’s house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath;

Num 30:11 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not: then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand.

Num 30:12 But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand: her husband hath made them void; and the LORD shall forgive her.

Num 30:13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her husband may make it void.

Num 30:14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her: he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them.

Num 30:15 But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity.

Num 30:16 These are the statutes, which the LORD commanded Moses, between a man and his wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father’s house.

This particular passage gives us some incredible insight into the limitations and operations of spiritual authority in the earth. The father of an unmarried woman, being the governing authority structure over her life, has the capability to disallow, overrule and make void his daughter’s vow or promise to God. Although the daughter has a certain measure of authority as an individual regarding the affairs of her life, while she is unmarried and under her father’s authority, her authority becomes subjected to his. Similarly, a husband, by virtue of his headship and rank over his wife, has the ability to either establish her vow – which means to validate it or make it stand – or cause it to be voided, disannulled and made of no effect. Her spiritual authority as an individual can be overruled by his.

What this means is that spiritual authority was meant to flow seamlessly together with natural authority, and not one against the other. They were meant to operate in unison. Notice that the authority of both the father and the husband concerning the spiritual matters of those subjected to them is not hinged upon any pre-conditions such as their level of spirituality, maturity or devotion to God. In other words, your spiritual authority will never go beyond the boundaries or the measure, or the sphere of authority by which God has called you to operate in the earth. Only God has all authority, but for the rest of us who live and operate in the earth, there are prescribed parameters. And even God Himself adheres to the principles and the patterns that He Himself established, and which is understood by His angels (Jude 9).

Therefore, when a president, prime minister or head of state, or even a nation of people collectively, chooses to dedicate both themselves as well as their country to the powers of darkness, that pact or covenant shall continue to stand until another leader of equal authority arises to disannul it by publicly rededicating that nation to the One True God; or in the case of a corporate assembly, there is a massive cry for repentance that resounds from all across the land.

As sincere, zealous or determined as the Christian leaders in Haiti may have been when they called their solemn assembles and sought to break the strongholds of satan from over their nation, and as difficult as it might be for many to accept this fact, that curse and satanic stronghold will continue to stand in that nation of Haiti until a righteous leader arises who sits in the highest seat of government and overturns what his former leaders have done. No Christian or group of Christians, regardless of how mature and anointed they believe they might be, has the authority to overturn what a higher governmental authority has established. God Himself will not violate His own rules by infringing upon the wickedness established by man, regardless of how much He abhors it. This is one of the reasons whey we are instructed in scripture to pray for our leaders and those in authority, because our welfare is determined by their obedience, and when they fail we all reap the consequences (1 Tim 2:1-2).

God is Love, but He is also a God of Justice, and although very often this justice is not meted out by God directly upon evildoers, it can be dispensed through various and somewhat “natural” processes, sort of like ‘cause and effect’. God doesn’t have to act directly because our own sin and self-will will cause dire consequences, sometimes upsetting the natural course of nature so that nature itself begins to turn against us and devour us.

Lev 18:24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you:

Lev 18:25 And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants.

Lev 18:26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you:

Lev 18:27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;)

Lev 18:28 That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you.

Num 35:33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

Deu 18:10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,

Deu 18:11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

Deu 18:12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

When a nation becomes corrupt (defiled), the very land and territory they occupy becomes adversely affected and begins to vomit or regurgitate its inhabitants. Nature itself begins to exact judgment because of its defilement. People have a tendency to always want to blame God when a national disaster takes place that causes the death of many “innocent” people (including children), when most often the cause is the continual defilement and contamination of the land brought about as a result of our sin.

Sins such as murder, illicit sexual activity and witchcraft can have some very serious and adverse effects on the real-estate we occupy. And as in the case of murder, no amount of prayer and intercession is going to purge the land from the defilement it has caused until the blood of the murderer is spilled. This is God’s divine order, and nothing we can say, pray or do is going to change it until we align with God’s pattern.

Recently there was some controversy over the nation of Uganda and the position that the governing leaders had taken to eradicate sin from their land and reverse the defilement caused by homosexuality through the imposition of very severe penalties – even death – upon those engaging in such activity in their country. Without going into all the details (see here http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/25607-charismatic-leaders-criticize-uganda-anti-homosexuality-bill and here http://www.charismamag.com/index.php/news/25760-ugandan-pastors-call-for-apology-from-rick-warren ), various high-ranking Christian leaders in America immediately began to speak out and condemn these new policies. One leader even gave the argument that “legislating morality is not feasible.” But what these precious people were seeking to do was not legislate morality, but execute justice; for when justice is not properly executed in the earth by the governing authorities who occupy positions of leadership, it will be exacted by nature itself with penalties much more severe and much farther reaching. God’s position has always been that it is much better for the few to die than an entire nation to perish, although it is His desire that none perish (Matt 5:29-30; John 11:50; 2 Pet 3:9).

Our “civilized” Western culture in the United States has prevented many of us from embracing this truth, but it is a reality that will become more evident during this next season. What we have seen happen in Haiti will be repeated in nations all across the world where we have adopted a culture of tolerance and an embracing of that which God has already warned us will defile the land. Innocent blood which has been spilled and various other atrocities which have been committed by various nations and peoples will not be atoned for by simple prayer and intercession. Prayer and intercession may be successful in delaying the inevitable, but unless there is a turning away and a return to God’s divine order, nature will respond aggressively.

Without obedience to God’s Word your prayer is nullified. Without conformity to God’s principles and patterns, your intercession is futile. Without understanding the measure as well as the limitations of your spiritual authority, you will continue to fight as one who beats the air. God’s Word alone will stand forever, and every nation, people, kindred, tribe and tongue will bow in reverence before Him, and before His Anointed One who sits upon the Throne forever.