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| The Medieval Lock | |||||||||||||||
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A Strategic Prophetic Message about Afghanistan. Praying
for spiritual answers to military goals While in prayer about answers for America 's involvement in Afghanistan, I saw a man in chains which were kept in place around him by a huge ancient padlock. The chains ran around him, over his shoulders, and were locked in place by the rusting but substantial-looking mechanism. I believe the man represents the Pashtun people - the indigenous people of Afghanistan and the world's largest patriarchal tribal group. Our main enemy in this region are the radical Islamist Taliban fighters, all of which are Pashtun. These are tribesmen who live by their ancient Pashtunwali code of honor, which pre-dates Islam yet is in harmony with it. The Pashtun refer to themselves as the "Yusef Zai," which in their language means "Sons of Joseph." While scholars debate their origins, Pashtun oral traditions link them back to the fall of the northern Kingdom of Israel and the subsequent removal of the "Lost Ten Tribes of Israel" to Assyria. After Nineveh fell to the Babylonians and then to the Persians, the Pashtun migrated through Persia to modern-day Afghanistan. As the United States and our coalition allies search for a strategy for victory in the War on Terror in this region, the Lord wants to teach us how to use His spiritual weapons to unlock the ancient chains of 42-million people and end their bondage of more than 2,500 years. The Old Medieval Padlock I had seen the old lock in my mind's eye for at least a year without realizing that it was a mental lecture with prophetic meaning. While describing the lock to our local church for prayer, I was surprised when a prophetically gifted sister and mentor, Barbara Conrady, said she had also seen the padlock and described it perfectly - adding that it was a "medieval" lock and could only be opened with and old "skeleton key." She also saw the man bound with chains attached to the lock. The medieval period (a.k.a. Middle Ages or Dark Ages) is generally a European time measurement which runs about a thousand years from the fall of Rome to the Reformation (5th to 16th centuries). This period witnessed a widespread decline in the spiritual richness of the early Church and after 635 AD, the rapid expansion of Islam. But for a few key victories, divided Christian Europe would have fallen to the Moslems. Jihad had conquered all of Spain and, in central Europe, as far west as the gates of Vienna. The old padlock we saw is connected with the stronghold of Islam - the key to the medieval lock is its medieval religion. However, the "skeleton" nature of the key points to the intertwined linkage back through the generations of bondage to ancient ground for the devil in their patriarchal tribal structure - and possibly to the dry bones of Israel Ezekiel saw, which will one day live again. This is part of the puzzle yet to be revealed. The Bondage and Calling of Joseph As the truth about the lineage of the Pashtun comes to light, God's purpose for this people group will also come into focus. If their forefather is the Biblical Joseph, there may be an extension of Joseph's life of bondage leading to deliverance for his brethren and all in the land of Egypt (a type of oppressive government). The land they inhabit is universally regarded as near desolate - either too mountainous for modern travel or too dry and rocky for mass agriculture. Yet 42-million family members have flourished there. As the Kingdom of God dawns on the earth, the Adamic curse on the creation will be lifted by those people groups who come into their purpose. A targeted strategy to release the Sons of Joseph from their bondage would not only solve the Taliban problem, but release the blessings of God in a barren land. I personally believe there are hidden treasures and resources in Afghanistan, waiting for "the sons of God to be made manifest." For some odd reason, Afghanistan has been sought after since the time of Alexander the Great. In modern times, the British and the Soviets struggled for control in Afghanistan - without much success. In late 2001, after America and coalition forces ousted the Taliban, I felt the Lord was about to release new technologies to identify, map, and eliminate millions of land mines the Soviets had sown into Afghanistan 's rocky ground. That prophetic message remains part of my prayers for that land. Why is the Lord Involving us? We are not here as spectators, but as warriors in the Army of the Lord. It is His desire to give us His Kingdom. Vital lessons on the proper application of spiritual weapons will be gained by the Body of Christ as a whole as a remnant of prayer warriors searches for the key to the Medieval Pashtun Padlock. In our dual mandate to both bind and release, we will turn the bondage of the Pashtun back on the principalities and powers who have abused these people for millennia. We will also release the tribesmen to see the true light of heaven and step into their destinies. We will also release the unseen benefits and resources which the Lord has positioned in this part of the world. Two for the Price of One Even casual observers know that the Pashtun Taliban are a problem for coalition forces in Afghanistan and also for the struggling government in Pakistan. More than 28-million Pashtun were displaced into Pakistan by the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980's. As our prayer strategy succeeds, both nations will benefit - not to mention the start of a wave of evangelism in an area almost exclusively Muslim. Prayer for the Pashtun Father, I thank you for revealing your heart concerning the Pashtun people. Dispense among your warriors the strategies to unlock their bondage. Give us the key to remove their chains and set them free to accomplish your will. Father, in the Name of Jesus, we release these Sons of Joseph to fight for Your Kingdom with the same tenacity and dedication with which they have battled invaders and each other for centuries. Set the captives free, in Jesus Name!
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