In the early church, the date of Feb. 4 was set aside as “Dismal Day.”
Dismal Day was a somber day set aside to remember the plagues of Egypt during the Exodus. The name “dismal” itself means “Evil days” and was intended to memorialize the woe and suffering of the Egyptians. Rather than celebrate the victory of the Israelites, the purpose of the day was to serve as a reminder of the consequences of disobeying God. Thus, the reflective and introspective mood of the day.
At the time of the Exodus in 1446 B.C., Egypt was the most powerful nation on earth. The Israelites, who had come in 1876 BC, had settled in an area of the Eastern Nile Delta known as Goshen. After the death of their champion Joseph in about 1806 BC, the Egyptian Pharaohs became fearful of the Israelites and made them into slaves. One of the Pharaohs had even initiated an infanticide against the Israelite children in about 1526 B.C. It was a survivor of this holocaust, a stuttering 80-year-old named Moses, whom God chose to confront the most powerful man in the world.
Of course, the Pharaoh refused to submit to God’s command to let his people go, and God sent the famous 10 plagues of Egypt. Because of their stubbornness, the Egyptians saw their river die, their crops fail, their livestock destroyed and finally their children die. Then, to top it off, their army was destroyed chasing the Israelites and history tells us that the entire country of Egypt was later overrun by foreign invaders. These were certainly “Evil Days” for the Egyptians.
It is unfortunate that the church no longer sets apart Dismal Day to remember the consequences of rebellion against God. To remember how the most powerful nation on earth brought judgment on itself by mistreating God’s people and killing God’s children. To remember how their river died, their agriculture economy shriveled, their children were lost, and their military was humbled. To remember how defiance of God’s commands destroyed the most powerful nation on earth, and to seek God because it is beginning to unfold again right before our eyes.
For His people, God had set aside the land of Goshen as a place of safety, and they were spared from the seven last plagues sent on Egypt. Today many Intercessors believe that God has set aside Lands of Goshen in America, and that He will make a distinction between those states, cities and people who follow Him and these who do not. Just compare the economies of places like Texas, where God is honored, with California, where He is not. This is no time to disregard God’s plans and purposes.
The nation is in serious trouble as it suffers more and more from its disobedience. The church needs to humble itself and pray for an awakening.
Dismal Day would be a good time to start. {eoa}
Ron Allen is a Christian businessman, CPA and author who serves in local, national and international ministries, spreading a message of reconciliation to God, to men and between believers. He is founder of the International Star Bible Society, telling how the heavens declare the glory of God; the Emancipation Network, which helps people escape from financial bondage; and co-founder with his wife, Pat, of Corporate Prayer Resources, dedicated to helping intercessors.
