O God Our Help in Ages Past

Today's headlines daily confront us with the spectacle of a troubled world. Natural disasters, war, economic uncertainty, and many other issues have become part and parcel of our daily experience. Many, including those who bear the name of Christ, have lost hope in this climate. What are believers to do when confronted with the chaos of the present age? The answer can be found through a Christian engagement with history. Far from being an esoteric discipline to be studied by a learned few, a Christ-centered view of the past can transform the believer's walk with God, providing comfort and hope in the face of the chaos that besets our world today. Through seeing the sovereign hand of God as it writes the human story, believers can question God in faith, better understand the divine purpose in suffering, more fully grasp their need for a Savior, repent from participation in present injustice, challenge the idol of nostalgia, and better understand our place within the kingdom of God. Jeff Barnes is pursuing a PhD at the University of Akron in the history of the contemporary Middle East, with a focus on Palestine in the twentieth century. He teaches world history part-time at Malone University and the University of Akron.