Pharaoh Neco put [Jehoahaz] in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath so that he might not reign in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. 2 Kings 23:33,34

Judah was a sovereign nation and yet Pharaoh Neco was calling the shots. Josiah lost in a face to face battle with Pharaoh Neco (2 Kings 23:29). The Pharaoh took control of Judah so that those in leadership were “puppets” of the Egyptian government. Even in this 3000 year old example, we see that it’s not a good thing when another country is running your government. They will not have the same values that you will have.

Pray for your nation’s sovereignty. With many nations banding together, the collective rarely has better insight and judgement than the individual. Pray that your leaders will have your country’s best interest at heart when making strategic decisions.