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Israel, The United States, and Babylon
From its founding the United States has identified itself with Israel. In the beginning it was with ancient Israel and Judah of the Bible; after 1948, with the modern nation of Israel. The founding fathers where all deists, if not Christian - nevertheless Bible literate. The early colonists, similarly well versed in the Bible, and the expansionists after them, saw the vast fertile wilderness of America, thinly populated by natives, much the same as the Israelites entering Canaan saw the Promised Land: America was a land given by God to be conquered and populated by His people. Manifest Destiny, the 19th century doctrine that the United States was preordained to expand into the western lands, the Pacific, and the Caribbean, is another example of the United States identifying itself with the Israelites entering the Promised Land. The atlas is rife with names that recall the towns of ancient Israel: Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Dothan, Bethel, etc. In modern times evangelical Christians and American Jews, taking the Biblical imperative that any nation that blesses or assists Israel will in turn be blessed, have supported the nation of Israel. As a result, the Islamic community has come to hate the United States with a vengeance reserved previously for the Israel and Jews. The identification of American with Israel being established, let’s look at what happened to Israel. After the reign of David for only 33 years over the unified kingdoms of Israel and Judah, Solomon set the conditions for re-division of the land with his ruinous taxes, and in his later years, taking to the idol worship of his many wives. After Solomon’s death, Israel and Judah became divided again, never to be rejoined, and were continually at war with one another. Israel never had a king who followed God’s ways. Judah had alternately godly and ungodly kings over the course if its existence. Israel was eventually invaded by Assyria and actually depopulated. The ten tribes inhabiting Israel were never heard from again; hence, the “Lost Tribes of Israel.” The more popularly know story is of Judah’s capture by king Nebakenazzar and the exile of the Jews to Babylon. This was not a permanent banishment but rather a humiliation for, after seventy years, the Israelites were allowed to return to the Land. If God has ordained a nation for greatness, and if that nation does not follow His ways, The Almighty will allow that nation to suffer the consequences of its ungodliness. In the end it will cease to exist. In the Hebrew testament God promises over and over again that He will bless a nation that seeks to be holy and follow a righteous path. At any time, before its final end, a nation can turn around and seek godly ways. The history of Israel and Judah is that of God continually giving them opportunities to return to Him. The United States, with her arrogance, pervasive materialism, fascination with violence, lack of environmental stewardship, and generally debaucherous ways, and her intent on exporting to the rest of the world these evils, is not honoring the God in whom she says she trusts. As God used Babylon to punish Israel, He just may use America’s involvement in Iraq, geographically modern day Babylon, to bring her to her knees. This is an opportunity for a blessed nation to return to its calling to greatness. George Martin 2004 |
