God's Wisdom In A Nutshell

History repeats itself and it seems as if the United States of America is going down as the nation of Israel was captured by the sinful nation of Babylon in years. gone by.

Israel was a nation that obeyed and feared the Lord. They were lead out of captivity in Egypt after God put pressure on Pharaoh  to let His people leave. There were 10 plagues created by God to oppress Egypt as a sign that He was in control and if the Egyptian army didn’t let the Israelites leave in order to return to their homeland- God had every ability to continue to destroy Egypt.

The Israelites were in awe of the Lord and His power displayed through the plagues. They were also incredulous when they were on their journey out of Egypt for their homeland and found themselves in a valley with mountains on each side of them, the Red Sea in front of them and the Egyptian army behind them. (The Egyptians at first let the Israelites leave for their homeland and later regretted their decision and sent an army to capture them.) The Lord parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to walk through and then closed up the sea drowning the entire Egyptian army. (There are still chariot wheels covered in coral found at the bottom of the Red Sea.)

Years later the Israelite descendants who had not witnessed God’s miracles, lost faith in the Lord. They started to live like everyone else, not obeying any rules except the ones they decided to make up for themselves.

“This is what the Lord says: I remember how eager you were to please me as a young bride long ago, how you loved me and followed me even through the barren wilderness….“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water. Is Israel a servant, a slave by birth? Why then has he become prey? Young lions have roared; they have growled at him. They have laid waste his land; his towns are burned and deserted… Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way? Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me”(Jer 2:2,13-15,17,19)

America, like Israel, was lead by the Lord when it was founded.  The Lord was included in daily life. Take a look at these facts compiled by the website FOUNDATIONS FOR MORAL LAW:

	Congress inserted Under God in the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954 in order to combat the rise of atheistic communism and reaffirm that “America was ‘founded on a belief in God.’”
	In God We Trust was first inscribed on U.S. coins in 1864 under President Lincoln, and in 1956 Congress made it the national motto of the United States.
	Since at least the 1820’s, the U.S. Supreme Court has opened its court sessions with the prayer of “God save the United States and this Honorable Court.”
	Since George Washington first added “so help me God” to his inaugural oath, every president since has likewise asked for God’s assistance at his inauguration.
	Since the Supreme Court’s building was constructed in the 1930’s, a marble frieze on the south wall of the courtroom has featuredMoses with the two tablets of the Decalogue.
	Since its first meeting in 1774, Congress has opened its sessions with prayer, usually given by its official chaplains in both houses.
	When our nation was attacked on September 11, 2001, the members of Congress spontaneously sang “God Bless America” on the steps of the Capitol building.

Since 1775, with the introduction of the chaplaincy into the Army and Navy, every branch of the U.S. armed forces has provided chaplains to facilitate the worship of God in our military.
	On October 3, 1789, one week after Congress approved the Bill of Rights, Pres. George Washington recognized “the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor,” and therefore declared a national “day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors ofAlmighty Godespecially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.”
	On October 3, 1789, recognizing “the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God,” Pres. Washington declared a national day of thanksgiving and prayer thanking God for His “many signal favors,” including the Constitution.
	Our first federal judiciary was established by the Judiciary Act of 1789, which required federal judges to end their oath of office with “So help me God.”
	From 1795 until the 1860’s, Christian church services were held on Sundays in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., attended by such presidents as Jefferson, Madison, John Quincy Adams, and Lincoln, and many other government officials. (At left, the Capitol in 1800.)
	A statue of Moses holding the Ten Commandments is featured in the rotunda of the Library of Congress.
	The Ten Commandments are symbolized in the floor of the National Archives Building in Washington , D.C.
	In front of the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C. is a sculpted figure leaning on the Ten Commandments. An inscription reads, “Our liberty of worship is not a concession nor a privilege but an inherent right.”

We would never be able to build a government building today showcasing the Ten Commandments, nor have all members of Congress proudly sing “God Bless America.”  There is rampant immorality here in the United States, many worship money as some worship God. Personal independence is high on the list of priorities in America instead of placing God first and family values second and then fitting in work life around the family.

Followers of the Lord Jesus Christ are not at all surprised about what is happening in this country and if you are surprised, perhaps it is because you need to study Scripture to realize that God does indeed matter and we will suffer the consequences of our sin if we do not turn away from our poor behavior. We all have a grace period but when that is up- as it seems to be in this country- we will be removed from under God’s umbrella of protection. Then we will encounter evil situations that may leave us bitter if we do not examine ourselves to see if our behavior, lifestyle, conversations, social behavior and life focus is opposed to what the Lord teaches.

Food For Thought,

Lisa