America: In the Eye of God?

Part 3

By Wilfred Hahn

To date in this series, we have concluded that, without a doubt, America was definitely in God’s eye when He created the Universe. We left off Part II with this question: Did the Lord purpose to use America as a benevolent or punishing force against the Jews and Israel? Could America have a similar role to the great ancient Persian king, Cyrus? Or, despite its great mandate, will it end up no different than all the rest of the Gentile nations?

After all, the second largest population of Jews today (behind Israel itself) is found in North America. It has been the Golden Age of the Jew in the U.S. (and Canada) since the early 1950s. This would certainly have been a protective, Cyrus-like role for the Jew … at least at the outset.

But, frankly, it is much too early to answer this question. Why? It is not until the last chapter—the ending—that such questions can be answered.

No doubt, America has been decidedly supportive of the Jew and Israel (though certainly not unwaveringly). But what will the future yet hold?

Anything could happen. No scenario regarding the Jews in North America can yet be ruled out. The history of the Diaspora has shown ominous patterns with respect to the treatment of the Jews during this present Age of the Gentile. America’s recent interventions into the affairs of Israel and its handling of Israel’s enemies would certainly not be the actions of another Persian Cyrus.

In any case, it may be more fitting to compare America to other powers that at one time harbored large populations of Jews during the Diaspora. Here we think of Spain in the 1400s, and Russia in the late 1800s. Over the past two millennia many nations have cast out the Jew.

In the end, we are reminded that all the nations will forsake Israel in the last days. Says the Lord: “I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land” (Joel 3:2). All nations are accused of dividing the land of Israel. Most certainly, America is taking part in this today.

Therefore, all nations will be judged and punished. “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head” (Obadiah 1:15).

The Fruits of Pride and Haughtiness

Not only does God exact justice and raise His hand against those who persecute the “apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). He also takes into account the godless conduct of each individual nation.

One characteristic that God punished often is pride. The Lord detests pride … namely, national arrogance. There are innumerable indications of this in the Bible. Says the Proverbs writer: The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5); “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (verse 18).

Many examples are given in the Old Testament showing that God abides with those that depend upon Him; whose strength is in Him. Whenever the Israelites became self-confident and dependent on their own strength, God allowed that they be defeated (for example, see the account of the defeat at Ai in Joshua 7). The kings of Judah that walked righteously and depended upon the faithfulness of God, were protected (i.e. Abijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Uzziah, Hezekiah). Wicked kings such as Jehoram, Ahaz, and Joash were not.

Even the righteous kings were vulnerable to pride for periods of time. For example, “[…] after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall” (2 Chronicles 26:16); and also 2 Chronicles 32:26, where we see that “[…] Hezekiah repented of the pride of his heart.” We conclude from this, that whether righteous—perhaps a Christian—or not, arrogance can bring catastrophic consequences.

We see that nations other than those of Israel or Judah (entities that were not in a covenant with God) were brought down because of their pride. For example, Tyre was punished because, “In the pride of your heart you say, ‘I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas’” (Ezekiel 28:2). Also Moab, “[…] how great is her arrogance!” (Isaiah 16:6). Even the great Nebuchadnezzar—the “head of gold” himself—was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory because, “his heart became arrogant and hardened with pride” (Daniel 5:20).

The same can happen to America. Its arrogance, as with any other nations, will not go unnoticed. In recent decades, America has staked its hope in its economic might; the macroeconomic theories of economists, of monetarism, and its military might. It thinks to create its own prosperity, one that is independent of any consequence of what it has sown.

Incredibly, many believe that its recent economic challenges are attributable to “lack of consumer want.” Its recent presidents have said that it is the will and resolve of its people that allow it to overcome its obstacles, and that it will “build bigger and better” should it face any setbacks.

Near-term Geopolitical Outlook for the U.S.

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