God is With Us

I find some strange things on prophetic bulletin boards. Here is a quote from a word given by Ben and Brenda Peters.

Make no mistake, America deserves severe discipline for her sins… But I totally believe, like Israel, America has a special covenant with God that is protecting her from those who wish to curse her and destroy her. God raised up America for a purpose which she has yet to completely fulfill.

Finally, I again acknowledge that America’s sins deserve God’s judgment… I believe that God’s mercy will triumph over His judgment, and He will give us grace to get through our trials.

I find this statement odd. America deserves severe discipline and judgment for its sins, but God will give the nation grace, because it has a privileged status. I presume that if it was China, or Russia that deserved judgment, they would get what they deserve.

Jesus said something different. He said that God has a higher standard for his nation, than he does for other nations. When he was rejected by the people who heard him announcing the Kingdom of God, he gave a stern warning.

Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you” (Matt 13:20-24).

More is expected from those who have been given more. God’s people do not get special treatment. Rather, God expects more of them, so their disobedience has a serious consequence; worse than for other nations, who have not been blessed in the same way.

The truth is that God has a purpose for every nation on earth. When a nation stops obeying God and fulfilling his purposes, it loses its spiritual protection. So being called to a purpose does not protect a nation from the consequence of its behaviour.

Micah spoke clearly about this situation.
Her leaders issue rulings for a bribe,
her priests teach for payment,
and her prophets practice divination for silver.
Yet they lean on the LORD, saying,
“Isn’t the Lord among us?
No disaster will overtake us” (Mic 3:11).