Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Incomes and Outcomes

“The foreign resident among you will rise higher and higher above you, while you sink lower and lower. He will lend to you, but you won’t lend to him. He will be the head, and you will be the tail.” (Deuteronomy 28:43-44)

Shortly before his Mount Nebo ascent, Moses addressed Israel and reminded them of their covenant with the Lord and of their obligation to obedience. He reminded them that obedience would result in great prosperity and establishment in the land. God would bless them for their obedience. He reminded them also that disobedience to God would result the loss of prosperity and being displaced in the land by “foreign residents.” God would curse them for disobedience. He would allow foreign entities to dominate them.

If the people of God are walking with Him, they will know His blessing. If the people of God turn away from Him to go their own way, they will know His cursing, which is expressed as a domination by foreigners.

Many in America believe that this country was founded on Christian truth. Certainly, not everyone in those early years of our nation felt that way when they crafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, but the majority did. References to God in those documents are proof positive. That being true, there has historically been something of a “covenant” between the Lord and this country. God has greatly blessed this nation through the years, because many in and out of government have lived in at least some form of covenantal relationship with God.

In these days, there seems to be an increasing domination from foreigners. There is a growing economic domination through currency exchanges and through the oil industry outside of our nation. There is talk of reducing dependence on “foreign oil,” but mostly it is just talk. There are political challenges from outside our nation from those who challenge our nation’s leadership in that arena, and there are political and religious challenges within our nation from citizens of those nations who have now become citizens of our country, all through legal means. The growth of non-Christian faiths has and will have an impact. There is also the challenge of hedonism and materialism in our nation which has enamored our nation’s youth with “the glitter of gold and glitz.”

Is it possible then that our nation is turning increasingly away from God and away from a covenantal relationship? And if that is the case, can we honestly expect the blessings of God? Should we not expect God to allow an increased foreign domination over our nation if our nation does not return to a covenantal relationship with Him.

Lord, Help our nation to open its eyes. Amen.

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