Where was God on 911?

T his question has been asked thousands of times by Americans since that tragic day. After all if God really does exist He could have prevented this horrible carnage. The big question is: Why didn’t He?

This page of our site explores that question and provides an extraordinary answer. It reveals how God sees evil and why man seems totally incapable of escaping it. This article is an excerpt from It Came Without Warning, a book that examines the events of 9-11 in the context of the scriptures. This particular chapter provides evidence that this tragedy was not only about the presence of evil, but also the absence of deliverance.

When the events of September 11 unfolded, there was tragedy everywhere. Great sadness filled the heart of every corner of America. But through the sorrow, stories involving tremendous acts of courage began to emerge. One such story involved the passengers and crew of United Airlines flight 93.

When these courageous men and women realized the gravity of what was taking place that day, they determined to re-take their hijacked aircraft. To many, what they did may have seemed futile. But to them it was the greatest of causes. They were freedom fighters in every sense of the word and this was their defining moment. Not because they sought it, but because it sought them.

These heroes knew all to well that the odds of winning this struggle were heavily stacked against them, but they were Americans, and on that day UA flight 93 was Valley Forge, Bunker Hill, and Normandy. Their fight was a gallant one filled with courage and is a source of inspiration to millions of people around the world.

Virtually everyone knows what happened on that flight. The plane would ultimately crash in a wooded area in southern Pennsylvania. Furthermore, the crash was so intense that the plane actually plunged fifty feet into the earth and was almost totally disintegrated.

The passengers and crew aboard that aircraft willingly gave the last precious moments of their lives in order to prevent further devastation. No one knows for sure where that plane was headed, but one thing is certain: the hijackers’ plans concerning UA flight 93 were thwarted and people like Todd Beamer and Jeremy Glick earned the gratitude of a wounded nation, not to mention the killers’ intended target.

During this fateful flight, several passengers made phone calls to loved ones and explained that their plane had been highjacked. It was during these calls that they learned of the horrible carnage being unleashed this day. One particular call has been relived countless times since 9/11. It was made by passenger Todd Beamer at 9:45 am, fifteen minutes before his plane would crash. Todd’s last audible words, “Let’s roll” have become a rallying call to America, and have been cited by many of it’s leaders, including president George Bush. But Todd said more than “let’s roll” during this call. According to Lisa Jefferson, the air phone supervisor who spoke with and comforted him during his final minutes, Beamer recited the “Lord’s Prayer,” (Mt.6:9-13) as well as part of the 23rd Psalm. At one point when it appeared the plane was going down, he said, “Oh Jesus, Please help us!”

Todd Beamer was not the only one to invoke God’s name during the final tragic moments of this flight. The last words Miss Jefferson would hear during that call were in the form of screams from the passengers and crew as they advanced toward the cockpit. In what she described as “an awful commotion,” Miss Jefferson indicated that people were screaming, “Oh my God!” “God help us!” and “Help us, Jesus!”

Many have wondered why a supreme being, who has been described as so loving and merciful, would allow such a horrible and senseless day to happen. Even the evangelist Billy Graham struggled to understand 9/11 in light of God’s great sovereignty. When speaking at a national prayer service following the attack on America, Dr. Graham made the following comment:

Dr. Graham is not alone in his assessment of this horrible day. The vast majority of Americans, including its moral leaders, have been stunned by not only the clear presence of evil that immersed the United States on 9/11, but also by what appears to be the total absence of deliverance from these events.

Certainly God could have prevented this devastation from taking place. After all, the Bible is filled with stories about great miracles of deliverance. There is Moses and the children of Israel marching through a parted Red Sea and being rescued from slaughter at the hand of Pharaoh’s army (Ex 14). There’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego standing in a blazing furnace and showing no effects of the flames (Dan. 3). Then there’s the great prophet Daniel, who at over 90 years of age was put in a lion’s den, only to wake up the next morning unscathed (Dan. 6). They were delivered. Why weren’t the thousands of innocent people whose lives ended on 9/11 spared? Certainly it wasn’t for a lack of prayer, was it? Virtually tens of millions of petitions to the Almighty were being uttered that day. Why didn’t He answer them? Where was He? Where was God? And why would He let this death and destruction happen?

Just days after the Attack on America, Dr. Jerry Falwell, the pastor of the 22,000 member Thomas Road Baptist Church, appeared as a guest on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s “700 Club” hosted by Pat Robertson. During this interview, Dr Falwell made the following observation regarding the horrible events of 9/11.

I know that I’ll hear from them for this, but throwing God out successfully with the help of the federal court system, throwing God out of the public square, out of the schools. The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked. And when we destroy 40 million little innocent babies, we make God mad. I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way - all of them who have tried to secularize America - I point the finger in their face and say, “You helped this happen!” (Jerry Falwell, 9/17/2001)

Later in the telecast, Mr Robertson offered a prayer that seemed to further reinforce Dr. Falwell’s observation regarding the cause of 9/11.

When news of this interview reached the secular world, the outcry was deafening. The opinions expressed by these two evangelists were attacked from every corner. Late night talk show hosts were relentless in their mocking of these men, and newspaper editorials decrying their comments began to proliferate. Even conservative commentators such as Bill O’Reilly, “The O’Reilly Factor,” criticized Dr. Falwell’s portrayal of God and offered his own assessment of how the Almighty looks at things. Some in the secular world even resorted to a kind of “counter attack.” One writer referred to the “700 Club” as a “predator of human suffering,” and Jerry Falwell as a “purveyor of liquid filth.” Some even went so far as to argue that Dr. Falwell and Mr. Robertson were cut from the same cloth as the 19 terrorists that carried out the 9/11 attack on America. The following is one example.

So strong was the backlash from this interview, that both Dr. Falwell and Mr. Robertson retreated somewhat on their statements. Mr. Robertson suggested that he was simply trying to be a “gracious host,” when he offered his concurrence to Dr. Falwell, and that his expression of agreement was with respect to Dr. Falwell’s remark, “I’ll hear from them on this,” not the actual comments that followed. Meanwhile, when speaking to CNN, Dr. Falwell seemed to soften his tone by offering the following apology:

There are many that may view the comments made by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson as blatantly insensitive and totally inappropriate. But were they? And just who was taking the “cheap shot”?

The attacks by those in the secular world against people who profess a belief in a higher moral authority, and more specifically, God and the Bible, are as mean-spirited and vitriolic as any hate speech ever uttered. Their attacks are almost always personal. And although they have the appearance of moral indignation, in reality they are absent of any enduring moral principles. In short, the “moral” arguments advanced by the secular world are at the very least disingenuous, if not dishonest altogether. The formula for their attack is very simple: express “moral” outrage or indignation toward someone for statements made or positions held that go contrary to their beliefs or practices. The irony here is that this is the very thing they condemn in others.

The next step is to question the “believer’s” understanding of what is “right” and what is “wrong.” The tone in almost all of these attacks is condemning. For the most part, the “believer” is viewed as an intolerant bigot deserving of hate. Some will even challenge the authority of the Bible as a credible moral work. After all, wasn’t it written by a bunch of white males? And isn’t it filled with teachings that demean women, condone slavery, and is totally intolerant of religious diversity? Sounds like it would fit in well with many of the beliefs held by the cowards that flew into the Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Those who advance attacks against people with strong religious convictions are, for the most part, indifferent toward the scriptures. They use the Bible like they would a reference book. They pick and choose certain verses to support a particular argument, but in reality don’t respect the Bible as a compelling moral authority. To them religion and the scriptures are a lot like art. Everyone can have an opinion on it and no one opinion is any better than another. Even God Himself has been relegated to “whatever you conceive Him to be.” Why should it be any different with His word? As a result of this approach, the secular world’s opinion concerning the scriptures runs the gamut from total foolishness to being outright vulgar and obscene.

Further, there are those who are so pretentious, they will actually pervert the clear meaning of God’s word in an attempt to support their positions. For example: some who embrace a homosexual lifestyle will argue that Jesus was gay, or that David and his friend Jonathan (the son of King Saul) had a torrid homosexual relationship that lasted for several years. These beliefs are advanced despite the fact that there isn’t a credible Bible scholar on earth that would draw such a conclusion. But once again, the Bible “is a lot like art.”

Another approach of the secular world is to demonize those who accept the Bible as the definitive statement on morality and the literal word of God Himself. Terms such as “extremist,” “intolerant,” and “hateful” are used prolifically to describe those who openly declare their faith. Further, these labels are spoken with such force, they take on the appearance of truth.

But the truth be known, those who sincerely believe the scriptures are anything but hateful, extreme, or intolerant. This is because the true Christian makes an important distinction between the sin and the sinner. While they may hate the sin, they have great hope for the sinner. In the secular world, no such distinction is made. If they don’t like what you believe, they don’t like you.

The problem with arguments from these two camps is that they cannot be reconciled. This is because they come from two entirely different frames of reference. While a Christian recognizes God as the true Moral Authority in the universe, the secular world claims that distinction for themselves or the institutions they have erected. Additionally, in the secular world, all values are given the same moral weight. Nothing is better, only different. Therefore, nothing should be condemned, but rather understood and tolerated.

As a result of this thinking, every act of depravity can be manipulated to have a “moral” justification if one wishes. Sexual behavior, whether it be adultery, fornication, or homosexuality, is “moral” because it is done between “consenting adults.” Pedophiles argue the “morality” of their conduct because it is done between “consenting human beings.” Those who practice bestiality can also claim the “moral high ground” because their sexual expression is done between two “consenting living creatures.” Here, “consent” determines the morality of an act, not the act itself. Imagine if this was the standard in the Garden of Eden. After all, Adam and Eve both consented to their sin.

When it comes to an issue like abortion, the moral standard is a person’s “right to choose” for themselves what they will do to a living being residing within them. Here, a behavior is deemed “moral” because it is based on a person’s proximity to the behavior. In other words, “the fetus is inside of me. That makes it mine. And I can do anything I want with what is mine. Who are you to judge?”

This approach to moral and ethical self-defense can work with any sin because, absent an all powerful Moral Authority, man gets to define for himself what is “good” and what is “evil.” Even the 19 hijackers who orchestrated what was nothing less than mass murder, rationalized their act as “just” and “good.”

Contrary to what many in the secular world may want to believe regarding the comments made by Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, these two evangelists were not preaching hate. Further, they were not pronouncing their judgment on America, but rather their understanding of what the scriptures reveal regarding God’s judgment. In other words what God would do under certain circumstances and how He deals with sin that goes unchecked.

These men know all too well what the Bible says about mercy and compassion. They are well aware that God’s word declares that the unmerciful will not enter into His kingdom (Mt.18:23-35). But they also know that when God dispatched His prophets to the nations of Israel and Judah, they declared a very unpopular warning and were held in contempt for it by leaders and citizens alike. Why? Because their message exposed a people’s sin for what it really was. Israel and Judah’s reaction was typical. They condemned the messenger and asserted their own righteousness. Sound familiar?

The remarks by Dr. Falwell and Mr. Robertson were an appeal to a nation they believe is in grave danger. What they were saying was that if America does not come to grips with its moral and spiritual condition, then it should not expect a moral God to sustain it. If it wants to kick God out of the land He has so richly blessed, fine; just don’t expect Him to be there when calamity strikes. Where is the hate in that?

Meanwhile, their detractors were not arguing what God would do (under certain circumstances). Frankly, they don’t know and don’t care. What they were doing was declaring what God should do, based on their “moral judgment.” In a very real sense, those in the secular world, while condemning any who would judge them, engage in the most arrogant of judgments. The moral relativist places himself as the ultimate moral authority, and in effect has made himself God’s judge.

As the war between the secular “left” and the religious “right” continues, a fundamental question emerges.

First, a quick review of the positions. As was just mentioned, the Christian sees the God of the Bible as the great Moral Authority of the universe. His judgment isn’t to be questioned, but rather to be sought and understood. On the other hand, the moral relativist is hostile to everything that questions man’s prerogative to exercise his own moral judgements. But who is right? The answer to this question lies in the future, but its truth in the present.

If the God of the Bible is not the one true God, and the scriptures His inspired word, then the nod goes to the secular world. After all, someone has to decide what is right and what is wrong, what is moral and what is immoral, what is good and what is evil. Absent an all-powerful Creator, man is the logical choice to preside over this responsibility.

However, if the God revealed in the scriptures is the one and only true God, and the Bible His divinely inspired truth, then the United States, as well as the rest of the world, needs to take serious stock of what it has done and where it is going.

The Bible states without ambiguity that man was never designed to be the moral authority in his own life. As difficult as this might be to believe, humanity simply does not have the proper equipment to navigate its moral and ethical path. King Solomon, a man regarded by many as the wisest person who ever lived, came to understand this truth. When writing the book of Proverbs, Solomon made a profound observation about man and the moral choices he makes.

Virtually all mankind has witnessed Solomon’s words in action. We have seen good intentions play out to catastrophic results. Even Solomon’s own life and the choices he made reflected this great moral law. In the western world today, there is a popular proverb that captures the sentiments of Solomon’s words. It goes like this:

The point here is that despite how well intended man might be when it comes to making moral choices, the result is invariably the same - DISASTER.

Solomon was not the only one to draw the conclusion that man was incapable of successfully managing his ethical path. The great prophet Jeremiah also pondered man’s qualifications to rightly preside over his moral decisions. He concluded that man could fall victim to his own moral and ethical devices. Notice his words.

Here, Jeremiah is stating that man cannot trust his own judgment because the seat of that judgment (the heart) is not trustworthy. But there is more. King David, who the Bible describes as “a man after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22), expressed a profound truth about man’s inability to grasp “right” and “wrong.”

The question David asked in this verse is rhetorical. The truth of the matter is that no one can understand his errors. That is why man makes so many. Man’s capacity to navigate his moral path is nonexistent. Despite his assertions to the contrary, man was never designed to be the moral authority in his own life. The prophet Jeremiah conveyed this absolute truth in words that couldn’t be more clear.

The words of Jeremiah state a truth that this world has rejected since the Garden of Eden. Simply put, man, left to his own moral devices, will choose the wrong path. Jesus Christ himself understood this absolute moral law. And His life reflected this understanding. The Bible states that when Jesus walked as a man on the earth, even He did not rely on his own wisdom. Notice His words:

The Bible asserts in the strongest of language that the Great God, who created the heavens and the earth and all things, stands as the one and only unimpeachable Moral Authority of the universe. It is He who decides what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is evil, what is just and what is unjust. The God of the Bible is infinitely wise, infinitely just, infinitely powerful, infinitely loving, and most infinitely MORAL. Man doesn’t come close to “infinitely” in any of these areas.

The issue that presents the greatest problem to those in the secular world, as well as those who profess a faith in the scriptures, is the fact that the God of the Bible never changes His moral positions. In other words, what He hated four thousand years ago, He hates today. The apostle James once described God as one in whom there is “no variableness nor shadow of turning” (James 1:17). With these words, James is stating that there isn’t even a hint of movement with respect to God’s moral compass. He doesn’t change with the times. He is eternal. Time has no effect on Him.

However, man’s moral compass is always in a state of flux because his values are constantly being influenced by the world around him - a world that is always changing. To illustrate this point, consider how values have changed in the United States over the past 50 years. Our attitude about virtue and integrity are radically different than they were in prior generations. For example: can you imagine U.S. presidents such as Harry S. Truman or Dwight David Eisenhower using the argument “it depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is” to defend themselves against charges that they willfully lied to the American people?

Today our leaders play word games with the truth and are even smug about it. Is it any wonder that senior executives in the tobacco industry appearing before a senate investigation, swore with a straight face that cigarettes are not addicting? But it doesn’t end there.

Our opinions regarding sex, marriage, and family would have astonished earlier generations. These issues have been redefined by the proponents of a “new morality” - a morality that has fallen prey to what our leading thinkers call “situational ethics.” There is no getting around it, the world of today is vastly different than that of yesterday. And nowhere is this more evident than in the United States.

There once was a time when most Americans navigated their lives around a fixed moral standard - a code of right and wrong. For most, this was the Bible. Stealing was wrong because God said, “You shall not steal.” Lying was wrong because God said, “You shall not bear false witness.” Killing broke the sixth commandment, and adultery the seventh.

If you were to read an early 20th century grammar school textbook, you would find numerous references to God, Christianity, and the Bible. And each was treated with great deference and respect.

Today, however, our society demands that all moral standards constantly adjust their view to conform to society’s conduct. As a result of this thinking, what we once thought was abhorrent moral behavior is now regarded as respectable and even virtuous. A prominent American news journalist, once lamented the moral decline of the United States this way:

The result of this thinking can be seen in every strata of society. Students cheat in school without any sense of guilt. Adults cheat in business because “that’s the way it is.” Marketing firms cheat and advertisers are brazen in their misrepresentation of products. Politicians cheat in an attempt to influence elections. Clergymen cheat to control their flocks.

The morality of today claims to all who would hear: cheating is ok as long as you have a reason for it and you don’t get caught. This is the same logic used by psychopaths, rapists, extortioners, drug pushers, and every other kind of lowlife our world has produced. And it possesses about the same moral weight. Sadly, this belief is embraced by an entire generation.

The great tragedy of society today is that it is not afraid to break with the moral conventions of prior generations. Conventions held as sacred because of their origin (the Bible). Today, we make our own rules - define our own moral behavior and values. We are the masters of our own spiritual course. And where has it taken us? Has it made us better? Has it made us more just? One doesn’t have to look hard for the answer to these questions.

In America’s courtrooms, lawyers spin tales designed to confuse juries as opposed to present credible evidence. Some will even attempt to suppress information that may undermine their case, even though it would advance righteous judgment. And this is the “rule,” not the “exception.”

Recently, America was captivated by what was referred to as “the trial of the century.” The attorneys involved represented some of the best legal minds in the country. Those representing the defendant were even referred to as “The Dream Team.” Throughout the trial, these very skilled and highly compensated legal minds, asserted to the jury, that they were on a quest for the truth. However, when being interviewed on a nationally syndicated television program, a member of this “team” was asked if the trial was really a “search for truth.” He responded by saying, “If you want to search for truth, go to church. We search for doubt.”

Throughout the trial, which had the atmosphere of a major sporting event, Americans were witness to a system of “justice” that represented an avalanche of deception, distortion, and misrepresentation as TRUTH. In its aftermath a murderer went free, a nation was divided even further, two children lost their mother, a family lost a son, and two savagely killed Americans were buried. So much for TRUTH.

As man continues to redefine his view of morality, his proximity to his Creator becomes more distant (Isa. 59:2). In short, the Great Creator and Governor of the Universe is no longer real, nor is His word. Today, God is some mystical thing that can be defined as anything you want Him to be. Oh, people will claim to believe in some “higher power,” but when it comes to that power ruling their lives, that’s where man draws the line.

The Bible reveals that in the beginning, God made man in His own image (Gen. 1:26-27). Today, man seems bent on returning the favor. Under this proposition, man can craft, in his own mind, a god that he is most comfortable with - a god that hates the things he hates, loves the things he loves, and believes the things he believes - a god who is just like him.

Although man seems content on guiding his own spiritual path, and hence creating his own god, occasionally circumstances arise that require more. Even nonbelievers will often call on the God of the Bible in times of great distress. September 11 is a good example. The problem with this is that our petitions are, for the most part, driven by a sense of urgency, as opposed to a sense of humility, or even a sense of curiosity.

In a very real sense, we have become a society of users, even when it comes to prayer. We call out to God when He can do something for us. Otherwise, we just don’t seem to have the time to speak to the King of Creation. After all, we’re really very busy. Abraham Lincoln once made a chilling observation about an America that was too busy for God.

As a result of this arrogance, most Americans wander aimlessly through a life consumed with “the now” and blind to a profound truth that “you reap what you sow” (Gal. 6:7). In this world God is simply not real. He seems so far away. The tragedy is that when real trouble strikes, man feels that God has somehow abandoned him and not the other way around.

However, the sword of God’s unchangeable moral compass cuts both ways. Just as God is not buying the situational ethics pawned off as morality by the secular world, it’s not likely much of professing Christianity’s approach to the faith has gained His endorsement either. And surprisingly it is for the same reason.

The stark reality is that most professing Christians situationalize their ethics too. For example, many if not most of the traditions embraced by Protestants today have no Biblical basis, but rather come from beliefs that were carved out of human reasoning. For example, in an earlier chapter of this book, professing Christianity’s approach to the Sabbath and Holy Days were exposed as totally inconsistent with the scriptures. But it doesn’t end there.

Much of what is taken for granted in thousands of churches across the United States, and even the western world for that matter, is borne out of tradition, not the Bible. The truth is that when the scriptures do mention these traditions, they invariably take a position that goes contrary to the common practice. Consider just some of the traditions that are embraced by the overwhelming majority of the Protestant world, and ask yourself from where do these practices come?

These are just a few of dozens of issues where professing Christianity holds a variety of views, many of which contradict each other and most of which contradict the scriptures. The fact is that although most professing Christians may not know it, the overwhelming majority of churches follow man-made traditions when worshiping the God of the Bible. In other words, they have chosen to decide for themselves how they will worship the one true and immutable God. The scriptures reveal that Jesus condemned this practice in His generation (Mk 7:7,13, Mt. 7:21-23). Why would anyone think He would accept it now? Perhaps the “believer” of today can be included among those in the secular world who think religion is a lot like “art.”

When describing the last days, Jesus indicated that as sin, which is the breaking of God’s law (1Jn. 3:4), increased, love would dissipate (Mt. 24:12). The point He was making was that mankind would become so hostile to God’s law at the end time, compassion and a genuine outgoing concern for others would be almost nonexistent. As a result, acts of unspeakable cruelty would grow in both intensity and frequency.

With this in mind, is it possible to understand why God, whose position on morality never changes, may very well have withdrawn His protection from the United States on that tragic September day? Does the Bible identify a time in the past when the Great Creator withheld His protection from His people? As a matter of fact, it does. And the similarities between the nation of Israel thousands of years ago and United States today are striking!

Throughout the Old Testament, the nation of Israel played a prominent role in God’s plan. The scriptures reveal that the Eternal intended to use it as an example to all the earth of how a people can be rightly governed. Israel was to stand as a model nation - a nation under the direct authority of God Almighty. A nation with laws that reflected God’s wisdom and His justice. Imaging living in such a land - a land where God Himself was the architect of it’s government. The descendants of Jacob were given that opportunity.

However, the Bible also indicates that this great nation would be destroyed by its enemies and led away as captive slaves. All the prosperity and safety they had enjoyed as a real super-power would eventually evaporate and be replaced with untold suffering. The history of Israel reveals how such a catastrophe could happen. And more importantly, why God would let it happen. To best understand this extraordinary lesson, it is important to return to the birth of this nation God likened to His “bride” (Isa. 62:5).

Almost thirty five hundred years ago, the children of Israel were rescued from a horrible oppression inflicted on them by the nation of Egypt, who at that time was the premier super-power on earth. Shortly after this deliverance, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob entered into a special covenant with them. The terms of this covenant were quite simple. Israel was to obey all of God’s instructions to them. In return, the Great Creator of the universe would physically bless them in a way that would set them apart from all the nations on earth. Additionally, God would be their personal protector, and as such, He would safeguard them from their enemies and even ensure that their enemies would be in fear of them.

God introduced the terms of His covenant by explaining that there was a very specific link between Israel’s obedience and God’s blessing. However, if Israel would obey their Deliverer, they would become the preeminent nation on earth.

This is an extraordinary promise. Here, the very God who led Israel out of Egypt, and in doing so, brought the mightiest nation on earth to its knees, was promising a collection of slaves that they were to become a nation to which all other nations would look up. He then outlined a series of blessings that would befall them if they obeyed. These blessings would include unmatched physical prosperity and growth - a prosperity that would be greatly desired by any nation on earth - then or now. Notice the promise God makes to the children of Israel if they obey Him.

With these words, God was explaining that if Israel would rely on Him and heed His words, they would live what could only be described as a “charmed life.” Whatever they would do - and wherever they would do it - would turn out right.

God then promised Israel that although they would have enemies, those enemies would be scattered if they attempted to harm them.

In the book of Leviticus, God indicated that Israel’s military superiority would be so overwhelming, that they would be able to rout armies that outnumbered them 100 to one.

God continued outlining the terms of His covenant by reaffirming His promise of incredible physical blessings for Israel. He declared that their prosperity could be seen, even in their food reserves.

When God promised to bless “all that you set your hand to do,” He was declaring that He would even inspire Israel’s creative and technological efforts. In essence, God was saying that the great inventions and discoveries down through time would come through His people.

However, the Great Creator then reminded Israel that the tremendous relationship they were to enjoy with Him was predicated on their obedience. If they obeyed, the entire world would be in awe of them.

God then continued to present what can only be called the greatest “wish list” any nation on earth could ever construct. It included uncanny prosperity, tremendous natural resources, including their climate, as well as protection from their enemies. Imagine if a third world country today was presented with an opportunity to enter into such a covenant. Consider what they would be offered.

The Eternal also promised that if Israel would honor His words, they would enjoy a very unique and intimate relationship with Him.

Imagine a nation being offered the opportunity to have the GREAT GOD of Heaven as its partner in whatever it endeavored to do. In the “arts,” He would be there. In the “sciences,” He would be there. In “labor and agriculture,” He would be there. In “research and technology,” He would be there. The all powerful, all knowing King of everything that exists would be an endless source of inspiration and the eternal force behind every blessing. With these words, the Governor of the universe was extending to the children of Israel the greatest package of national blessings ever assembled. Consider what God was promising them.

their prestige would extend to every corner of the world, and they would be the envy of all the nations on earth.

All of this in exchange for one thing: “OBEY MY VOICE.” This offer by the Almighty looks like the greatest “no-brainer” in history. It is hard to imagine anyone contemplating it for more than a second. However, when examining the extraordinary prosperity God was offering, a question leaps out - one that begs to be answered.

It is hard to imagine that any nation in human history more closely reflects those promises than the United States. This great land can stake claim to every one of them as no nation in human history can. It has enjoyed the greatest strength, the richest economy, the most extraordinary advances in science and industry. Its soil is the richest. Its natural resources the most abundant.

America has been seen by people around the world as a magical place. It is the home of freedom and opportunity. It has been called “The Land of Dreams” and has been the most coveted ticket in the history of immigration. For two centuries the United States has seemingly rolled the dice and they keep coming up “seven.” This nation is truly a land of promise and the beneficiary of Divine gifts. Abraham Lincoln certainly thought so. Notice his words:

However, President Lincoln was also deeply concerned about a sense of national arrogance that would make the terrible mistake of thinking that its prominence among the nations of the world was the result of its personal skill and talent.

This is the story of America in the twenty-first century. Because of our unmitigated gall and arrogance, we now believe that the great prosperity and freedoms we have enjoyed for over two centuries are somehow the product of American ingenuity and “Yankee know-how,” not Divine blessings. The great American patriot and president, Thomas Jefferson, warned of such thinking. His bold words stand as an indictment against the America of today. What high school history textbook in the entire country would have the courage to preserve such a statement?

Today in the United States a great movement has emerged dedicated to proving Thomas Jefferson wrong. Through it, every attempt is being made to expunge the knowledge of the God of Heaven out of our national landscape. The architects of this movement have tried to redefine America as a nation founded on the principle that faith and government are mortal enemies. They attack those who believe faith is a fundamental partner of our government as “religious fanatics” attempting to build a theocracy.

Today in the United States any public expression of faith, especially Christianity, is viewed as a threat to our freedom. The irony to this is that America was once proud to express its belief in the God of the Bible. Consider just a few examples: John Quincy Adams, the sixth president of the United States, thought nothing of expressing his thoughts concerning the value of the scriptures.

He was not alone in this sentiment. Theodore Roosevelt stated that he saw more value in the wisdom expressed in God’s word than that taught in America’s great academies and universities.

Daniel Webster saw a link between following the word of God and national prosperity.

Abraham Lincoln acknowledged that Jesus Christ was the Savior of the world and that the Bible was a gift from God Himself.

Presidents such as George Washington, Andrew Jackson, and Calvin Coolidge all saw an inextricable connection between a workable government and obedience to the Bible.

These words express a fundamental principle as powerful as the law of gravity - without God and His word, what goes up will come down. God Himself expressed this truth to the infant nation He had recently delivered from bondage.

After outlining the unimaginable blessings He would bestow on Israel in consideration of their obedience, God explained the consequences of disobedience. He did this because of His extraordinary fairness and love. Love, because by explaining the penalties for rebellion, God was discouraging the very behavior that would go totally contrary to Israel’s true happiness. God begins by returning to His great moral code and explains that just as obedience to His law brings blessings, disobedience will bring “curses.”

Through His servant Moses, the Eternal then described a state in which no nation wants to find itself. The consequences for disobeying are truly catastrophic. As a result of rebelling against God and His law, wealth will turn to poverty, strength to weakness, fame to contempt, and hope to despair. Further, there would be no place in all the land that would be exempt from God’s punishment. Whether it was commerce and industry in the city or agriculture in the country, everything will fail.

The Great God who provided for and sustained Israel then explained that if His people rebelled against Him, prosperity would be a thing of the past. None of the great abundance they knew would be left - only empty storehouses. No matter where or when they looked, the only thing they would see would be NOTHING.