It is widely discussed and acknowledged among evangelical circles that God has tremendously blessed the United States. That our protection and prosperity is Providential is widely accepted. But on what basis has God blessed our nation and how much of His blessing is still flowing? 

I personally believe that a portion of God’s blessing still remains on the United States and that it is for different reasons than when we were first founded as a nation. 

When we were founded as a nation, there was plenty of denominational diversity, but very little religious diversity. We were almost entirely made up of different denominations of Christians with the exception of a small Jewish community. 

A Christian Founding

We were a staunchly Christian nation, but without the intolerance of Europe where many true believers had been martyred for bucking the various state churches. Not only this, but our nation was dedicated to God by our leaders at it’s inception. 

This latter fact, of course can be a double edged sword. It has been the cause of God’s blessing throughout our nation’s early years while we remained a nation of morals and Christian ethics. But as we fell away from our first love of God, His blessing diminished. 

A Nation Divided

For example, we are only the United States of America by name. No longer are we truly united. There is a tremendous amount of civil strife. We don’t take our financial security for granted anymore because of economic challenges we’ve had. We no longer take our national security for granted, since 9/11. God has removed some of His hedge of protection. He has given many over to depraved minds, embracing unnatural sexual attractions and transgenderism. There is increased violence, rebellion and feminism. We’ve been given evil leaders. 

These are all examples of God’s diminished blessing and His active judgement against us. However, there remains a portion of God’s blessing that somehow keeps us in prosperity and keeps us from falling apart completely. Part of this may be based on the fact that we haven’t used up all His patience with our abominations. He may remember our founding and continue some of His blessing for that reason. But I think there may be another reason. 

National Support For Israel

It seems to me that God’s blessing remains to a degree, but it hangs on one simple fact about us. And if this particular thing about us changes, we may completely lose His blessing. That one thing is our official support for Israel. 

You see, unlike any other nation, God made an everlasting covenant with Israel. 

Genesis 17:7-8 ⁷ And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. ⁸ And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”

There are other covenants God made with Israel, but this establishes my point that God made an unconditional covenant with the people of Israel and that it is still in effect today. Israelites have turned away from God many times and His judgement followed. But God never cut them off from the promises He made to them. Most of them are alienated from Messiah, and, yet, there remains an unconditional Covenant with them that God remembers. 

Israel’s Blessing Becomes Our Blessing, Too

So, what does that have to do with us as American Gentiles? 

Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” – ESV 

Numbers 24:9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion 

                          and like a lioness; who will rouse him up?
                          Blessed are those who bless you,
                          and cursed are those who curse you.” – ESV 

So, we see that there is a blessing attached to those who bless Israel and a curse on those who curse Israel. Each person has an individual responsibility to bless Israel if he wants the promised blessing. But this can apply to nations as well. From the earliest days of Israel’s reestablishment in 1948, the United States has arguably been its greatest ally. 

The Mixed Blessing

Ironically, it was shortly after this that the United States began to decline morally. Nonetheless, it is also around this time that we were starting to be considered a super-power around the world. And we have kept this status ever since. So, we have had the blessing of supporting Israel, but the judgement of God remains on our sins and abominations. 

In Summary

There is a lot of anti-Semitism in our nation right now. Let’s pray for that to change. And let’s pray our leaders don’t bend to this pressure, but keep supporting Israel. And let’s also personally keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem as we were instructed in Psalm 122:6. 

Let’s also pray for national repentance here in America. The blessing of God on our nation is hanging by a thread. We need to not only support Israel, but return to the God of Israel ourselves if we want to see the full blessing of God once more.