Cursed In The Midst Of Prosperity Series

America and Israel: Spiritually Connected

Part 4 – Cursed In the Midst of Prosperity

Today we are going to finish our study entitled America and Israel: Spiritually Connected. The last few weeks we’ve looked at the question “Is America Found in Bible Prophecy?” And as I’ve told you, if you are looking for a direct reference in the textual writing of the Bible, the answer is NO. There are many theories out there that place America in verses that discuss end-times prophecy and some of them are very compelling. But none of them can be accepted with complete assuredness that they are referring to the United States of America.

Then I told you where I believe America’s prophetic destiny can be found. I personally believe we can find out a lot about our country and where we may be headed by studying the ancient nation of Israel. Because America and Israel are two nations that are incredibly linked in many ways, as we’ve been seeing the last two weeks. Today we are going to continue to see where this unique connection between our two countries may prophetically lead the United States in the future.

We are going to be concentrating on the book of Deuteronomy, which is central to the Torah, and was a revelation from God to Moses. The book contains detailed instructions for living, encompassing guidelines for practical living, methods of agriculture, rules of morality, and even dietary laws. Obedience to the commands in this book results in health and prosperity for those who will follow them. If the Hebrews disobeyed the instructions, severe consequences followed. Their blessings turned into curses their successes were frustrated.

Deuteronomy 28:15, “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee.”

Now some contemporary Christians believe that the instructions in the Torah are only for the ancient Hebrews and have no bearing upon us today. But, apparently, they are unfamiliar with many references in the New Testament that come from these Old Testament books.

The basic laws that govern our nation are found in the book of Deuteronomy. Our fundamental freedoms are based on Moses’ revelation on Mt. Sinai. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights all contain phrases that originated in the first five books of the Bible. Therefore, it should not be surprising that, if America has a unique Hebrew connection, which I truly believe we do, then God’s commands to ancient Israel are also applicable for our nation.

Americans, and the church in general, seem to want to accept the blessings that were given to the Jews. But if we do that, then we must also recognize that we get the same curses for disobedience that they did. And unfortunately, many of the curses pronounced against ancient Israel by the Lord are found throughout the United States today.

I. Seven Curses Affecting America

Based on Deuteronomy 28, we can see that America is experiencing a curse in the midst of its prosperity. Notice the seven curses that overtake those who turn their backs on God and the Bible. These ancient warnings spring forth into our time and our nation.

A. The Curse of Mental Problems

The first curse can be found in Deuteronomy 28:28, “The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness and astonishment of heart.”

We are a nation cursed with mental problems. Teens in America are murdering each other in public schools, and pre-teens are raping and killing in the inner cities. A recent news report is doing an astonishing nightly report on America’s mean streets, talking about the unprecedented number of gangs and violence in our nation’s cities.

More Americans than ever depend upon anti-depressants and drugs. Depression and mental conditions plague society. While we boast of our intellectualism, mental problems increase.

What causes a mother to throw a baby into a dumpster, or a father to beat his child to death? What makes a wife hire a hit man to kill her husband, or a mother to hire a man to kill a cheerleader so her daughter can take her place? It must be a curse of madness.

B. The Curse of Drought

The second curse is found in Deuteronomy 28:23 - 24. “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron. And the Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust: from heaven shall it come down upon thee, until thou be destroyed.”

The curse of drought, causing devastation of millions of dollars worth of crops, has been in American headlines for the past few years. The words “worst drought in seventy years” should cause us to stop and think. In Scripture drought signified God’s disfavor on the nation because of sin.