Under God or Under What?
Romans 15:4
God gave Israel the Old Testament to instruct the nation and to offer her hope. The Father’s commands were designed not to ruin His children’s fun, but rather to help them avoid harm.
In Deuteronomy 8:19, we see that God holds believers accountable: He will bless and protect them, but if they turn away, they can expect His hand of judgment. Were He to operate in any other way, He would be permissive and unreliable. But we can count on God to do exactly what He says because the Bible records that is just how He interacted with His beloved nation of Israel. In fact, their history was a continuous cycle of blessing, waywardness, judgment, repentance, and blessing. If God deals with the “apple of His eye” this way, what can we expect?
Although our country was not created as a Christian nation, the Founding Fathers did structure our government on biblical principles. As a result, we have experienced abundant blessing. But as we drift and turn a deaf ear to God’s instructions, how can He continue to pour out His favor? The principles of Scripture work whether or not people heed them.
The Lord is longsuffering, but if we as a nation reach a certain stage of moral depravity and cross a “divine line,” we can expect His judgment. Is it too late? Second Chronicles 7:14 encouraged believers of that day to humble themselves, pray, seek God’s face and turn from wickedness. We must do the same. Only then will God hear from heaven and heal the land.
Daily Devotions with Dr. Charles Stanlley, InTouch Ministries