The United States of America celebrates its 250th anniversary this July 4, as you probably know. It is such a milestone that celebrations of various sorts have already taken place and will continue taking place throughout the year, past that single calendar day.
As I have explained elsewhere, I possess tri-citizenship as an American, a Canadian, and a begotten son of the Kingdom of God. It is only the latter one that matters in the end—we are all spiritual descendants of Abraham if Christ is living in us. Nevertheless, I am very thankful to have been born in the U.S., and I also cherish my citizenship in Canada, where I have so many friends and fond memories from living there the better part of 14 years. And England, where I have twice lived, has a special spot in my heart as well.
Sadly, a younger generation in these countries and in others descending from Joseph has lost an understanding of its histories—both recent and ancient. As Americans, we take pride in our Constitution. As Canadians, we applaud our Charter of Rights, just as the British hold up the Magna Carta. But none of these documents can compare to God’s covenant with Israel—both physical Israel and spiritual Israel.
Humanly devised documents may sound wise, but they are exactly that—humanly devised—and man’s wisdom falls shamefully short of God’s. We read in 1 Corinthians 1:19–20 (see also Isaiah 55:8) that “it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.’ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”
How often, even amongst ourselves, we hear flawed concepts roll off our tongues as though they were sacred rights from God: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of expression. It occasionally becomes obvious, even among Church members, that democracy has strongly influenced someone’s worldview. While democratic government may temper extreme views and protect us from certain forms of abuse, it brings problems of its own, and it is not God’s form of government—and the freedoms, wills, and rights our citizens espouse do not stand up against God’s word.
God and Human Authority
In a society built on flawed concepts, we are nevertheless thankful for the freedoms we have. There are forms of government far worse than democracy, but as my unconverted father rightly observed, “It is our freedoms that will destroy us.” I still remember taking him to the National Frontier Trails Museum in Independence, Missouri, where we read a letter from a member of a wagon train heading for Oregon. Coming to a river crossing one person thought they should cross here, another thought they should cross over there, another lobbied for a different location—all suggesting an alternate crossing from the one the trail master chose. My father chuckled and remarked that human nature has never changed—everyone thinks he knows best.
God did not countenance freedom of religion in Israel (Judges 10:6–7). Of course, we can be grateful that such freedom, however corrupting overall, allows us to proclaim the truth today. But God knew our proclivity to latch onto humanly devised customs instead of His ways (Deuteronomy 12:29–32; Jeremiah 7:18). He also knew that people would marry those who worshipped other gods—and that spiritual adultery would be the result (Numbers 25:1–3; Nehemiah 13:23–27).
Neither did God countenance unrestricted speech. There was a severe penalty under the Old Covenant for children who cursed their mother or father, not to mention those who committed blasphemy and took God’s name in vain. Nor are we to speak evil of rulers and dignitaries—an admonition that many in the Church today ought to take far more seriously (Acts 23:3–5; Jude 1:8–11).
God knew that human leaders—whether parents or rulers—are far from perfect, but when people engage in condemnatory and derogatory speech against their leaders, the result will be division, rebellion, and chaos. “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves…. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake” (Romans 13:1–5). And do I even have to mention the problems brought about by unrestricted freedom of expression?
This is not to say that civil authority ever overrules God’s authority (Acts 5:29). Nor does it mean that we cannot exercise our humanly given rights under human rule (Acts 22:25–29). Most of us live in nations promoting liberal human rights, but some live under serious oppression. And even in the former, but especially in the latter, we must look to the One who “rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses” (Daniel 4:32; see also 2:21; 4:17, 37). Enduring great oppression requires faith, perseverance, and sometimes even fleeing, but we should never take it upon ourselves to overthrow what God allows. Faith is required for more than physical healing, as shown in Hebrews 11.
Birthright Blessings—For Now
Those of us born in or living in one of the Israelite countries—especially in those descended from Joseph—have much for which to give thanks, not least of which is our freedom of worship and to proclaim the true Gospel to all the world. Despite all our faults, God has used the sons of Joseph, especially the U.S., to reach far beyond our own boundaries with the true Gospel message (Matthew 24:14) and the Ezekiel warning (Ezekiel 33:1–7).
But the comfort and prosperity enjoyed by most in the U.S. will come to an end, because they have forgotten their roots—who they are, and how God brought their forefathers out of slavery and into a marriage covenant. Our people have forgotten where our strength and prosperity come from, proudly ascribing our blessings to our own efforts—exactly what God warned against.
Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them… then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’ And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:11–18).
Few in our world today realize the reasons for the great wealth and power enjoyed by the British-descended and American peoples, yet it is all there for anyone to read. “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright; yet Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph’s” (1 Chronicles 5:1–2).
Yes, the birthright has gone to Joseph—not Reuben, not Judah. But all who live in the countries that have descended from Joseph are blessed and cursed together. If you have not recently reviewed The United States and Great Britain in Prophecy, perhaps this summer, the 250th anniversary of a great but troubled nation, would be a good time to do so.