Why has the United States been the recipient of so much terror and pain in not only this attack, but also others in the past few years? Why has the United States, the world’s only remaining “superpower,” been targeted by multiple terrorist organizations for such atrocities? What is it about our great nation that has provoked such terror against us? The citizens of the United States and the free world, shocked and appalled by the unprovoked terrorist attacks upon the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and the people of America, are now asking who, how, and most importantly why has this happened to America?

Is this attack about religion? Is the attack about Islam against Christianity and Judaism? Is freedom being attacked? Do the terrorists hate democracy? Is God involved in these attacks in any way? All these have been put forth as reasons for the attack on America.

In a thorough documentary on the Discovery channel several days after the attacks, television journalist Forrest Sawyer presented a program titled, “Who Are The Terrorists?” The program clearly showed these attacks came from extreme Islamic radical fundamentalists who do not represent mainstream Islam or the tenets of the Koran. These radicals believe America has polluted their holy lands. They have set themselves to cleanse the world of America, whom they call, “The Great Satan.”

Many in the media and in the national leadership have presumed that our close alliance with Israel has invited the anger and the hatred of the Islamic world. Many have questioned if our policies toward the besieged Israeli state should be changed. Would a radical change in U.S. foreign policy prevent this kind of terror in our cities? Certainly our involvement with Israel does increase our risk of attack. Instead of our political association, it is in our ethnic and national links with the citizens of Israel where we find the ancient answer to our all too modern question – Why?

This nation, as the only “superpower” left in the world, has enjoyed protection from these kinds of attacks for our entire history. Now we’re left wondering why. Did they attack us because of our religion or because of our freedom? Was it because they hate democracy or our lifestyle? The nation is searching for answers.We must look closely to discern the real reasons behind these attacks.

Some have dared to wonder if God Himself may actually be involved. Is it possible that an ancient religious book can answer these questions?

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is a loving God, a compassionate, protective Father who wants to bless His children and keep them safe. He is also a jealous God and will not be mocked. God tells us that whatsoever we sow, that also shall we reap.

We, as a nation, have enjoyed God’s protection. In our comparatively short history of 225 years, we have gone from a nation who took what God said seriously and appreciated His blessings to a nation which expects God’s blessings yet refuses to do what He says.

Historically, whenever God’s people rebelled and turned from Him, He removed His protection.

Deuternomy 28:13-15 “And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. 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” (KJV).

When something evil of this magnitude occurs, those who believe our blessings and special protection come from God naturally turn to Him for answers. America has always considered herself special in God’s eyes. “God Bless America” is our national patriotic hymn. Most people in America believe this truly is God’s country. Yet when evil is visited upon this nation, no one wants to consider that we, individually and as a nation, may have some changing and overcoming to do.

By the time God spoke to His nation Israel, through His prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 1:1-8), He had been working patiently with Israel for about 250 years. Through His prophets God has always called His people to humble themselves and turn from their evil ways. The scripture says, "For they served idols … yet the Lord testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes" (2 Kings 17:12-13).

The rest of this chapter shows Israel did not listen and God became very angry with His people. Eventually, the nation of Israel went into captivity.

In the face of current suffering and grieving, these are hard things to consider. Every Christian knows God is a loving God. He takes no pleasure in the death of evildoers.

Everyone knows that God did not drive those airplanes into the towers or the Pentagon and God does not cause poison to be spread about. The ghastly truth is that God did allow those things to happen.

Those poor souls who were killed in the attacks did not deserve to die any more than anyone else does, but we have to ask the hard question: If God could have prevented those things from happening, why didn’t He?

When God was dealing with the Old Testament nation of Israel, He allowed that nation to go into captivity for disobedience to Him. Whether God is dealing with an individual or with a nation, there are consequences for disobedience.

If we truly feel we are, “One Nation, Under God,” then perhaps we should examine our behavior, both individually and collectively. Shouldn’t we strive to become more like we were when it was obvious that God had His protective hand over us in a more complete way than is evident today?

If we don’t truly change our ways and turn to God, then our nation will suffer the same fate that ancient Israel suffered. As we will see in the next few pages, we are tied to the ancient nation of Israel in a way unsuspected by most, but revealed by God to those upon whom the “latter days” have fallen.

Do our leaders cause us to err?

On the morning of Tuesday, Sept.12, the Senate Majority Leader, angry and defiant in the face of these attacks, spoke to the Senate and quoted from Scripture.He was, no doubt, unaware of the context of these scriptures. He said, “The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will change them into cedars” (Isaiah 9:10, KJV). If we read this verse in context, we see that a terrible and dreadful fate will befall those who speak these words and have this prideful attitude.

The strength of our country does not ultimately reside in the power of our government leaders or armed forces. If we are not in God’s hands then ultimately nothing we do will defeat our enemies. This is what the scripture means when it says, “For the leaders of this people cause them to err.” When our leaders are not directing the people to seek God and His ways, but instead speak great swelling words of pride and self-sufficiency in times of trouble, then the nation marches off into error.

Historically, Samaria was the capital city of the northern tribes of Israel (including the peoples of Ephraim and Manasseh) and was the equivalent of Washington or London. The leaders in Samaria spoke the same words of arrogance as was spoken on the floor of the U.S. Senate. The leaders of that day did not remember the God who brought them into the Promised Land and to national greatness among the nations of the world

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What was the fate of the children of Israel? They were ultimately carried into captivity where they stayed in bondage for many years in Assyria and Babylon. Is America in danger now of falling into the same trap? Have we now forgotten the God of our fathers who brought forth this nation and helped us build our government upon His laws and His commandments? Have we turned our backs on the God who gave us this precious gift of Liberty?

Living God’s way brings blessings and protection, (Deuteronomy 28:1-13). Breaking

God’s laws brings the opposite result. The most serious of these consequences is the removal of God’s protective hedge against an evil world, (Isaiah 5:5).

It may surprise you to learn that America and her sister nations around the world, such as England, Australia, and many others, have a common heritage with the modern day nation of Israel. This commonality is both ethnic and spiritual. In the beginning God began to establish a nation which would serve Him as a holy people, a God-fearing people.

Genesis 2:1-3 “Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (NKJ).

And so begins the story of the ancient patriarch Abram who was later renamed Abraham by God because he was to be the, “Father of Many Nations” (Genesis 17:5). After many years of wandering across the wilderness of the Middle East, Abraham and his wife Sarah were given a son, Isaac (Genesis 21:1-5). God made Abraham a promise that through this son, Isaac, He would multiply Abraham’s seed to national greatness. Specifically, those descendants of Abraham would be called by the name Isaac.

Many have heard of these events and are familiar with them as being the birth of the Jewish people. However, if we look a little deeper into scripture, we find that 13 separate and distinct nations were ultimately born of Abraham’s seed, and the United States of America is one of them!

Abraham’s son Isaac had two sons, Esau and Jacob. It was through the younger son Jacob (whom God renamed “Israel”) that He would establish a people as a servant nation to be a light to all nations of the world and bring them to Himself and to His truth. Jacob, or Israel as he became known, had twelve sons. These sons were Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Most people know the story of how Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Joseph ended up in Egypt and was later followed there by all eleven of his brothers, their father, and all their families.

Joseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. God promised that the descendants of these two young men would receive the greatest material and spiritual blessings the world has ever seen! In Genesis 48:10-20 this promise is laid out in remarkable detail. “And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.”

Joseph’s father, Israel, blessed these two sons by saying that his name would be named on them and that one of these boys would become a “great nation” and the other would become a “multitude of nations.”

Incredible as it may sound, God’s promise to his friend Abraham and His continual promises to Isaac, Jacob (also known as Israel) and Joseph must have been fulfilled at some point in history. Yet, where do we find this “Great Nation” and “Multitude of Nations” in the history of the world? None other than the United States and the British Commonwealth.

Some may ask what do these ancient tribes of Israel have to do with me? The apostle Paul answers that question in Galatians 3:29 “And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” God began a special relationship with a man He called Abraham and promised him national blessings for his children as we have seen. If we are God’s people today then we are part of His family. We are the inheritors of Abraham’s blessings, regardless of race or ethnicity, if we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord. This nation is special to God and so are its people. He wants us all to turn our lives around and be restored to Him through His son Jesus Christ.

Ask yourself this question: Can the Bible, the very word of God, ignore the modern and most powerful nations in the history of this planet? As any scholar of history will affirm, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and the United States of America have been the most powerful and influential nations ever known to man. Their wealth and influence have exceeded all others. (Allen, J.H., Judah’s Scepter & Joseph’s Birthright).

It seems incredible, but indeed God has brought about the fulfillment of His word through the United States and Great Britain, as well as their other brother nations. When we look at world history, we can clearly see the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh are alive and prospering, fully receiving the blessings God promised so long ago.

The British Empire was quite literally the greatest and most powerful empire the world had ever seen. It comprised more than 127 countries at its height. As Britain waned, the United States, the greatest single nation the world has ever seen, replaced the British Empire as the world’s only freedom loving superpower. That superpower status is now in trouble.

During their sojourn in Egypt, the twelve tribes of Israel (progeny of Jacob’s twelve sons) eventually became vassals or servants to the Egyptians. As a result, we have the incredible story of the Exodus where God used Moses to bring these offspring of Abraham out of captivity and make of them a special nation.

This in part explains why the United States has such a close relationship with the modern state of Israel. Today’s nation of Israel is populated predominantly by those descended from the single tribe of Judah. The remaining tribes can be found at various other locations throughout the world, including the United States and Great Britain.

After God rescued the children of Israel, He made a special agreement with them. He wanted a nation that He could call His own, one that He could use as an example to all the nations of the world. “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:5-6 NKJ).

The context of this agreement is detailed in Deuteronomy 28:1-23. God proposed this idea to Israel and they agreed to His conditions. As a result, they were guaranteed certain blessings for obedience to the laws of God. These blessings included fantastic crops, healthy families, and wealth beyond measure. By the same token, however, if at any point they rebelled against God, then they would suffer.

For many years all the twelve tribes of Israel were careful to follow God’s instructions and had a close relationship with Him. The time came when they forgot the special agreement they had made with the One who saved them from Egypt. They began to do things their own way rather than God’s way. They suffered.

Isaiah 5:24-25 “Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still” (KJV).

Quite simply, we have forsaken the God who gave us our blessings. We have flouted His precious laws that brought forth upon this continent a new and free nation. We have rejected the God of our Fathers. We have rejected our heritage and our responsibility towards the holy covenant that our forefathers swore to uphold and live by. We have sinned!

The terror, the death, the pain, the loss of wealth, security and freedom that now exist and that will continue, these we owe to our national sin and disobedience.

We have failed to protect the unborn. We have failed to teach our children about the God who made us. We have failed to execute justice and fair judgment in our courts. Our leaders have stripped us of our freedom through burdensome taxes and usury. We have put our trust in money and wealth and technology instead of the God who gave it. We have tolerated and encouraged homosexual relationships. We have found pleasure in every kind of sexual depravity known to man. We have elected leaders who are companions of thieves, who love gifts and follow after money instead of leading in righteousness (Isaiah 1:23-24). We have utterly lost our way and we have taken the glorious liberty of the sons of the true God and exchanged it for the sinful pleasures of the god of this world, Satan the devil (2 Corinthians 4:4).

Make no mistake, God has been more than patient. He has sent us many men and women to warn us of our impending doom and now God has finally had enough. Just as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, we too have fallen into the hands of the living God. He has removed from us the protection and the shield because we have forgotten Him. We have denied Him as our Father. Through our own disregarding of the natural laws of God we have heaped upon ourselves a harvest of bitter fruit.

Deuteronomy 28:24-25 “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 LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth” (KJV).

Could there be more fitting words to describe the terror of September 11, 2001? Quite literally a day that was filled with cursing in the capital cities of our nation, with blastings of terror and the fireballs of jet fuel.

The heavens above New York were filled with debris of brass and steel and concrete and out of the clear blue sky it rained dust and powder and many of our brothers and sisters were indeed destroyed. We have without a doubt been smitten before our enemies.

Again in Deuteronomy 28:45-50 the amazing fulfillment of biblical prophecy takes place before our eyes:

Deuteronomy 28:45-50 "Moreover all these curses shall come upon you and pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. And they shall be upon you for a sign and a wonder, and on your descendants forever. Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, therefore you shall serve your enemies, whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in need of everything; and He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until He has destroyed you. The LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flies, a nation whose language you will not understand, a nation of fierce countenance, which does not respect the elderly nor show favor to the young” (NKJ).

How then can we escape? If we have indeed been weighed in the balance and found wanting, what can we do?

So far our military is still intact. Our immediate ability to wage war is not diminished. But we must, in our response to this attack, remember that this is just the first small attack which God has allowed to penetrate His wall of protection around us.

Because of His abundant mercy, He is working out a plan of salvation for both this nation and all the descendants of Israel, as well as the rest of Adam’s fallen race. And therein lies our hope. The God who brought us into being as a people and a nation is a merciful God. He is slow to anger and quick to bless. And we can be certain that the God of Israel was weeping for His people murdered in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

God our Father sent His Son to this earth to save us from sin and from the fruit of our lawlessness. God our Father is a just God, a God who loves truth and mercy and humble obedience to Him, not for His benefit, but for ours.

For the answer to the question of what must America do now to restore God’s blessings and protection please read the next article in this series or download the PDF version. (Acrobat Reader Required)

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