In our day, it is very common for preachers to talk about God blessing the United States of America. Even now with this blatant attack on our country the religionist are quick to say that God is cursing this nation. Some view the United States as a “Christian nation” and therefore as God’s chosen nation. Others call on America to repent so that God can send blessing on us and not pour out His wrath. Still others encourage our political leaders to support Israel so that God will bless our nation. Do all of these thoughts really represent the way God is working in the Age of Grace? Is God’s blessing today based on being a part of a special nation, or does it come in some other way?
The Blessing of Israel
We must start by understanding that God’s national blessing on Israel was just that, blessing bestowed upon the physical nation that proceeded out of Abraham.
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: Genesis 12:1,2
In the above passage, it is clear that the nation Israel was to be comprised of the physical seed of Abraham. In time, it is revealed exactly which sons of Abraham will receive the blessing promised in Genesis 12. In his epistle to the Romans, Paul explains the physical progression of the promise.
Romans 9:6-13 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed. For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth:) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, But Esau have I hated.
In this passage of Scripture, it is made very clear that the inheritance of Abraham passed to Isaac, not Ishmael, and from Isaac to Jacob, not Esau. Therefore, the physical line of inheritance is through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, in the first verse of the above passage we see an indication that the physical line is not the only issue to be considered.
Notice that verse six says that not all that are of Israel are Israel. Israel is the name that God gave to Jacob in Genesis 32:28. In other words, Paul is telling us that not all the physical descendants of Jacob are really a part of the true nation Israel. There is something more that is required. We see a glimpse of that something in the book of Deuteronomy as Moses is recounting the law to Israel.
Deuteronomy 10:15,16 Only the LORD had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiffnecked.
Notice that Moses tells Israel that in addition to their physical circumcision, which came by being descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they needed to circumcise their hearts. They needed a spiritual circumcision within. This is the message that John the Baptist was giving Israel as he came preparing the way for the coming Messiah.
Matthew 3:5-9 Then went out to him [John the Baptist] Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
The Apostle Paul further describes a “true Jew” in the book of Romans.
Romans 2:28,29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
It is this group, people who are not only physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but also are spiritually of the faith of Abraham, that are the true heirs of Abraham’s promises. This is the group of people to whom Christ, in His earthly ministry, promised the kingdom and therefore all of the inheritance of Abraham.
Matthew 21:43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [chief priests and Pharisees], and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
The true heirs of Abraham’s promise are the members of the little flock of believers that Christ called out of the nation Israel. These people are both physical and spiritual descendants of Abraham. These are the people, led by Peter and the other eleven apostles, who will rule and reign with Christ in the land when He returns to establish His kingdom.
The national promises made to the descendants of Abraham cannot be applied to the United States of America. The United States was founded, and for the most part is inhabited by, Gentiles who are not physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob. Although many in our nation are believers, and therefore spiritual children of Abraham (See Romans 4), that does not make us, or our nation, recipients of Abraham’s physical promises.
The Blessing of the Law
Another point that must be made concerning Israel’s blessing is that is was conditional. Israel’s blessing was conditioned on obedience to the Law of Moses. This principle can be clearly seen in the giving of the law in Exodus, and in Moses’ restating of the law in Deuteronomy.
Exodus 19:5,6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 6:24,25 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as it is at this day. And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us.
Notice that the key word in both passages quoted above is “if”. “If” Israel kept the law they would be a kingdom of priests. “If” Israel could “do” all the commandments they would be righteous. Perhaps the greatest single statement of the conditional nature of God’s relationship to Israel under the law is found in Deuteronomy 28.
Time does not permit us to quote the entire chapter here, but our readers would do well to read it for themselves in their own copy of God’s Word. There God gives Israel a detailed listing of exactly what He will do when they obey and what He will do when they disobey.
Many today try to take the blessings and cursings of the law and apply them to the United States of America. As we have already seen, the United State does not qualify as God’s chosen nation because we are not physical descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob.
Additionally, we live today in the Dispensation of Grace. This is a time when God does not operate based upon the performance system of the law, but rather operates based upon the principles of grace.
Romans 3:20,21,28 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; . . . Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 6:14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
In the Age of Grace, God is not blessing or cursing the United States (or any other nation or individual) based on their obedience to the law. Our blessing today comes by faith in the finished work of Christ (more on this later).
The Blessing of the Gentiles
In addition to receiving blessing from God, Israel was also to be a channel of blessing to the Gentile nations. The conditions of this blessing are set forth in the conclusion of God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12.
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 12:3
Gentile nations were to be blessed in response to their treatment of Israel. God would bless those that blessed Israel and God would curse those that cursed Israel. This principle is born out in God’s dealing with individual Gentiles, both under the law and as Jesus Christ presented the kingdom in His earthly ministry.
Under the law, Rahab the harlot received blessing from God because she blessed the nation Israel. In Joshua 2, we see the account of how Rahab hid the men that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. (See Joshua 2:1-21) Later, when God destroyed Jericho, Rahab was rewarded for her efforts on behalf of God’s nation.
Joshua 6:20-22,25 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword. But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out he country, God into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. . . . And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israeleven unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
During the earthly ministry of Christ, we see the same principle in effect in Christ’s dealing with a Roman Centurion.
And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: for he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. . . . And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. Luke 7:2-5,10
It is clear that this Gentile had blessed Israel in a very tangible way, by building them a synagogue. In response, his need was met with a blessing from Jesus Christ.
Perhaps the most significant example of Gentiles being blessed based on their treatment of Israel is found in the separation of the sheep and goat nations at the return of Christ to establish His kingdom. (See Matthew 25:31-46.)
In this passage, the Gentile nations are either welcomed into the kingdom or cast into everlasting fire based on how they treated Israel during the tribulation period. Surely, this is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham.
Today, it would be impossible for God to bless America based on our treatment of Israel. In God’s eyes there is no Israel today, no Jew or Gentile.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:27,28
We should point out that when we say that in God’s eyes there is no Israel, we are not saying that God does not realize that the nation Israel exists. What we are saying however, is that God’s blessing is in no way tied to Israel’s identity as a nation. For example, the verses quoted above are not saying that there is no such thing as male or female today, they are saying that God’s blessing is in no way tied to an individual’s identity as male or female. Since God’s blessing is in no way tied to Israel’s identity as a nation, neither can it be tied to the Gentiles treatment of that nation.
The Blessing of the Body of Christ
If blessing today is not based on being a part of any nation, or treating a certain nation in any particular way, then how does blessing come? How can we receive the blessing of God?
In the first chapter of the book Ephesians, Paul explains in no uncertain terms where our blessing resides.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places IN CHRIST: According as he hath chosen us IN HIM before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children BY JESUS CHRIST to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted IN THE BELOVED. IN WHOM we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Ephesians 1:3-7
In this Age of Grace, our election, our adoption, our acceptance, our redemption, our forgiveness, in fact, all of our blessings, reside in the person of Christ. We access that blessing by becoming one with Christ. Our identification with Christ, and the blessing that it brings us, is a theme that runs throughout Paul’s epistles.
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Romans 8:32
For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21
And be found in him [Christ], not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: Philippians 3:9
For in him [Jesus Christ] dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: Colossians 2:9,10
Clearly, the source of our blessing today is not in being a part of a nation, it is in becoming one with Christ by becoming a part of the Church, the Body of Christ.
Only one question then remains to be answered. How can we become a part of the Body of Christ? The good news of grace is that becoming a part of the Body of Christ takes absolutely no effort on our part. All that is necessary is for us to place our faith in what Christ has done for us.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: I Corinthians 15:3,4
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1,2
Trusting in the finished work of Christ at Calvary makes us a part of the Body of Christ and gives us access to all the blessings of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Conclusion – God’s Blessing on America
God is not blessing America, or any other nation, in the Age of Grace as He blessed Israel in time past. Today God is blessing those that come to him by faith in Christ. As those believers proclaim the message of grace, it will undoubtedly have an effect and impact on the society and culture of their nation. This however, is far different from the direct, supernatural blessing that God bestowed on Israel. God’s blessing today is found in the person of Christ. If we want the citizens of our nation to be blessed then we should be doing all we can to proclaim the gospel of the grace of God. Believing that message of salvation is the only course to blessing today.