Rise and Fall of Nations
Throughout the history of Israel whenever a godly king would reign and follow God’s commands, the nation would experience prosperity and dominion. The adverse was also true that whenever a wicked king would reign and break God’s commands they would experience poverty and destruction and subjugation to foreign powers. The key factor to any nation experiencing lasting prosperity is doing what is pleasing in God’s sight in order to incur God’s continued favor and blessing and prosperity. It is the moral foundation of God’s word that provides the launching pad for national promotion and blessing that comes from God alone. Without a moral foundation no country can prosper because it is like building a tall building upon loose sand without a firm foundation underneath.
See the link “National Moral Failure” for more details.
God’s Blessing on Abram – Prior to the Formation of the Nation of Israel
Genesis 13:2 (NASB95)
2 Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver and in gold.
Abram was the father of the entire Jewish race and he was rich in livestock and in silver and gold. This wealth came from the blessing of God upon his life because Abram feared God and kept God’s commands.
Genesis 14:23 (NASB95)
23 that I will not take a thread or a sandal thong or anything that is yours, for fear you would say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’
After Abram returned from defeating the invading kings that raided the land, he said that he would never accept any of the plunder (that formerly belonged to the defeated kings) so that they might not say that they were the ones to have made Abram rich. Abram did this because he wanted to give all glory (credit due) to God for only God has the power to make someone rich.
Satanic Reservoirs verses Men Blessed by God
People should not be confused when they see an wicked man prosper because such men are not prospered by God but instead serve as satanic reservoirs (to hold wealth and keep it out of the hands of people and thus create poverty). George Soros is an example of this because he got wealthy by “by transfer wealth” when he shorted the British pound and got rich from this action. But after George Soros had millions he would typically use this wealth to fund everything that is evil on the earth and to support godless people to occupy positions of civil authority in order to destroy Judeo/Christian culture. Wicked rich men only use wealth to fund that which is evil on the earth.
See the link “Dark Money Verses Wealth Creation” for more details.
Another example is that of Kim Jung Un of North Korea who spends all of his wealth on building nuke bombs in order to protect his position as dictator. He does this while his own people are starving to death. The same is true of the Islamic terrorist regime that seized control of Iran in 1979 and spend all of their oil wealth funding terrorist groups in the middle east and building missiles and drones and trying to produce a nuke to destroy both Israel and the US. Wicked men take money away from the people and use it for evil purposes to create anarchy and unrest and wars upon earth.
Psalm 37:35–36 (NASB95)
35 I have seen a wicked, violent man Spreading himself like a luxuriant tree in its native soil.
36 Then he passed away, and lo, he was no more; I sought for him, but he could not be found.
David speaks of the wicked rich men who seem to flourish like a luxuriant spreading tree planted in native soil. But these wicked men will soon pass away because their wealth and power is only temporal and when they perish they will leave nothing of value behind them.
Psalm 37:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.
2 For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb.
David said that we should not fret because of evildoers and those who seem to prosper and have unlimited power to oppress. We should never be envious of these rich wrongdoers because their time of judgment is coming. These wicked rich men will wither quickly like grass that dries up or like the green herb that withers away.
Men like Nicolas Maduro once ruled the nation of Venezuela and now he is gone from leadership and his evil power and control has come to an end. Other wicked regimes like that of Cuba and Iran (which hold their citizens in poverty and oppression) will soon come to an end as well.
All of these regimes are examples of evil men in control that only serve themselves and cause poverty and misery and oppression on the earth.
Psalm 37:34 (NASB95)
34 Wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it.
As believers we are to wait for God to prosper us and keep God’s way. In doing so we will be exalted by God to inherit the land. We are to be patient and when the wicked are cut off by God we will see it with our own eyes.
Judgment of God Comes after Fullness of Sin is Reached
Genesis 15:16 (NIV84)
16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
The pagan tribes living in the Promised Land were given time to repent of their wicked ways of breaking all of God’s laws. God gave these wicked people four generations to turn from their wicked behavior. But each generation of heathen people became increasingly worse that the generation before it. So by the time that Joshua entered the Promised Land these godless people had reached the full measure of their depravity. It was at this time that they were destroyed utterly.
So there are times that God’s judgment may be delayed but often this is due to God’s mercy giving wicked people time to repent before they reach the point where they must be utterly destroyed and made extinct.
2 Peter 3:9 (NASB95)
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
So believers should not fret when they see wicked people thriving and doing evil and seemingly escaping judgment. There time of judgment will come and they only exist at all because God is being slow in judgment as he waits for them to repent.
Jonah 3:3–10 (NASB95)
3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk.
4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”
5 Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them.
6 When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes.
7 He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.
8 “But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.
9 “Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”
10 When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.
Solar Eclipse Terrorized Ninevites at the Preaching of Jonah
Note: Clicking on the image below will open the associated stored video:
The large city of Nineveh was scheduled to be utterly destroyed by God because their wickedness was rampant and unchecked. God sent Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh and call them to repent and to warn them of coming destruction. In fact, NASA records show that at the time of the preaching of Jonah there was a solar eclipse that completely put the city in utter darkness. The combination of the sun turning dark at mid-day after Jonah warned them of judgement had terrorized the Ninevites and so they all repented from the least to the greatest of them at the preaching of Jonah.
Jonah 4:11 (NASB95)
11 “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”
God had compassion upon the godless people of Nineveh and even arranged a solar eclipse at the time Jonah arrived and preached to them to repent. This had great effect and got their attention and caused all of them to repent – from the greatest to the least of them. So if judgment is delayed for wicked people it is often the result of God’s mercy waiting for them to repent and turn from their evil deeds. Never should it be misunderstood that wicked rich men are blessed by God or that God allows them to prosper. These wicked men only exist because God is waiting for them to come to repentance before he sends destruction upon them.
Psalm 37:3–5 (NASB95)
3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Those who trust in the Lord will do good and dwell in the land and God will give them the desires of their heart. Again, it should be emphasized that God has the power to give wealth and prosperity to his people.
Deuteronomy 8:18 (NASB95)
18 “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
God gives his people the power to make wealth so that he can confirm his covenant on the earth by promoting those who are godly. Godless people only fund that which is evil and hoard wealth to keep it away from prospering others. Godly men create wealth and are a blessing to everyone around them.
Creating Increase for Others
Genesis 26:18 (NASB95)
18 Then Isaac dug again the wells of water which had been dug in the days of his father Abraham, for the Philistines had stopped them up after the death of Abraham; and he gave them the same names which his father had given them.
In the days of Abraham he dug wells which are essential for livestock and people and crops. But the godless Philistines stopped up these wells with earth to stop the prosperity that depends upon water from these wells. Godless people will stop prosperity while godly people create prosperity (as in the case of digging wells).
Genesis 26:19–20 (NASB95)
19 But when Isaac’s servants dug in the valley and found there a well of flowing water,
20 the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with the herdsmen of Isaac, saying, “The water is ours!” So he named the well Esek, because they contended with him.
Isaac followed the example of his father Abraham and dug wells also. But when his men dug a well of flowing water then the local people quarreled over it and claimed it for themselves. Such wicked people always try to steal the prosperity created by godly people.
Genesis 26:21 (NASB95)
21 Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over it too, so he named it Sitnah.
Again, the men of Isaac dug yet another well but godless people wanted to seize that for themselves also.
Genesis 26:22 (NASB95)
22 He moved away from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it; so he named it Rehoboth, for he said, “At last the LORD has made room for us, and we will be fruitful in the land.”
Then for a third time Isaac dug a new well and finally no one quarreled over it to seize it from him. Isaac dug enough wells to meet the water needs for others living in that land. This displays the godly character of those who fear God because they are a blessing to all those around them. Wicked men are selfish and want to keep all of the wealth to themselves or steal the wealth created by others. Godly people cause increase for everyone just as Abraham and his son Isaac and later Jacob and his twelve sons also did.
Wait on God for His Prosperity
Godly men can wait on the Lord to prosper them rather than relying solely on human self-effort to become prosperous. The Sabbath day principle is such that men are to do their part for six-days a week in plowing and planting and cultivating and harvesting but on the seventh day they rest in God by faith to give them the increase. Thus they know it was God to gave the increase after they did their part as humans. They are working together with God but it is ultimately the God of Israel who blesses them and causes them to prosper and blesses the work of their hands.
Psalm 37:7 (NASB95)
7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.
Godly people are to rest in the Lord by faith and wait patiently for Him and they are not to fret when they see wicked men seem to prosper because unrighteous prosperity will soon dry up without God’s blessing. Only God can produce lasting prosperity like the generational wealth that flowed with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and his twelves sons that made up the nation of Israel.
Example of Four Kings
1 Chronicles 3:13–14 (NASB95)
13 Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
14 Amon his son, Josiah his son.
King Hezekiah was a godly king but his son Manasseh was as wicked king and his son Amon was also wicked and finally King Josiah was a godly king. In this example there were two godly kings and two wicked kings in the same lineage of four descendants.
Godly King Hezekiah was Prospered by God
2 Chronicles 29:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Hezekiah became king when he was twenty-five years old; and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Abijah, the daughter of Zechariah.
2 He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done.
Hezekiah was a godly king who did that which was right in the the sight of God.
2 Chronicles 32:27–29 (NASB95)
27 Now Hezekiah had immense riches and honor; and he made for himself treasuries for silver, gold, precious stones, spices, shields and all kinds of valuable articles,
28 storehouses also for the produce of grain, wine and oil, pens for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds for the flocks.
29 He made cities for himself and acquired flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great wealth.
God prospered King Hezekiah because Hezekiah obeyed God and did that which was pleasing in the sight of God.
Wicked King Manasseh was Cursed for Doing Evil in God’s Sight
2 Chronicles 33:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.
2 He did evil in the sight of the LORD according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD dispossessed before the sons of Israel.
King Manasseh did that which was evil in the sight of God and brought a curse of desolation and ruination upon his own nation.
2 Kings 21:11–16 (NASB95)
11 “Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these abominations, having done wickedly more than all the Amorites did who were before him, and has also made Judah sin with his idols;
12 therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am bringing such calamity on Jerusalem and Judah, that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.
13 ‘I will stretch over Jerusalem the line of Samaria and the plummet of the house of Ahab, and I will wipe Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down.
14 ‘I will abandon the remnant of My inheritance and deliver them into the hand of their enemies, and they will become as plunder and spoil to all their enemies;
15 because they have done evil in My sight, and have been provoking Me to anger since the day their fathers came from Egypt, even to this day.’ ”
16 Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; besides his sin with which he made Judah sin, in doing evil in the sight of the LORD.
God brought total destruction and judgment upon the nation and the country experienced war and famine and pestilence and was destroyed completely and came to complete ruination. Throughout the history of Israel whenever a wicked king ruled – then the country experienced the curse of destruction and judgment which came upon the land. One of the greatest factors of poverty and misery and destruction is the “sin factor” which brings a curse upon the nations.
Sin of Achan Brought a Curse to the Entire Nation
Joshua 7:11–12 (NASB95)
11 “Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things under the ban and have both stolen and deceived. Moreover, they have also put them among their own things.
12 “Therefore the sons of Israel cannot stand before their enemies; they turn their backs before their enemies, for they have become accursed. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy the things under the ban from your midst.
Sin in the camp brought a curse and destruction and defeat before their enemies. Sin is a major factor in causing a curse to any people just as in the case of Achan who brought a curse upon the entire congregation because of his sin.
Joshua 7:13 (NASB95)
13 “Rise up! Consecrate the people and say, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus the LORD, the God of Israel, has said, “There are things under the ban in your midst, O Israel. You cannot stand before your enemies until you have removed the things under the ban from your midst.”
The nation of Israel could not stand before their enemies until they removed the sin from among them.
Joshua 7:24–26 (NASB95)
24 Then Joshua and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the mantle, the bar of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent and all that belonged to him; and they brought them up to the valley of Achor.
25 Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? The LORD will trouble you this day.” And all Israel stoned them with stones; and they burned them with fire after they had stoned them with stones.
26 They raised over him a great heap of stones that stands to this day, and the LORD turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore the name of that place has been called the valley of Achor to this day.
This story shows that sin is a disgrace to any people and sin brings a curse. Many soldiers died in battle when one man sinned and brought a curse upon the entire congregation. This is why Joshua was a strong leader and did what was right because he knew that sin in the camp would make everyone liable to destruction. If people obey God they will have God’s blessing and favor and protection but if they sin against God they will bring judgment upon themselves. The same is true for any congregation or group of people because righteousness will cause them to be prospered by God and wickedness will cause them to be cursed by God.
Amon Followed the Wicked Example of his Father Manasseh and Brought a Curse to the Nation
2 Chronicles 33:20 (NASB95)
20 So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house. And Amon his son became king in his place.
Manasseh brought destruction and desolation upon his nation by breaking all of God’s laws in brazen manner. When Manasseh passed away then his son Amon took over. But Amon was also wicked in God’s sight just as his father had been.
2 Chronicles 33:22–23 (NASB95)
22 He did evil in the sight of the LORD as Manasseh his father had done, and Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.
23 Moreover, he did not humble himself before the LORD as his father Manasseh had done, but Amon multiplied guilt.
So Amon was leading his country down the same road of curse and destruction as his father Manasseh had already done.
2 Chronicles 33:21–22 (NASB95)
21 Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 He did evil in the sight of the LORD as Manasseh his father had done, and Amon sacrificed to all the carved images which his father Manasseh had made, and he served them.
Amon reigned only two years because he was wicked so his life was cut short in order to save the nation from utter ruination and destruction by God’s judgment.
2 Chronicles 33:24–25 (NASB95)
24 Finally his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house.
25 But the people of the land killed all the conspirators against King Amon, and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.
It was soon clear that the nation was headed toward complete ruination under the leadership of Amon – who brought a curse by breaking God’s laws. So the servants of Amon conspired together to end this menace and put him to death before it went any further. They assassinated this wicked king just to spare the nation from complete annihilation. Repeatedly it can be seen throughout the history of Israel that whenever any wicked king reigned who broke God’s laws that this sin brought a curse upon the nation and they were destroyed by war and famine and pestilence. The land become a complete desolation due to the sin of these wicked kings who brought the entire nation under a curse from God.
Josiah was a Godly King who Restored God’s Blessing to the Nation
2 Chronicles 34:1–2 (NASB95)
1 Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.
2 He did right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or to the left.
Josiah purged the land of idolatry and restored the temple and the worship of the God of Israel and did everything that was pleasing in God’s sight. He was prospered and blessed during his lifetime.
2 Kings 22:18–20 (NASB95)
18 “But to the king of Judah who sent you to inquire of the LORD thus shall you say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel, “Regarding the words which you have heard,
19 because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants that they should become a desolation and a curse, and you have torn your clothes and wept before Me, I truly have heard you,” declares the LORD.
20 “Therefore, behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see all the evil which I will bring on this place.” ’ ” So they brought back word to the king.
But nevertheless the sins that were caused by his fathers before him (both Manasseh and Amon) required that the judgment of God would bring destruction. But because Josiah humbled himself before God and did what was right in God’s sight – God did not bring the judgment during his lifetime. That judgment would come after Josiah had passed away so he would not see the evil which God would bring upon the nation over the rampant sin that had take place prior to the reign of Josiah.
Sin must be paid for so the wickedness of the people in breaking God’s laws requires judgment. This is why wicked kings would bring a curse upon the land by leading their people to do what is wicked in God’s sight. A righteous king like Hezekiah and his grandson Josiah brought peace and prosperity and blessing to the land by incurring God’s favor and blessing. They did what was right and kept God’s commands and this is a main factor in any nation experiencing promotion and prosperity.
There are numerous biblical examples of how God’s blessing came upon a nation under the godly leadership of righteous kings and how judgement and destruction came upon then nation by the actions if wicked kings who broke God’s laws.
Yet until present times few people even consider that the most important factor in causing a nation to prosper is to obey God’s laws and do that which is pleasing in God’s sight. This is why the study of God’s word is essential in nation building so that the people will know how to incur God’s favor and blessing.
Teaching the People God’s Word as Part of Nation Building
Ezra 7:25–26 (NASB95)
25 “You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges that they may judge all the people who are in the province beyond the River, even all those who know the laws of your God; and you may teach anyone who is ignorant of them.
26 “Whoever will not observe the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed upon him strictly, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of goods or for imprisonment.”
Ezra was authorized to go back to Israel and rebuild the nation. Ezra went back and made sure that the teaching of God’s laws foremost in educating the people. The king even issued an edict that anyone who did not obey God’s laws would be punished. This king understood that a nation cannot progress if they are passive with rampant sin. It was sin that caused the nation to become totally destroyed and made into a desolate wasteland. So they taught God’s word so people would know how to please God and incur God’s favor and blessing.
Nehemiah 8:2–3 (NASB95)
2 Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month.
3 He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law.
Ezra brought a copy of God’s law (Jewish Torah) before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. Ezra read from God’s law before the people from morning to midday and the people were attentive to listen to the book of the law. These returning exiles understood that their nation has been completely destroyed because of the sin of breaking God’s laws. They did not want to anger God again so they were attentive to read listen to God’s word and obey it. Therefore, the most important part of nation building is laying a moral foundation in the hearts of people by teaching them the word of God. God’s word the bible gives moral instruction and guidance and everything they need to know in order to incur God’s blessing and favor so they will have a nation that is prospered by God.
Teaching God’s Word to Establish a Strong Moral Foundation
This is also our goal to put the teaching of God’s word first place so that we can establish a moral foundation within the hearts of the people. This is what brings the blessings of God upon any group of people or society or nation. Never should anyone overlook the most important factor in obtaining national blessing -which is the study and application of God’s word. God’s word provides guidance and direction and leads the people down the path of righteousness so that they can prosper and be blessed by God in accordance to their obedience to God’s word.