Blessed Or Cursed?

"The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways...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." 

 Deuteronomy 28:7-25

America was blessed for many years with a military that just could not be beaten! The outcome of every battle was decisive and definitive. There was no doubt as to whether victory was accomplished. One could dare say that great times of divine direction led us to many triumphs. For instance, our victory at Midway turned the tide of the war in the Pacific. The Japanese Navy was never able to recover from the loss of the four carriers that were destroyed there, and the whole battle seems to have been a case of little things causing a big win. In both World Wars, when the US entered things changed! Though many could claim the Korean Conflict as a victory recent news events should make us question that assumption. What changed?

Vietnam was an embarrassment! What was going on in the nation at this time? The Christian values of the nation were in question. Any history student can discuss the upheaval of traditional values held dear for so long in this nation. Rebellion set in the hearts of many and a spirit of lawlessness pervaded the land. 1962 brought the terrible ruling on prayer in public schools which would lead to a long list of litigations against the very values the Founding Fathers held dear! I recently saw a cartoon where a man asked where God was during the awful loss of life during a school shooting. His wife answered, "Oh! Haven't you heard? God is not allowed in our schools anymore." It seems He is no longer allowed any public appearance anywhere! Maybe it is why that even our recent "victories" are still in question?

Do we want to experience a definitive victory again? Deuteronomy 28 reminds us that the success of a nations military is not vested in the sophistication of equipment and training of the services alone. Victory lies in the presence of the Lord and His divine direction and protection! Repentance alone will make us winners again. Adding wretched sin to our ranks will only increase the ineffectiveness of our troops and cause the deaths of many men and women as the presence of the Lord pulls away!