Pronounce a Blessing on America

America! America! A nation whose greatness is inextricably linked to its motto In God We Trust. A nation which has been a beacon of hope, a bastion of freedom and a bulwark against evil to the nations of the world. Here in the southern hemisphere, for example, we have been blessed by sixty years of ANZUS. This is the formal security treaty that links the United States, Australia and New Zealand in upholding peace across the Pacific. This is but one example of how God has used America to be a blessing to the world. And indeed no other nation has been used by God as mightily to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth.

Yet it would seem, at this time, that America is shaking, drifting and even foundering. In this time of its economic uncertainty, social upheaval and increasing isolation how can we, the nations of the world, respond? If we are tempted to be quick to offer advice or slip into criticism or condemnation we must be very careful. It is not for us to judge. For the current plight of America is very much our own, only that we have it on a smaller scale. Perhaps this is a time for the nations of the world to learn from the experience of Job of the Bible and his friends. When three of Jobs friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, heard about all the troubles that had come upon Job they immediately set out from their homes to sympathize with him and comfort him (Job 2:11). They were his best mates, who wanted to be with him in his time of need. We see this in the way they began to weep aloud when they first saw him from a distance. Then seeing how great his suffering was, they sat on the ground with Job and silently grieved with him for seven days and seven nights. Perhaps what America needs most right now is just our standing with them in prayer to show them that we care. But following this commendable start, Jobs friends took turns trying to explain his agony. Their words however were not helpful. Instead of bringing comfort their words only made the pain go deeper. They were convinced that Job had brought this suffering upon himself assuming that Jobs suffering was caused by some great sin. They judged Job without knowing what God was doing. With round after round of unfeeling assertions they had fewer and fewer words until they had nothing more to say. Their view of life seemed to boil down to: good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. They were experts on Gods justice but grossly ignorant on Gods grace. We too must be careful to avoid judging America because God may be working in ways we know nothing about. God does not always act in ways that we understand. God is sovereign and in control of the world, and only He ultimately understands why things take place the way they do.

At this point a young man named Elihu, who was a bystander, breaks the silence. After rebuking the three friends he began a long discourse saying that people cannot understand all that God allows but must trust in Him. While this was a much better answer to Jobs questions, still it was not complete for only God has all the facts. Americas greatest test may be whether or not it continues to trust in God even though it doesnt know all the reasons for its suffering. Remarkably, right in the midst of his terrible sufferings Job broke through with some magnificent declarations of his trust in God. In his devastation Job declared, Though He slay me, yet I will hope in Him (Job 13:15). In the torment of crushing words from his friends Job cried out, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth (Job 19:25). In his perplexity over what God was doing Job exclaims, But He knows the way I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold (Job 23:10).

When Job was finally at the point of despair, God spoke to him, showing him his great power and wisdom through a barrage of questions that Job could not answer. Here Job learned that when nothing else was left, he had God and that was enough. In these last days with so much happening on the world stage we must be willing to trust God in spite of unanswered questions. Knowing God is better than knowing answers to all the questions we might have. And so America we thank God for you and pray for the healing of your wounds, the mending of your divisions and the restoration of your foundations. We pray that God will prosper you and bless you so that you may continue to fulfil your destiny as a blessing to the nations of the earth. America, through all your sufferings, may you never cease to hope and trust in God! America, in these desperate days, may you always look to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as your Redeemer! America, when this time of testing has passed, may you, by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, come forth as gold, even much pure gold!

And when God heals and restores you, will you pray for us as Job prayed for his friends (Job 42:10)? Please forgive us America for our indifference and apathy to your suffering and our failure to pray for you as we ought. Pray for us that we too will fulfil our destinies as nations under God as together we trust in Him. And we will sing with you songs of the blessing of God.

America the Beautiful O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain; For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed His grace on thee, And crowned thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!