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As we have seen, the so-called “lost” tribes of Israel were preserved by God—in accordance with His promises to Abraham—and led in stages to new lands in western Europe. Britain in particular would become the home of the birthright tribe of Ephraim, with the birthright tribe of Manasseh later establishing itself in America. God has indeed set the descendants of Joseph “high above all [the] nations of the earth” (Deut. 28:1). As indicated in verse 13, America and Britain have truly been “the head, and not the tail.” And, because of God’s blessings, these two nations have always been “above” other nations—never “beneath” them, or under foreign rule. In today’s terminology, modern-day Ephraim and Manasseh have been undisputed world superpowers.
The rise of the British Empire and the United States to unparalleled world prominence has been, to say the least, astonishing. Nothing remotely like it has ever occurred. Moreover, their ascent—concurrent for the most part, but with America becoming a world power after Britain’s dominance had begun to wane—has taken place with amazing rapidity. And as we will see in a later chapter, their decline has been—and is—equally remarkable.
But how and why have the Anglo-American nations come to possess the absolute richest lands of the world—lands blessed with unparalleled natural resources? Why have they enjoyed an unrivaled level of economic wealth and military power?
Few realize just how powerful and wealthy the British and American people have been. These two nations have literally changed the world. Never in the history of the world has there been such a dramatic and rapid rise to global power and dominance than has been experienced by Britain and America. Could such a phenomenon really be ignored in the Bible?
Unparalleled Greatness Promised to Joseph
Before his death, God inspired the patriarch Jacob to foretell what would happen to the descendants of his twelve sons in the “last days” (Gen. 49:1). Our focus concerns Joseph—or, more accurately, his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, who co-inherited the birthright promises passed on through Isaac from Abraham. These birthright blessings have only been realized in modern times through the dramatic rise of the Anglo-American peoples.
Joseph’s modern descendants are, in fact, easy to identify precisely because of the specific blessings they were to inherit. In a nutshell, the birthright blessings were promises of unprecedented national greatness and overflowing prosperity—of a scope never experienced by any other nation in history. Notice again Jacob’s prophecy for Joseph:
“Joseph is like a fruitful vine, a prolific vine watered by a spring, whose branches grow and run over the walls. With bitterness and hatred his enemies have attacked him, but his arms have remained strong and quick as he aims his bow accurately—because his power comes from the Mighty One of Jacob, the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel. Indeed, your father’s God, the Almighty, has helped you and blessed you with the blessings of the heavens above, with the blessings of the deep that are hidden below, and with the blessings of the breast and womb. The blessings I proclaim for you are as certain as the ancient mountains, as sure as the age-old hills. Let all these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the one most distinguished among his brothers” (Gen. 49:22-26; author’s paraphrase).
In a similar prophetic blessing given by Moses just before his death, we read of Joseph:
“May the LORD bless your land with the precious rain of heaven above and with the deep waters that lie below. May He bless you with the best produce the sun brings forth and the finest fruits the months yield; with the choicest treasures of the ancient mountains and the precious resources of the everlasting hills; with the very best gifts the earth can offer— and may you delight in the favor of Him Who once dwelt in the burning bush. Let all these blessings rest on the head of Joseph, on the one preeminent among his brothers. Joseph’s glory is like that of a firstborn bull—but with the strong horns of a wild ox! He uses them to push at the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Thus describes the multitudes of Ephraim, and the host of Manasseh” (Deut. 33:13-17; author’s paraphrase).
As is apparent, these blessings cover everything from great natural resources and agricultural abundance to military superiority and world dominance. The reference to Joseph’s vine running “over the wall” points to Britain’s inclination for colonialism (less so for America). That Joseph’s “arrows” are quick and accurate indicates an unstoppable military (the U.S. Air Force and Britain’s Royal Air Force readily come to mind); likewise, Joseph’s “horns” that “push at the nations”—even in the far-flung corners of the world—point to the powerful naval forces possessed by both Britain and America.
In Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 we find numerous prophecies concerning the original nation of Israel. While these “blessings and curses” were not foretold specifically concerning Joseph, they do nonetheless apply in principle to modern-day Israel—Ephraim and Manasseh. The blessings speak of abundant and timely rainfall; fertile lands that yield an abundance of fruit, grain and produce; peace and safety through unmatched military superiority; a greatly multiplied population; and, above all, the favor of God (Lev. 26:4-12). In Deuteronomy 28, God promises Israel preeminence over all other nations (verse 1). Again, blessings of abundance—crops, cattle and livestock, healthy children, military superiority (verses 2-8). Such would be Israel’s prominence that “all the people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you” (verse 10).
Economically, God promised that Israel would be in a position to “loan to many nations”—but never have to borrow (verse 12). Speaking of Israel’s dominance over nations, Moses wrote: “And the LORD shall make you the head [among nations], and not the tail. And you shall be always above [rule over other nations], and you shall not be beneath [under their rule]…” (verse 13). Deuteronomy 26:19 says Israel would be “high above” all the nations of the world.
These prophecies perfectly describe the United States and the British Empire—the promised “great nation” and “company of nations,” respectively (Gen. 35:11; 48:19). As we will see, no other peoples or nations can possibly match this highly detailed description of modern Ephraim and Manasseh. Keep in mind, however, that the astounding blessings granted to America and Britain were not because of our righteousness or obedience to God—for Israel had been in gross rebellion against God, sent into exile at the hand of the ruthless Assyrians. Rather, these blessings are the direct result of promises God made to righteous Abraham. The Anglo-American peoples have done nothing to deserve them. However, keeping such profound blessings and remaining in God’s favor would require our ongoing obedience to God’s basic moral code of life—the Ten Commandments.
Indeed, as the last part of Deuteronomy 28:13 brings out, the key to Israel continuing in such blessings was obedience to God: “—if you obey the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you today, to observe and to do them. And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you today, to the right hand or the left, to go after other gods to serve them” (verses 13-14).
Britain’s Rise to World Prominence
The English had long been under the thumb of European aristocratic dominance, punctuated by repeated conflicts with a Catholic, imperialistic Spain. But in 1485, with the establishment of the Tudor dynasty of Henry VII, a transformation began to occur. Over the next one hundred years, tiny England enjoyed a stable government; literacy began to spread; Catholic control was, for the time being, overthrown; and the nation began to develop a significant naval power.
In 1588, however, Spain set out to conquer England and restore it to the fold of the Catholic Church. But an interesting event occurred: the vast Spanish armada was overwhelmed by storm winds suddenly appearing off the coast of England. In the end, Spain was defeated. In his History of the English-Speaking Peoples, Sir Winston Churchill wrote: “But to the English people as a whole, the defeat of the armada came as a miracle.”1 The benchmark event not only freed England of Spanish influence, it fully ended Catholic dominance over the nation’s religion. Soon, a genuine desire for religious freedom began to grow—and along with it an awareness of God’s role in British history. Moreover, a newfound interest in the Scriptures resulted in the 1611 translation and subsequent distribution of the King James Version of the Bible. (See Appendix 6 on the role of the Bible in the development of the British Empire.)
Owing to her penchant for exploration, England began in the 16th century to look beyond her own shores, crossing vast seas to establish new trade routes and forge new partnerships. This pioneering spirit led to the establishment of colonies around the world and, eventually, to the formation of the British Empire. As already noted, Genesis 49:22—Joseph’s “branches run over the walls”—suggests this proclivity for colonization and worldwide influence.
Historians generally agree that Britain became the preeminent nation of the world as a consequence of wresting itself from French dominance. After the British defeated Napoleon in 1815, it became quite clear that Britain was the undisputed ruler of the civilized world. Britain’s vast Royal Navy ruled the seas, and what followed was a century of peace—“Pax Britannica”—cut short only by the German militarism that triggered World War I in 1914.
The British economy was also stimulated by the Napoleonic Wars, resulting in rapid growth. Britain soon found itself in a position to acquire vast territories around the globe, colonizing on such a grand scale that the sun literally never set on her worldwide empire. Her acquisitions included the richest farmlands and abundant natural resources—all in favorable climates, the most productive regions of the Temperate Zone. The British found themselves extraordinarily successful at seemingly every venture—be it colonization and exploration, commerce and trade, science and industry, the invention of labor-saving machines, military exploits, etc. Indeed, little Britain emerged, within a short period of time, to rule the greatest, most extensive empire the world has ever known. That empire developed into a great “company of nations” held together by allegiance to a common crown.
In fact, it was during Queen Victoria’s reign, from 1837 to 1901, that the British Empire expanded tenfold—from a scattering of insignificant colonies to one quarter of the world’s land mass, which included a fifth of the world’s population. The impact of the Empire has been incalculable: New nations were born while industry, commerce, and newly developed population centers altered the face of existing nations; whole societies adopted new, advanced cultures; primitive civilizations learned new value and judicial systems; English became the universal language of the world; and a higher standard of living was spread to all corners of the globe. According to historian James Morris, “It was not merely the right of the British to rule a quarter of the world, so the imperialists thought, it was actually their duty…. They would so distribute across the earth their own methods, principles, and liberal traditions that the future of mankind would be reshaped. Justice would be established, miseries relieved, ignorant savages enlightened, all by the agency of British power and money.”2
At its height of power and influence early in the 20th century, the British Empire included some of the choicest parts of the world. With the acquisition of Australia and Canada, Britain came into possession of areas of great natural resources and some of the richest agricultural lands on earth. By 1922, the Empire claimed over 13 million square miles and some 460 million people as subjects or citizens. (By comparison, the Roman Empire, at its height, covered only 2.5 million square miles and governed some 120 million people.) The British Empire ultimately boasted of 54 colonies, territories or protectorates—including Egypt, India, Pakistan, vast parts of Africa, the Caribbean, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Palestine, and others. Each territory had its own distinct culture and way of life—yet they were united by a single institution, the British crown. (Today, only 16 of the original member nations—now participants in the British Commonwealth of Nations—still recognize the British monarchy as relevant in terms of national politics.) It was without question the most expansive and influential empire in the history of the world.3
The Anglo-American rise to world prominence is directly linked to the Industrial Revolution. At the peak of their possessions, the British and American peoples controlled vast swaths of the most fertile farmlands and the richest mineral-producing areas of the world. As descendants of Joseph, both Britain and America possessed the “choicest treasures of the ancient mountains,” the “precious resources of the everlasting hills”—the “precious things of the earth” (Deut. 33:15-16). These abundant natural resources— gold and silver, iron and tin, oil and coal, timber and water, etc.—would allow them to eventually dominate the world economically.
Industrially and economically, Britain and America grew rapidly between 1750 and 1800. The British experienced a population explosion during this same period. For many generations their population had been mostly static. But owing to unprecedented economic growth, colonial expansion, and industrial might, Britain’s population almost tripled—from 7.7 million to 20.7 million. After all, an abundance of offspring was also part of the promised blessings (Deut. 28:4, 11; Lev. 26:9).
With the Industrial Revolution came huge increases in industrial capacity and inventiveness. The all-important steam engine, developed by English inventors, began to see significant commercial use by the 1780s. Moreover, during Great Britain’s rapid rise to global dominance, it was British capital, expertise, and “stick-to-itiveness” that developed not only her colonies but led the developed world into newfound prosperity.
While the British Empire was built on the principle of imperialism, it was by no means tyrannical. Many of its colonies and territories experienced newfound freedoms; increased commerce led to added jobs and better living standards; education and literacy were given a high priority; many subjects were able to own land; and, for the most part, one could practice the religion of his or her choice. Plus, there was the important benefit of security under Britain’s impressive military. Ultimately, most of the Empire’s colonies flourished into politically stable and highly productive territories.4
In time, the growing New England colonies broke away from British rule—mostly owing to oppressive taxation by England. Concepts such as democracy, freedom of speech and religion, and power invested in the people would eventually become hallmarks of the world’s most successful republic, the United States of America.
America’s Rise to Unparalleled Greatness
Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, immigrants from the British Isles and northwest Europe—where the “lost” tribes of Israel had long settled— flowed in waves to the growing American colonies. These Israelite immigrants ultimately established the character of the American nation. In 1783, America won its independence from Britain, separating Manasseh from Ephraim— just as indicated in Genesis 48.5
From its inception, America was founded on the ideal of common law—that of the Scriptures. In the words of British historian Paul Johnson, it was “an experiment designed to establish the rule of God on earth.”6 Indeed, America’s founders realized that their commitment to a moral life based on the Word of God was fundamental to maintaining the favor of the God of Abraham—for as we will see, they understood the ultimate source of the nation’s blessings. For well over a century, America maintained, for the most part, that sense of moral destiny. But as following chapters bring out, the gradual loss of this godly standard would spell disaster for modern-day Manasseh.
As a young nation, the United States began to blossom shortly after 1800. Following in the footsteps of the British, American ingenuity pushed industry and commerce to new heights. From Robert Fulton’s first steamboat in 1806 to Henry Ford’s huge success with large-scale mass production, industrialization exploded in America.
Land acquisition also exploded. In 1783, America’s western border reached only to the Mississippi River. In need of cash to wage war against England, France’s Napoleon sold his country’s vast American territorial holdings to the United States in 1803, resulting in the Louisiana Purchase— doubling the size of the nation. This purchase literally made the U.S. a contender on the world’s economic stage by adding over 800,000 square miles of the most fertile farmland in the world—the American Midwest.
In 1845, the Texas Annexation was added, and a year later the Oregon Territory was acquired. As a result of the Mexican War of 1846- 1848, Mexico surrendered lands extending from Texas to the lower west coast. The last major addition would come in 1867 as Alaska was purchased from Russia.
Thus, within about a generation or two of the turn of the 19th century, the United States had expanded to almost its present-day size. This unparalleled expansion took in some of the world’s richest farmland and most valuable natural resources. Though not realized at the time, these blessings from God would allow Americans to eventually enjoy a per-capita wealth never before seen in the world.
As the 20th century began, America had only just emerged on the world scene after victory in the 1898 Spanish-American War. Forty years later, at the start of World War II, America’s military strength was all but insignificant, ranking well below that of most European states. But war transforms nations—economically, politically, militarily. Content for many decades with its “isolationist” stance, the United States was forced to the forefront of international politics because of World War II. Taking to her new role in world affairs, America began to flex her newfound economic and military muscle as a promoter of freedom and individual rights. The growing American economy led to rapid prosperity at home, and New York became a leading financial center—second only to London. Ultimately, with the demise of her Cold War rival, the Soviet Union, America became the sole superpower of the world.
As the world’s most powerful nation, America chose not to dominate or oppress its defeated enemies, but to generously use its strengths to rebuild enemy lands—such as through the Marshall Plan, wherein a war-ravaged Europe was rebuilt at a cost of $24 billion ($150 billion in today’s dollar). Japan, too, was given assistance in its post-war recovery. Today, both Germany and Japan are global economic powers—thanks to America’s altruistic spirit. What other nation in the history of the world has treated her enemies with such compassion? Truly, all nations of the earth have been significantly blessed as a result of modern-day Joseph’s inheritance of the Abrahamic birthright promises (Gen. 12:2-3).
But just how powerful and wealthy have the United States and the British Empire been? After the early 1800s, more than half of the world’s cultivatable lands came into the possession of these two powers. Utilizing the richest natural resources and farmlands known to man, America quickly became the “breadbasket” of the world. The United States has been blessed with the rich agricultural lands of the Mississippi Valley; the choicest fruit-producing lands of Florida, Texas and the West Coast; the vast wheat and grain fields of the Midwest (similar to those of Canada and Australia, developed under British rule); the majestic forest lands of the Pacific Northwest; rich coal mines; abundant sources of iron and other metals; and natural waterways as a means of generating electricity to power industrial and manufacturing districts.
What other nation or even group of nations has ever possessed such material wealth? These two sons of Joseph—America and Britain—have led the whole world into an era of unprecedented knowledge, technology and prosperity. No other nation has even begun to approach the impact left on the world by these Anglo-American brother-nations.
Anglo-American Control of Strategic “Sea Gates”
While wealth and industry depend on natural resources, prosperity on a national level comes by commerce—which is predominantly conducted by utilizing the sea-lanes of the world. How significant, then, are strategic “sea gates”—economically and militarily?
As noted earlier, God promised Abraham that his descendants would possess the gates of their enemies (Gen. 22:17; 24:60). The term gate is used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the entryways into cities and towns (Gen. 23:18, for example); as such, it is widely used to refer to the city itself (Deut 17:8; 24:14, for example). But like Israel of old, America and Britain have never “occupied” enemy lands and cities except for brief periods.
In the context of the birthright promises made to Abraham and his descendants, gates must refer to something more—such as passageways that provide strategic control of commercial shipping or military movement. Such vital sea gates would include the Panama and Suez canals, the Cape of Good Hope, the Strait of Gibraltar—and many other passageways and ports of somewhat lesser strategic importance.
America and Britain have controlled each of the above sea gates throughout the modern era, and each has been critical to their economic and military dominance. In fact, the Allied victory in World War II hinged on such gates. For a time, Britain came to control much of the oil produced in the Middle East. Her possessions and pipelines in that region helped provide the oil the Allies needed, and transporting that oil depended on controlling certain sea gates.
Historically, Gibraltar—located in the southern part of the Iberian peninsula—has been an indispensable sea gate for England. Acquired as a consequence of her war with France in the early 1700s, Gibraltar once gave Britain full control of the traffic of the Mediterranean Sea. In 1875, the British acquired the Suez Canal, but lost it to Egyptian nationalization in 1956. From its completion in 1914, the United States—through some shrewd maneuvering—maintained control of the highly strategic Panama Canal until it was turned over to Panama in 1999.
Today, these same gates are owned or operated by other nations— some of which hate us. China, for example, is making huge investments in Panama—with obvious intentions of controlling the canal. Why have we relinquished control of these vital gates?
Have Britons and Americans Perceived the Hand of God?
The vast blessings showered on Britain and America have come with sobering responsibilities. First, there is the need to acknowledge that such blessings were directly from God. Secondly, there is the obligation to use such blessings in a responsible and wise manner. Together, America and the British Empire possessed more that two-thirds of the world’s raw materials and natural resources. But later generations—especially today’s—have failed to appreciate the divine source of our wealth and power; we have failed to see God behind the miracle of modern Ephraim and Manasseh. And, as custodians of such unparalleled blessings, we have been grievously careless in how we have used what God has given us!
British doggedness and American entrepreneurialism aside, we have in no way deserved or earned these blessings. It is a little understood biblical fact that Anglo-American wealth and power has resulted expressly from promises that God made to Abraham concerning his descendants. These promises were made because of Abraham’s obedience to God. “ ‘By Myself have I sworn,’ says the LORD, ‘because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son; that in blessing I will bless you, and in multiplying I will multiply your seed like the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore. And your seed shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice’ ” (Gen. 22:16-18).
Some of our leaders have realized that God is the source of our great blessings. U.S. President Ronald Reagan expressed it this way: “I have always believed that this anointed land was set apart in an uncommon way, that a divine plan placed this continent here between the oceans to be found by people from every corner of the Earth who had a special love of faith and freedom.”7 Likewise, President Harry Truman once said, “I do not think that anyone can study the history of this nation of ours without becoming convinced that divine providence has played a part in it. I have the feeling that God has created us and brought us to our present position of power and strength for some great purpose!”
Has America become a nation drunk with achievement not due to its own efforts—a nation taking unwarranted credit and glory to itself? It would seem so, as many Anglo-Americans think that we are responsible for our nations’ ascent to greatness. Abraham Lincoln understood the true source of our blessings—and even in his day he perceived that we were beginning to forget God and glorify ourselves. He wrote:
“We find ourselves in the peaceful possession of the fairest portion of the earth, as regards fertility of soil, extent of territory, and salubrity of climate…. [We] find ourselves the legal inheritors of these fundamental blessings. We toiled not in the acquirement or the establishment of them.” He further stated: “It is the duty of nations, as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God … and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord…. We have been the recipients of the choicest blessings of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power as no other nation ever has grown; but we have forgotten God! We have forgotten the gracious Hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with [our] unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of [God’s] redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us [great].”8
A short time before the children of Israel went in to possess the Promised Land, Moses recorded a sobering warning from God. While the following passage was written concerning Israel in Palestine, it absolutely applies to the modern-day birthright nations of America and Britain.
“For the LORD your God brings you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley and vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land in which you shall eat bread without scarceness. You shall not lack any thing in it. It is a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper.
“When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes, which I command you today, lest when you have eaten and are full and have built goodly houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied, then you become haughty of heart, and you forget the LORD your God....
“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.’ But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, so that He may confirm His covenant which He has sworn to your fathers [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob]…. And it shall be [that] if you do at all forget the LORD your God and walk after other gods serving them and worshiping them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish—yes, perish. As the nations whom the LORD destroys before your face, so you shall perish because you would not obey the voice of the LORD your God” (Deut. 8:7-20).
God did not choose Israel because they were great in any way—for they were the least. He did so because of His great love, and because of His covenant with Abraham (Deut. 7:7-8). The same applies to America and Britain. God alone has given modern Joseph the ability to become great—so that He might keep His covenant promises to Abraham. What a testimony to America and Britain. We have forgotten God—and given ourselves credit for our power and wealth!
We should bear in mind that the Abrahamic blessings were mostly denied to ancient Israel because they refused to live by God’s laws. But the birthright blessings have been given to America and Britain. Now we are slowly but surely losing those blessings because we have turned from God. What will be the outcome if Britain and America continue to deny God? As we will see, God warns America and Britain—through numerous prophecies in Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Micah, etc., all directed to modern-day Israel— that unless we, of this end-time generation, repent of our sins and turn to Him with fasting and heartfelt prayer, our nations will reap the same consequences as did ancient Israel. God will bring unheard-of famine and disease upon the land; He will make our cities desolate, empty; He will bring a “cruel one” against us—we will be invaded, besieged and taken captive once again as slaves—just as happened anciently to the northern tribes of Israel! And as Scripture indicates, only then will we repent!
CHAPTER 13 NOTES
1. Sir Winston Churchill, History of the English-Speaking Peoples, vol. 2, p. 131
2. James Morris, Pax Britannica: The Climax of an Empire, p. 26
3. The British Commonwealth is an intergovernmental organization of 53 member states that were mostly territories of the former British Empire. Formed in 1949 with the decolonization of the Empire, the Commonwealth operates by consensus of its member states. Sixteen of the members are known as realms, with Queen Elizabeth II as their monarch. Member states have no legal obligation to one another. Instead, they are united by language, history, culture, and shared values.
4. Unfortunately, some of the territories held by the Empire fared poorly under British rule. Parts of Africa were partitioned without regard to existing tribal boundaries, which ultimately led to civil war and great bloodshed. In India, millions were forced to relocate to due to similar partitioning schemes. Other areas fell into chaos when the British pulled out. Moreover, some colonial areas were essentially robbed of their natural resources in order to fuel England’s industrial growth; other areas were forced to grow “cash crops” to support British interests when they should have been growing food for the native population. As concerns “religious freedom,” the British foolishly attempted to force Christianity onto parts of Africa. Today, the resultant mix of African Christians among native Muslims has led to significant regional instability.
5. A number of historians have noted that America could have easily lost her bid for independence. Indeed, there were numerous occasions when the patriots’ cause teetered on the brink of disaster. Moreover, some historians have dared to ask why the colonies should have entered into a war for independence with Britain in the first place. After all, until the 1770s the American colonies were quite content to be a part of the British Empire. The Empire was growing rapidly and prospering, which ultimately benefited all of Britain’s colonies—not to mention the fact that guaranteed security and protection were a perk of a colonial connection to Britain.
But friction suddenly arose over excessive taxation, mostly due to monies the British tried to raise to fund their war with France. Except for Britain’s stubborn effort of imposing unfair taxes on America, the colonies actually had little reason to reject British rule. In hindsight, it was as if Britain provoked the colonies into rebellion. This suggests that the hand of God was moving: it was time for Manasseh to break away from Ephraim, just as indicated in Genesis 48:19-20.
6. Paul Johnson, “No Law Without Order, No Freedom Without Law,” Sunday Telegraph (Dec. 26, 1999)
7. Newsweek (Dec. 27, 1983)
8. From Lincoln’s proclamation for a national day of fasting and prayer, April 30, 1863.
