Plucking the Eagle's Wings

Plucking the Eagle's Wings

for living, encompassing guidelines for practical living, methods of agriculture, rules of morality, and even dietary laws. Obedience to the commands in this book results in health and prosperity for those who will follow them. If the Hebrews disobeyed the instructions, severe consequences followed. Their blessings turned into curses and their successes were frustrated. Some contemporary Christians believe the instructions in the Torah are only for the ancient Hebrews and have no bearing upon us today. Apparently, they are unfamiliar with many references in the New Testament that come from the Old Testament books. Yet, during Christ's temptation in Matthew 4, He quoted three Scriptures from Deuteronomy. The Bible says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable" (2 Timothy 3:16). The basic laws that govern our nation are found in the book of Deuteronomy. America's early fathers used this book as a guideline for law and order in the nation. Our fundamental freedoms are based on Moses' revelation on Mount Sinai. The Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights all contain phrases that originated in the Torah. Harry Truman said that these early documents of our nation are founded upon the Torah, the book of Isaiah, and the four Gospels. Therefore, it should not be surprising that, if America has a unique Hebrew connection, God's commands to ancient Israel are also applicable for our nation. Americans can expect to receive the same blessings for obedience and the same curses for disobedience. Unfortunately, many of the curses pronounced against ancient Israel by the Lord are found throughout the United States today. The Prosperity Syndrome We have all heard of the American dream. It implies that every American, with proper educational opportunities and hard work, will have good wages and will own personal property, such as a home and a nice automobile. Few nations in the world have populations so richly blessed. For several years, the word prosperity has become a political catchword. Yet, this concept often places an emphasis only upon material things Even ministers have been caught up in guaranteeing their flocks abundance in exchange for giving money. Some have even based their ministries on the idea that material abundance will result from their

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