Has America Lost its "Hedge" of Protection?

Initially Old Testament Job had to face a two-part trial.  The first was removal of a “hedge” of protection that had been around him, his household and all he had (Job 1:10).  Satan said to God,”But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has and he will surely curse You to Your face!  So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person” (Job 1:11, 12).  At this point Job loses all his property and his 10 children.  Grievous as this was, “In all this Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong” (Job 1:22).

Job’s second trial came hard on the heels of the first when Satan said to God, “’But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face!  So the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.’ Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord, and struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:5-7).  At this point Job’s wife suggested he “Curse God and die” (Job 2:9)!  But this Job would not do; passing both tests.

The “hedge of protection” spoken of here is a common principle seen in both Testaments of the Bible.  A most notable example of this was when the King of Syria sent an army after the Prophet Elisha.  They surrounded Elisha and his servant but Elisha was not the least bit perturbed, but his servant was scared out of his wits, saying, “Alas, my master!  What shall we do?”  So he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’  Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw.  And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (II Kings 6:15-17).

The scene with Elisha and his servant powerfully illustrates the fact of the “spiritual” realm which is all about us.  This isn’t to get “spooky”, but simply to underscore the fact that there is a realm where angels exist, work, move and carry out God’s instructions.  The Bible is full of angelic incidents, but we simply have become so secular in our thinking we tend to dismiss out of hand all such allusions.

There are two countries moving in opposite directions which prove the point of a “hedge of protection”. Israel, though threatened on every side, will never be destroyed by any nation, no matter how hard the nations try because of God’s “hedge” of protection.  Yes, there will come a time when Israel will be temporarily overrun, but she will not be destroyed.  By contrast, America with all her vaunted military power, cannot seem to keep her enemies at bay.  Witness destruction of the “Twin Towers” and all that continues to follow. This is the larger picture.

The smaller picture is that in America a “hedge of protection” has been broken down round our schools.  Sadly, it would appear no matter what we do, heinous crimes will continue to be perpetrated against our children.  Why? Because we have clearly said, “We don’t want God (and His protection) in our schools”.  Now apply this principle to other areas of public life where matters appear to be out of control:  our court system, our borders, our economy, the institution of the home, marriage, abortion, etc.

Is God lifting His hand of protection off America?  If so, only one thing will change it—national repentance.  Would you not agree this is where II Chronicles 7:14 applies:  “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves ("fast"), and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”?