Posted May 26, 2006
In an old and popular American song appears the phrase "don't know much about history." How true! Americans know so little about human history before their "Declaration of Independence" was signed in 1776. But forgetting history can lead to repeating past mistakes—to having to learn again the hard way.
A vivid reminder that we should not forget lessons learned from the past is the recent movie United 93. Most of us will recall that on Sept. 11, 2001 four planes were hijacked to be used as kamikaze bombs. Only United Airlines flight 93 did not reach its target—probably the Capitol building in Washington D.C.
Learning from cell phone calls that other planes had been used in suicide attacks, several passengers on United 93 challenged the terrorists, knowing they would likely die trying to save others. They united in a noble effort and became heroes in the truest sense of the word.
Immediately after the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks on the United States, less than five years ago, the American people were remarkably united. They suddenly were patriotic, respectful of each other and focused on the big issues of life.
Even a short-lived increase in Bible-reading and church attendance occurred. But today most Americans seem to have forgotten that their blessings are gifts from God.
Personally, I regard every day since 9/11 as a divine blessing that another terrorist attack hasn't occurred on our soil. But not all Americans would give God credit for that blessing.
Too many have drifted back into the dream world of self-centeredness, self-confidence, materialism, and assumed invincibility. Self-serving agendas rather than the welfare and survival of our people are again dominating our national conversation. Political division and partisan hostility are back to normal.
Yes, we forget! With terrorist groups obsessively trying to destroy us, shouldn't knowledge of our past be helping us prepare for our future?
Extensive evidence from archaeology and history—both secular and biblical—suggests that most people of European stock who settled in America and the British Empire are descendants of the biblical patriarch Joseph (Genesis 30:22-24).
God inspired numerous prophecies that explain how Joseph's latter-day descendants would greatly increase in population and prosperity and receive from Him other incredible blessings. But those same prophecies also reveal that His gifts would later be taken away from them because they would forget the God who gave them!
Joseph's descendants come from his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. The historical record provides credible evidence that the descendants of Manasseh migrated mostly to America, whereas the descendants of Ephraim ended up mostly in Britain and her colonies.
An interesting footnote is that the Hebrew word "Manasseh" actually means forgetful. The Bible explains: "Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: 'For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house' " (Genesis 41:51). Joseph, of course, was thinking of the positive meaning of the name—forgetting painful memories.
But sadly, the modern descendants of Manasseh are increasingly forgetting what they most need to remember—their Creator. He has repeatedly warned: "Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments ... [for] it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish" (Deuteronomy 8:11, 19).
Though many of our founding fathers had a deep respect for the Bible, the current trend is to forget and reject America's Judeo-Christian heritage. Ignoring the command: "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8), most people today don't "remember" the Sabbath or even try to keep any day holy.
This reminds me of Winston Churchill's remarkable observation, "Many men stumble across the truth, but most manage to pick themselves up and continue as if nothing had happened."
The apostle Peter expresses the same thought, that it is common for people to "willfully forget" God's commands that seem to interfere with their own activities (2 Peter 3:5). Often a person who has briefly seen his own spiritual faults, as in a mirror, "... goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was" (James 1:22-24).
The modern descendants of Joseph all need to return to the God who gave us our national blessings. Otherwise, He promises to let us be overcome by our enemies at some point in the future. He is presently being very merciful, allowing us time "come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).
To understand the history of America, Britain and her former British colonies that has been long forgotten, please request or download your free copy of: The United States and Britain in Bible Prophecy .
