President Barack Obama and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany walk along the Colonnade of the White House, June 7, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
As if the government shutdown wasn’t humiliating enough, now America is accused of spying on its largest European ally.
America is not getting much respect lately.
Several months ago, President Obama plainly said that if the Syrian regime used chemical weapons, there would be serious ramifications from the United States. Syria did use chemical weapons, but America stood by and did nothing substantial. Instead, we escaped doing what we said we would do because of a diplomatic solution proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Almost everyone knows it was driven by Russian national interests; and as of today, Bashar al-Assad still has not been held accountable for his actions.
If that didn’t make America look bad enough, recently parts of the U.S. government shut down because of an attempt by Republicans in the House of Representatives to defund (or substantially change) the Affordable Care Act (commonly called Obamacare). That led to a political standoff that helped no one—and served to make America look even more foolish to the rest of the world. The only solution to come out of the crisis was to further “kick the can down the road.”
Furthermore, the rollout of the new health-care system’s website (healthcare.gov) has been plagued by glitches and crashes.
It has been a bad year for America.
But it gets worse.
Information has come to light revealing that the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) has been spying on the communications of European governments allied to the United States—most notably, the personal communications of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Damage control
German media outlets claim they have sources that prove that the United States has been spying on Chancellor Merkel, beginning as early as 2002. America’s National Security Agency is denying that President Obama knew about it, but some reports are that President Obama was notified of the spying in 2010 and permitted it to continue.
Chancellor Merkel phoned President Obama last week and told him that such spying would be a “breach of trust.” Other nations, including Spain, have suggested that the spying has severely affected their relations with the United States and that this could even impact trade relations between the United States and Europe.
German Interior Minister Hans-Peter Friedrich said, “If the Americans intercepted cellphones in Germany, they broke German law on German soil.” He went on to say that wiretapping is a crime and “those responsible must be held accountable.”
The European Parliament is even considering sanctions against the United States because of this eavesdropping. Amid threats of retaliation, the White House is now employing damage control, saying it is considering ending spying on allied heads of state.
Considering the historical role of the United States in freeing Europe from Nazi tyranny and preventing it from falling to Soviet tyranny for nearly 40 years, this turn of events is nearly inconceivable.
Why America is becoming a reproach in the world
No one can deny that America is no longer the world leader it once was. The Bible even foretold that this would happen and why it would happen.
Some students of Bible prophecy understand that America is addressed in many Bible prophecies as Israel, Jacob, Samaria and sometimes Jerusalem. The United States represents the descendants of a portion of ancient Israel. (For more on this, see “Who Are the United States and Britain in Prophecy?”)
“You have become guilty by the blood which you have shed, and have defiled yourself with the idols which you have made. You have caused your days to draw near, and have come to the end of your years; therefore I have made you a reproach to the nations, and a mockery to all countries. Those near and those far from you will mock you as infamous and full of tumult” (Ezekiel 22:4-5, emphasis added).
Because of America’s national sins and Americans’ rejection of God (verse 8), He will cause and allow us to be embarrassed in the world.
America is guilty of bloodshed through a national obsession with violent entertainment, high crime rates and abortion. America is guilty of idolatry, worshipping the gods of greed and lust, while ignoring the guidance of the true God.
Yes, God plainly tells us that if we would follow Him, the world would look up to us; but if we would reject Him, the world would look down on us (Deuteronomy 28:13, 44).
America and Germany’s relationship in the coming years
The rift between the United States and Germany isn’t going to get better. Even though America considers Germany an ally, the Bible reveals that modern Israel’s “lovers”—including Germany—will ultimately turn on her (Ezekiel 23:5, 9-10, 35).
Germany will likely be a part of the European beast power that is prophesied to dominate the world scene before the return of Jesus Christ.
Are America’s days numbered?
This latest embarrassment will not be the last if we continue to reject God. Unfortunately, it will take the time of Jacob’s trouble for the people of modern Israel to see their sins, and then they will finally repent and turn to God.
But you can avoid that time of punishment by repenting and turning to God now.
Tim Groves attends the Jefferson, Georgia, congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, where he serves as a deacon.
He has been married to his wife, Teresa, for over 30 years. Together, they have two daughters and two sons and live in South Carolina. They moved there from Ohio in 1997 to flee the cold northern winters and allow him to do the things he really enjoys, like roaming though automobile junkyards looking for hidden treasures from times long past.
by Tim Groves
