Andrew Wommack: Summer Family Bible Conference 2026: Episode 5
As Christians, understanding the true origins of America is more important than ever. In a world where revisionist history tries to mask God’s hand in our nation’s foundation, rediscovering the miraculous, God-centered birth of the United States can strengthen both our faith and our sense of purpose. In this article, we’ll revisit the highlights of a powerful teaching from Bill Federer, one of America’s foremost Christian historians, that challenges both the secularization and mythologizing of our history. Join us as we journey from the roots of government after Noah to America’s unique, God-inspired model of self-governance, and see how God’s providence shaped our nation’s destiny even when all odds said otherwise.
The Foundations of Government: Lessons from Nimrod to Ancient Israel
When you study the story of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, you see the very first attempt at a top-down, global government. As ancient historians tell it, Nimrod wanted to consolidate power and build a tower high enough to escape another flood should God ever judge the earth again. He enforced his rule with threats, forcing everyone to make bricks, consolidating humanity with fear and force. This was not God’s plan. In fact, God intervened, confusing the languages and scattering the people. In doing so, God created the concept of nations to delay mankind from falling under the control of another single, human kingdom showing that boundaries and independent nations are part of God’s design to protect us from tyranny.
But history repeats itself as ambitious leaders Pharaohs, Caesars, Czars, Sultans emerge in every era, seeking to reign over others. Each technological or military advancement increases a king’s reach and power. Fast forward to the 18th century, and the King of England rules the world’s largest empire, pursuing the very kind of one-world control Nimrod dreamed of. Yet, the American founders recognize the dangers of centralization. They choose a different path, inspired by both Biblical history and the longing for true liberty.
America’s Biblical Blueprint: Power to the People
The American experiment flips the ancient script. Instead of power flowing from the top, from kings and emperors, America is founded on the radical idea that the people are the true rulers. Instead of one globalist king, we have self-government. Our Constitution disperses power, using checks and balances what our founders themselves called “the first ten handcuffs,” also known as the Bill of Rights.
Where did our founders get such revolutionary ideas? They drew wisdom from many places: the Age of Enlightenment, the Magna Carta, the ancient Roman Senate, Athenian democracy, but above all, from ancient Israel before Israel had a king. For four centuries after the Exodus, Israel operated without a monarchy. Every person was taught God’s law and held personally accountable to Him. This created a society with order and justice, managed not by the threat of a king but by each individual’s conscience and responsibility before God.
This was unique in world history. Ancient Israel was the first society with widespread literacy, thanks to a simple 22-letter alphabet and God’s command that everyone should know His statutes. Israel also pioneered private land (and even arms) ownership something no king, pharaoh, or emperor would allow their subjects to have. When families owned their own land, they could enjoy blessing and share with others through charity, not government-mandated redistribution. This decentralized model of caring for the poor letting the needy glean from fields, for example stood in sharp contrast to the centralized models of Egypt or Babylon.
When the Priests Go Astray: Lessons from Israel’s Wokeness
Israel’s society changed, however, when the spiritual leaders abandoned God’s truth. We see a nation fall into chaos and moral confusion when the priests compromise, failing to teach God’s standards. Eventually, the people clamor for a king, seeking to be “like other nations,” and God allows it but warns them this is a rejection of His leadership. This shift from God-led, self-governed individuals to top-down monarchy serves as a crucial dividing line in the Biblical narrative and echoes through world history.
The American vs. British View: Divine Right or Accountability to God?
Contrast this with Europe, where “divine right of kings” taught that monarchs alone were chosen by God. The English monarchy cited King Saul and his successors to justify their rule by decree and their power over both the land and the people. Meanwhile, early American colonists especially the Pilgrims and Puritans looked to Israel before Saul for their inspiration. They believed in teaching everyone God’s law, personal responsibility, and community accountability. This is why early American education emphasized Hebrew, and leading founders like James Madison devoted themselves to Biblical study, drawing on this political theology to shape the Constitution.
The Covenant Difference: Trees, Not Pyramids
A king’s government is a cold, top-down pyramid of power rigid and lifeless. In contrast, a covenant-based society resembles a living tree, with roots and branches working together, drawing life from the source and distributing it throughout. This tree-like structure defines not only America’s political architecture but also the early church’s congregational model, where every member participates, not just a privileged clergy. The printing press a technological breakthrough unleashed personal Bible reading, empowering everyday believers to take ownership of both their faith and their public lives.
Church and City: The Foundation of American Society
Many forget that the earliest American cities were founded by churches, not secular governments. The first Baptist church in America gave birth to Providence, Rhode Island. Congregationalists established Hartford, Connecticut. Politics, in this context, wasn’t a dirty word but simply “the business of the city,” a function of the community’s shared Christian values. For a century, American civic life and church life were intertwined, shaping the very DNA of our culture.
The Great Awakening and the Secular Drift
Over time, this original zeal cooled. Preachers began teaching theology as
