A fascinating topic for Believers to examine is the connection between Israel and America. Why are our nations so close? Is it part of the American DNA to be pro-Israel? And what did the Founding Fathers believe about Israel and the Jewish people?

Here are a few fascinating stories from American history I think you'll enjoy!

STUDENTS OF THE BIBLE

The majority of America's Founding Fathers believed that God's providential Hand was actively directing the establishment of the United States. Why did these highly-educated men believe such a thing? Because the Founders were students of the Bible. Scripture played a massive role in the daily life of early Americans, and the story of the Nation of Israel served as a model and inspiration in the creation of the United States. For example...

In 1776, a month after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams met to discuss the design of the Great Seal of the United States. During that meeting, Franklin proposed this:

Benjamin Franklin's idea for the Great Seal wasn't an eagle or the stars and stripes. We wanted the Seal to depict Moses leading the Children of Israel through the Red Sea, out of slavery and into freedom.

Jefferson countered, proposing imagery of the Hebrews in the desert, led by a pillar of fire, marching toward the Promised Land.

GEORGE WASHINGTON

George Washington dreamed that the new nation of America would become a safe haven for Jewish people, since during his time, Jews still suffered persecutions throughout the Diaspora. As President, he wrote to the Hebrew Congregations of America:

"May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants; while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid."

In 1790, he wrote to the Hebrew Congregation of Savannah:

"May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivered the Hebrews from their Egyptian oppressors, planted them in a promised land - whose providential agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent nation - still continue to water them with the dews of heaven and make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah."

A JEWISH HOME IN JUDEA

Future Presidents followed Washington's example in honoring the Jewish people. As early as John Adams, American Presidents were expressing hope that a Jewish homeland would be restored in the ancient Land of Israel. Adam's wrote:

"I will insist that the Hebrews have done more to civilize man than any other nation. I really wish the Jews again in Judea an independent nation."

His son, John Quincy Adams, wrote: 

"I believe in the rebuilding of Judea as an independent nation."

LINCOLN'S LAST WORDS

In the final days of his life, President Abraham Lincoln expressed his dream to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land once his second term was completed. On April 14, 1865, just five days after the Civil War had ended, Lincoln went to Ford's Theatre with his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Mary remembered his last words: 

"The very last moments of his conscious life were spent in conversation with her about his future plans, and what he wanted to do when his term of office expired. He said he wanted to visit the Holy Land and see those places hallowed by the footprints of the Savior. He was saying there was no city he so much desired to see as Jerusalem, and with the words half spoken on his tongue, the bullet of the assassin entered his brain, and the soul of the great and good President was carried by the angels to the New Jerusalem above."

HONORING THE REBORN NATION

In 1948, America became the first country to publicly recognize the newly-formed State of Israel. Just minutes after David Ben-Gurion declared Israel's independence, President Harry Truman said:

"I had faith in Israel before it was established. I have faith in Israel now. I believe it has a glorious future before it."

Since the rebirth of the Nation of Israel, American Presidents who have believed in the Almighty have publicly recognized the miracle of Israel being re-established after nearly 2000 years. Dwight D. Eisenhower said during an address in 1957:

"Our forces saved the remnant of the Jewish people of Europe for a new life and a new hope in the reborn land of Israel. Along with all men of good will, I salute the young state and wish it well."

Early in his Presidency, Ronald Reagan said:

"Since the rebirth of the State of Israel, there has been an ironclad bond between that democracy and this one. Back in 1948 when Israel was founded, pundits claimed the new country could never survive. Today, no one questions that Israel is a land of stability and democracy in a region of tyranny and unrest. America has never flinched from its commitment to the State of Israel–a commitment which remains unshakable."

These stories are just a quick taste of the Israel-US brotherhood throughout the centuries. America has a heritage–a national tradition–of blessing the Jewish people and participating in the rebuilding of the Nation of Israel. And it all began with the example set by our first President!