America is in trouble. For all of its vaunted power, it has experienced grave challenges in dealing with a 30-year-old computer consultant who, following his own conscience, deliberately leaked critical classified information. He gave classified records about how the United States government conducts widespread monitoring of its own citizens to a British newspaper. This action, of course, rocked the Obama Administration, and with it the world.

Media and political commentaries examining this situation have erupted around the globe, particularly as America authorities failed initially to take Edward Snowden into custody. Writing in a widely read piece titled "Why the U.S. is being humiliated by the hunt for Snowden," Simon Tisdall, foreign editor of the Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom, called the ongoing situation a "pants down day" for the United States. He made these ominous comments:

"Important people are making themselves ridiculous…High on the list is John Kerry, U.S. Secretary of State. Huffing and puffing, Kerry warned China and Russia of 'consequences,' as seems probable, they have conspired to deliberately thwart U.S. justice by twisting the long arm of the law.

"Like too many American politicians, Kerry seems to believe 'the law' is what the White House counsel and U.S. Justice Department deem it to be on any given day, and that this made-in-America 'law' applies inexorably to every country and every corner of the world." Tisdall went on to point out how American law is today not recognized as universally authoritative.

Now those are harsh words. And we don't repeat them to make a political point, but rather to underscore what God says about national behavior.

If one reads the Bible, he or she will quickly discover that God has quite a bit to say about how people and national governments are to conduct themselves. He always, without exception, uses the biblical Ten Commandments as core guiding principles. They apply to all nations and peoples.

Perhaps surprising, many secular authorities recognize this prior influence of biblical law and statutes, particularly when it comes to the legal history of the United States.

Despite this spiritual bedrock foundation, many of the American laws based on the Ten Commandments and other biblical principles have been steadily eroded. This fact has been chronicled here on ucg.org and in both the pages of the Good News magazine and on the weekly half hour Beyond Today program.

Based on recent events, it would appear that this spiritual erosion has not gone unnoticed by Almighty God. The ancient record of the Bible is plain. There are distinct blessings for obedience, and there, tragically, are distinct curses for breaking those spiritual laws. Make no mistake: these spiritual laws apply to every national government on the planet, not just ancient Israel. They are, and remain, in force.

With escalating humiliation of America through the Snowden situation, one cannot help but be reminded of an ancient national prophecy that is activated by the breaking of God's law: "I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze" (Leviticus 26:19).

Yes, America and other nations of the earth will attract God's attention for divine law-breaking. Perhaps surprisingly to some, it is not God's preferred purpose to destroy nations for disobedience. As the prophet Ezekiel declared: "'As I live,' says the Lord God, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die?'" (Ezekiel 33:11, emphasis added). God does make clear the way back from the brink of destruction.

The good news is that God allows, even strongly encourages, individual choice, and protects those who obey him. If you want to know more–and you should in this day and age—download our free Bible study guide, The Ten Commandments. Meanwhile, protect yourself spiritually: continue to watch BT Daily and receive critical Bible knowledge for these troubled days ahead at www.ucg.org.