An Old Geography Lesson

An Old Geography Lesson Submitted by Thomas Stidl What on earth would an old geography lesson have to do with a religious article, you may ask. My deceased older brother and I were blessed with a Roman Catholic education for both grammar school and high school. This particular geography lesson was expanded to be a biblical lesson on the book of Genesis. Picture if you will, the United States owning the Panama Canal and Great Britain owning the Straits of Gibraltar and the Suez Canal in the early to mid 1960's when this lesson was taught. These three landmarks are known as the 'gates of your enemies' which is what the geography lesson taught us. Most of us do not realize that one of the twelve tribes of Israel is the tribe of Joseph. Joseph had two sons. They were Ephraim and Manasseh. When the time came for Joseph's father Jacob to pass from this life, he began to bless all his sons. Instead of blessing Joseph, he blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim's blessing was that he would become a group of nations. Manasseh's blessing was that he would become a great and powerful nation. Both were promised that they would possess the 'gates of their enemies'. All through the Jewish Testament, neither son of Joseph fulfilled their destiny. Around the 1800's Ephraim began to fulfill his destiny in the country named Great Britain. They began to acquire a vast empire. It was always taught to me by my teachers and my parents that the sun never set on the British Empire or Commonwealth of Nations. This is the fulfillment of the blessing of Jacob on Ephraim. Manasseh began to fulfill his destiny also. In the late 1700's, Manasseh revolted against British rule, and thus was born the United States of America. Beginning in the early 1800's the United States began to acquire land through the Louisiana Purchase and other acquisitions including both the west and the southwest. We also acquired Alaska and Hawaii. Is there any wonder why our current President has an avid interest in Greenland? The land acquisitions made the United States a large powerful nation. This is the fulfillment of the blessing of Jacob on Manasseh. The geography clearly stated this, and the three nuns who taught this made the bible come alive as factual evidence of God's Divine Providence. Also stated in that lesson is the fact the ancient Joseph fed the known world under the Egyptian Pharaoh. Modern day Joseph ( the United States) with its vast farmlands feeds the world also. In my last article, 'War and Rumors of War – Part 2', I mentioned the possibility of a war between the United States and Israel versus Iran. The current country of Israel is the tribe of Judah. The United States is part of the tribe of Joseph, namely Manasseh. Therefore, the possible war will be between Israel (two of the thirteen tribes) and Iran. This is an interesting time to be alive. I have never forgotten that Bible/Geography lesson. This lesson was taught approximately sixty plus years ago, and I am happy to pass this lesson on to many future generations. The Sisters who taught this lesson are now deceased, and I sincerely hope as they look down from heaven that they are happy that their words did not fall on deaf ears. May God bless them and the United States of America. Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe. Laus Deo. Deo Gratias. See you in Paradise. Amen.