All things else being equal, the destiny of a man or nation may safely be predicted from the idea of God which that man or nation holds. No nation can rise higher than its conception of God.
A. W. Tozer, The Set of the Sail, p. 38
A. W. Tozer on American Theology
Life Is Worship 
So true.
God used Israel in the O.T. as a model for the rest of the world to see what it would be like for people to have a relationship with God.
When they chose to make God into their image they served themselves and were nationally (and spiritually) devastated. Yet when they elevated their view of God above themselves (ie Temple worship) they excelled in all areas such as education, military, economy, family…
We cannot disconnect a nation’s view of God from their ability to succeed. We may deduce that a nation’s success rises and falls upon it’s ability to honor the Lord from border to border, front door to front door, wallet to wallet, musket to musket…