Concerted efforts to eliminate any reference to God in American schools and media, and the supposed “debunking” of the Bible by academics, have resulted in widespread biblical illiteracy and a tragic ignorance of the true facts involved in the birth of the United States—especially the incredible role that God’s intervention played in the American Revolution. Though secular scholars dismiss it or find other explanations, miracles came to George Washington and the American cause—and came often during the founding of the land of freedom. Even from the beginning of the war, Washington said, “God in his great goodness will direct [the outcome]” and, after his surprising victory at Princeton, he noted, “Providence has heretofore saved us in remarkable manner, and on this we must principally rely.”
While secular scholars and liberal theologians may scoff, the shift away from the Bible has eliminated a vital perspective from the study of history that will have serious consequences. The Bible records that long ago, Moses warned the ancient Israelites, who had been supernaturally delivered from Egypt by God through a series of powerful miracles, to “take heed to yourself [that is, remember!], lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart… And teach them to your children and your grandchildren” (Deuteronomy 4:9).
Decades later, Joshua reminded his generation of Israelites how God had fought their battles (Joshua 23:2–3) and established their nation in a promised land by halting the waters of the Jordan River (Joshua 5:1), breaking down the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:20), and raining hail stones on an enemy army (Joshua 10:11). The Bible also records that other nations recognized these events as divine interventions by Israel’s God (see Exodus 14:14, 25; Joshua 5:1). Centuries later, the prophet Isaiah warned the backsliding nation of Israel to “remember the former things of old” and how God had intervened on its behalf to accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 46:8–11)—yet critics claim these are only fables!
Another vital lesson that our increasingly secular Western societies have lost sight of is that God guides the course of history, that “He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them” (Job 12:23–24). The prophet Daniel records the same important message—that God “removes kings and raises up kings” and “the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He will” (Daniel 2:21; 4:17, 25, 32; 5:21).
But what important facts have Americans and the world forgotten, and did God really intervene to guide the outcome of the American Revolution? What sort of evidence is ignored and seldom mentioned today?
George Washington played a leading role in the American Revolution and the nation’s founding. His solid character and firm convictions were key factors in molding the nature and outlook of America. However, the fact that he lived to lead this young nation appears due to what was called Divine Providence—the intervention of God in mankind’s affairs for a purpose. In 1755, during the French and Indian War, 23-year-old Colonel Washington was one of 1,400 British troops under the command of General Braddock marching to capture Fort Duquesne, near Pittsburgh, when they were attacked by a French and Indian force. During the battle, “Braddock was killed and every officer on horseback was shot, except Washington.” The young colonel later wrote to his brother, “But by the All-Powerful Dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation; for I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, although death was leveling my companions on every side of me.” A Native American who fought in the battle later stated, “Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle and after all could not bring him to the ground” (Miracles in American History, Federer, pp. 17–19).
Years later, during the early spring of 1776, with the British in control of Boston, Washington ordered cannons brought through the snow from Fort Ticonderoga (some 300 miles away) to fortify Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston harbor. Seeing the danger, British General Howe ordered an amphibious assault on the American position. However, the night before the assault was to begin, “a hurrycane or terrible storm… a southeaster of gale proportions” hit the Boston area and disrupted Howe’s plans, so he called off his attack on the American position due to “the badness of the weather.” As a result of the sudden storm and the strength of the American position commanding movement in and out of Boston harbor, General Howe ordered the British troops to evacuate Boston (see The Weather Factor, Ludlum, pp. 33–34). Washington again wrote to his brother, “this remarkable Interposition of Providence is for some wise purpose, I have not a doubt” (Miracles in American History, p. 41).
George Washington was so fully aware that God was at the helm of this battle and that their success was completely dependent on the miracles of Providence. Washington’s understanding was that God’s blessings were inextricably linked to the obedience and righteousness of his army, so he was forthright in placing high standards upon them. A covenant blessing was activated by righteous living and only this led to miracles. Tim Ballard, author of The Washington Hypothesis, says, “One of his very first instructions he gave to his soldiers at the Boston scene was to ban all ‘profane cursing, swearing and drunkenness’ and to encourage ‘a punctual attendance on divine Service, to implore the blessings of heaven upon the means used for our safety and defense.’”
America is a covenant nation, and its founding reflects those covenant promises repeated so often in the Book of Mormon. These are binding promises from God, which He remembered for generations. A covenant nation has covenant protection—which began even at its founding.
In 1746, 70 ships with 13,000 troops sailed from France to lay waste to the American colonies. Massachusetts Governor William Shirley proclaimed a Day of Fasting. What happened next was unexplainable! Thomas Jefferson’s resolution for a Day of Fasting on June 1, 1774 lead to the forming of the Continental Congress, and eventually Independence. In 1781 the providential rising of three rivers in 10 days allowed Americans to escape British General Cornwallis. Benedict Arnold’s planned betrayal of West Point was discovered in a miraculous way. In 1865, President Lincoln proclaimed a Day of Fasting for April 30. What freak accident happened two days later the course of the Civil War took a turn.
George Washington exclaimed: “The Hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all this (the course of the war) that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith.” Ben Franklin declared: “In the beginning of the Contest with Great Britain…we had daily prayer in this room for Divine protection…All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending Providence in our favor.”
The general feeling during and after the Revolutionary War was that God had blessed the American effort for independence, and the Hand of God had intervened again and again to guide events at this critical time—but few remember this today. In 1787, when 81-year-old Benjamin Franklin urged the Continental Congress to begin their daily deliberations with prayer, he commented, “I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: that God governs in the affairs of men”—as the Bible states in several places (America’s Providential History, p. 172). Many modern Americans and citizens of the world have forgotten this important lesson of history that is plainly revealed in the Scriptures.
The Bible reveals that failure to transmit the true facts of history and the willingness of leaders to ignore important lessons of history will have serious consequences for America and other Israelite nations in the Western world.
The words of the biblical prophets ring out through time. Jeremiah records God’s warning, “Because My people have forgotten Me… I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy” (Jeremiah 18:15–17). His words are consistent in the pen of Ezekiel: “Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, therefore you shall bear the penalty of your lewdness and your harlotry” (Ezekiel 23:35). Likewise, through Hosea, He says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).
God is going to allow nations whose people ignore His instructions and forget how He has intervened on their behalf to reap what they have sown (Jeremiah 2:17–19; Hosea 4:7–9).
Sources:
- https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2017/july-august/miracles-of-the-american-revolution
- https://latterdaysaintmag.com/washington-and-the-miracles-of-americas-founding/
Chronological History of Miraculous Events in American History
The Battle of Sullivan Island: A Small Group of SC Patriots defeat a British Naval Force of Nine Warships Attempting to Invade Charleston
George Washington Writes in a Letter to his Brother, “Providence Which Has in Many Instances Appear’d for Us, Will Still Go On to Afford Its Aid”
George Washington Orders his Troops to Observe the Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer for the ‘Giver of Victory to Prosper Our Arms’
Battle of Dorchester: General Washington Bold Plan to Take Back Boston is Foiled by Weather, but Maybe God kept His Young Army from a Battle they Could Not Win
The Miraculous Story of ‘The Bulletproof President’, George Washington
Slave Trade Captain, John Newton, has Miraculous Conversion Experience at Sea. He Would Later Write “Amazing Grace”
Young America’s Miraculous Defeat of the French Fleet
The Defeat of the Spanish Armada
