God, Indeed, Rules in the Affairs of Men
In this challenging time of America's existence and the challenging scenarios around the world, we must remind ourselves that God does indeed rule in the affairs of men. Two of the ways He does so are through the prayers of His people and the principle of covenant. We must keep ourselves reminded of His overriding hand in order to stay motivated and filled with faith. We must especially keep ourselves reminded of the fact that God raised up America for His purposes. Deuteronomy 4:9 tells us: “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life, but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.” (NASB)
In the spirit of this verse, I remind you of the words of Benjamin Franklin when the Continental Congress was attempting to write our Constitution and had experienced a stalemate. I’ve shared this before, but it is so appropriate here that I’m doing so again. In a later portion of his address (which I do not share here) Franklin challenged his fellow delegates to begin each day’s session with prayer, appealing for God’s help.
“…In the beginning of the contest with Britain, when we were sensible of danger, we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. -- Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence, we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?
“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. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without [H]is notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without [H]is aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that ‘except the Lord build they labor in vain that build it.’ I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without [H]is concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall be become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest…”(1)
It is shocking when I hear Christian leaders ignorantly deny that God raised up America. They accuse those who do believe this of being “Christian nationalists,” whatever that is. Most of them contend that the only nation God has ever birthed is Israel. However, Job 12:23 tells us, “He makes nations rise and then fall, builds up some and abandons others” (The Message).
There were actually several undeniable miracles performed by God during the forming of our nation, demonstrating what Franklin referred to above as “frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor.” In the following account, Douglas S. Winnail recounts one of those miracles, the protection of George Washington:
“…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 [Washington] 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.’”(2)
Numerous testimonies exist of God’s intervention in the Revolution through the weather. Moms For America recounts the following example:
“The miracle of right weather is one that God has used in many instances for people and nations who follow Him.
“The Revolutionary War itself was indeed a David vs. Goliath mismatch with the most powerful army in the world against a force of patriots who didn’t have the funding or military background – only passion and Providence.
“The Battle of Brooklyn found the American forces surrounded by 32,000 British regulars. Trapped near the East River, the British dug trenches around the Americans, planning to finish them off. They awaited British ships to arrive to cut off any possible escape route.
“The ships never arrived. Though the plan was set, the wind became still, and they couldn’t sail into place.
“It rained all night, and George Washington used all available boats to begin shuttling his troops across the river to safety under cover of darkness. As morning approached, he still had a large percentage of his soldiers awaiting transport.
“Their loss could mean disaster for the American Revolution.
“Then, a heavy fog settled over the American and British troops. Even after daybreak, the fog lay like a blanket upon both. When it finally lifted, the British were astonished to see every sign of their adversaries gone!(3)
“The mysterious and infamous fog saved the American revolutionaries from capture, or worse.
“The event was documented by Major Benjamin Tallmadge: ‘As the dawn of the next day approached, those of us who remained… became very anxious for our own safety…At this time, a very dense fog began to rise off the river, and it seemed to settle in a peculiar manner over both encampments. I recollect this peculiar providential occurrence perfectly well, and so very dense was the atmosphere that I could scarcely discern a man at six yards distance.’”(4)
I share these stories and remind you of these truths to bolster your faith. With the threat of China, Russia, Iran, and Korea hanging over America; with the devastating effects of the most inept and corrupt government in our history plaguing us on every front; with the moral and ethical confusion currently ruling our land - we must keep ourselves reminded that God, indeed, rules in the affairs of men.
I conclude with a poignant quote from the great John Wayne: “Tomorrow hopes we have learned something from yesterday.”(5)
Pray with me:
Father, breathe on the praying church today. Work through the power of Holy Spirit to offset weariness, confusion, despair, and fear. You have raised up a company of spiritual warriors, determined representatives of Christ, who intend to see Your Kingdom come and will be done on earth. Strengthen them to finish well.
Six times in Daniel 7, it says of this prophet that as You gave Him visions and instructions, he “kept looking.” Like him, remind us to keep our focus and gaze on You in this strategic hour of history. May we not be moved by what we see around us, only by what You say. We are listening to Holy Spirit, and we will keep listening.
We ask for divine intervention regarding China and the other evil forces in the world. We do not refer to the Chinese people whom we love and pray for as evil, but of evil dictators there and elsewhere. Keep them from overcoming America in this hour of weakness. Keep America free and enable us to rebuild our strength. We ask this for the cause of Christ and the significant influx of people coming into Your family very soon. As You instructed us to do, we decree, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!” (Matthew 6:10)
Our decree:
We decree that God will give us miracles of preservation and protection in this tenuous hour of history.
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