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Divine Providence


“It is impossible for any man of candor to reflect on this circumstance without partaking of the astonishment. It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it a finger of that Almighty hand which has been so frequently and signally extended to our relief in the critical stages of the revolution.”[1]


James Madison



Many stories of the assistance of Divine Providence were well known in the days of our founders. For example, there is the account of General Washington being shot at and not being harmed in the French and Indian war. This story used to be included in school books and was removed. This is not the only story that has been removed.

During the French and Indian war (1753-1763), George Washington, a young Colonel at the time, was headed toward a French fort, along with 1,200 British soldiers and 100 Virginia buckskins led by Washington. 7 miles away from the fort they were ambushed in a wooded ravine. The French opened fire from above as well as an Indian tribe that had joined up with the French Army. "Over the next two hours, 714 of the 1,300 British and American troops were shot down, with only thirty of the French and Indians being shot — nearly all of those by Washington's Virginia buckskins, who were accustomed to woodland warfare... George Washington was the only mounted officer not shot down off his horse — and he had been particularly vulnerable, having courageously ridden back and forth along the front lines, delivering General Braddock's orders among the Troops."


“George Washington was the only mounted officer not shot down off his horse”


David Barton



Afterwards, he wrote a letter to his family. "Having confirmed his safety to his family, he then recounted what had occurred during the battle; that when he removed his jacket at the end of the battle, he found four bullet holes through it, but not a single bullet had touched him. He had horses shot from under him, but he had not been scratched. He therefore concluded:

I now exist and appear in the land of the living by the miraculous care of Providence that protected me beyond all human expectation."


Fifteen years later in 1770, an old Indian chief who was the leader of the Indians in the battle, met with him. This chief told him that he had instructed his braves to concentrate on killing Washington and he personally shot at Washington 17 times. He explained that his rifle had never before been known to miss. "He then told Washington:



I have traveled a long and weary path that I might see the young warrior of the great battle. [I am] come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of heaven, and who [can] never die in battle."

“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”


George Washington

Washington himself later wrote to his brother John, "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!"

Another significant event that took place was America’s first American Congress. They met September 6, 1774. They began the meeting with prayer led by Rev. Jacob Duche’, a local minister. "Of that time of prayer, John Adams reported:

Rev. Duche’, unexpectedly to everybody, struck out into an extemporary prayer which filled the bosom of every man present. I must confess I never heard a better prayer... with such fervor, such ardor, such earnestness, and pathos, and in language so elegant and sublime for America [and] for the Congress... It has had an excellent effect upon everybody here."

“I never heard a better prayer... for America [and] for the Congress...”


John Adams

Silas Deane, also a member of that Congress, declared that it was “a prayer... worth riding one hundred mile to hear” (meaning that it was worth spending three days on horseback to arrive in time for that prayer). As a result of that prayer, “even Quakers shed tears.” Additionally, the Congress read from four chapters in the Bible that morning, and as John Adams reported to his wife, Abigail, one particular chapter especially impacted the group:



I never saw a greater effect upon an audience. It seemed as if Heaven had ordained that Psalm to be read on the morning.... I must beg you to read that Psalm.... [Read] the 35th Psalm to [your friends]. Read it to your father."[2]


Have you ever heard these stories taught in school? Why not? These stories used to be in the school books. Why would people want to remove these stories? Should not the facts of what took place be reported? Isn't the right way to judge a matter is by having the facts laid out on the table? Is there a hidden agenda that is being pushed down upon us and upon our children? What else is being withheld? What else is slowly being chipped away? Jesus taught to judge matters by their fruits.

Another example of something not being taught in our school books has to do with the Revolutionary War. "Charles Bracelen Flood discovered in his research that during the Revolutionary War there were at least sixty-seven desperate moments when Washington acknowledged God intervened in behalf of the struggle for independence."[3] Were you taught even one of those stories if you attended public school? If not, why not?

"I have only been an instrument in the hands of Providence."[4]


George Washington

If you would like to learn more about our founders and their perspectives on God and stories similar to those shared; I would highly recommend the very inexpensive book by David Barton, America's Godly Heritage, which can be purchased at http://www.wallbuilders.com.


[1]: Federalist Papers, #37, James Madison

[2]: Americas Godly Heritage, David Barton, pp. 6-7, 12-16 ISBN 1-932225-66-8 http://www.wallbuilders.com

[3]: The 5000 Year Leap, W. Cleon Skousen, p. 99, ISBN: 0-88080-148-4, http://www.nccs.net

[4]: Americas Godly Heritage, David Barton, p. 16 ISBN 1-932225-66-8 http://www.wallbuilders.com

Additional Information:

Video-America's Godly Heritage

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