The concluding sentence of the Declaration of Independence reads, “With a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.”
Bestselling author Michael Medved recently wrote a fascinating book, The American Miracle – Divine Providence in the Rise of the Republic.
Medved, an orthodox Jew, points out a series of incredible miracles from the landing of the Mayflower up to today that can’t be dismissed as luck or coincidences. Medved insists we’re not lucky; we’re blessed. As an example, Medved recounts the Battle of Long Island in 1776. The following is a condensed summary from the book:
Following the Declaration of Independence, George Washington was asked to lead America’s army against the most powerful military in the world. Earlier that year, Washington had admitted to his military aid Joseph Reed that he would never have accepted the command if he had known how undisciplined the army was and the perilous position in which he would find himself. Washington knew their only hope was the necessary intervention of a higher power. If the Continental Army were to prevail, Washington wrote, “…I shall most religiously believe that the finger of Providence is in it, to blind the eyes of our enemies…” (Letter to Joseph Reed, January 14, 1776).
At the beginning of the Revolutionary War, General Washington had 9,000 troops hopelessly trapped on Long Island. 
Two miles away, 20,000 British troops were poised to attack. The rag-tag Continental Army was trapped on the edge of the East River by the mighty British army. It looked as if they were going to be wiped out, and the Revolution would be suppressed just four months into the fight.
The British had massive ships in the harbor at the mouth of the river. The British plan was to sail two of those ships with 72 canons upriver, making a retreat across the mile-wide inlet impossible. But strangely, a fierce storm with almost hurricane-force winds arose and prevented the ships from sailing upstream. British General William Howe then decided to wait for the storm to subside before attacking.
But George Washington astutely chose to evacuate his troops across the treacherous waters at night when they couldn’t be spotted. He secured small boats from the area, slowly battled the wind and waves, and managed to get half his army to the other side. Washington knew, when dawn would break, the British would see their movements and attack. At this point, his troops were divided and exhausted. He was toast!
However, at dawn, the wind mysteriously, inexplicably subsided, and a dense fog “so thick you couldn’t see six yards in front of you” settled over the river. The river became smooth as glass. And in the next couple of hours, every Revolutionary Soldier was safely evacuated to the other side. One Connecticut soldier, who operated a boat, reported he made 11 trips across the river under cover of darkness and fog. They said the amazing thing was there was no fog on the opposite side of the river, making it easy to safely and quickly disembark. Not one soldier was lost. The Continental Army lived to fight another day.
Major Tallmadge reported that when the astonished and enraged British finally swarmed over the empty American camp, “They could not find so much as a biscuit or glass of rum wherewith to console themselves.”
How do you think the press of that day reported the incident? The New England Chronicle designated Washington’s maneuver “a masterpiece” and “a sign that Providence favored us.” Don’t you wish the media was that sensitive to God’s favor today?
In his book 1776, respected, contemporary historian David McCullough wrote, “Incredibly, yet again, circumstances, fate, luck, Providence, the Hand of God, as would be said, so often intervened.”
In President George Washington’s first inaugural address on April 30, 1789, he credited God for guiding the nation to its looming greatness. “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of Providential agency.”
Skeptics may call the Revolutionary Army’s survival and ultimate defeat of the British as good fortune. But George Washington called it Providence. Not coincidence but a “God-incidence.” Not lucky but blessed!
Even Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Earl Warren, one of the most liberal judges in history, wrote in 1954, “I believe that no one can read the history of our country without realizing that the Good Book and the spirit of the Savior have from the beginning been our guiding geniuses.” (Time Magazine, February 15, 1954)
Psalm 33:12 promises, “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance.” That verse applies not just to Israel but to any nation that honors God. America has never been a perfect nation. But it is a unique nation in that it began with “a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.” As always, God kept His promise. That doesn’t make us superior to anyone, but it should make us more grateful than everyone.
Michael Medved wrote, “The history of the United States displays an uncanny pattern: At moments of crises, when the odds against success seem overwhelming and disaster looks imminent, fate intervenes to provide deliverance and progress. Historians may categorize these incidents as happy accidents, callous crimes, or the product of brilliant leadership, but the most notable leaders of the past 400 years have identified this good fortune as something else – a reflection of Divine Providence.”
Lord, please intervene once again!
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