Do We Believe in Providence?

I Samuel 8:14 says, "And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive-yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants." The people of Israel had been asking for a king and Samuel told them these words and still they chose to have a king, "That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles." I Samuel 8:20

Later, Samuel reminded the people of their own history how it was God who brought them out of Egypt and Who fought their battles for them. Even when they served false gods, God delivered them when they cried out to Him.

We need to be reminded of our history as Americans. Our Founding Fathers depended upon God to fight the battles. Most believed in the Providence of God. George Washington wrote to his brother after fighting during the French and Indian War, "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!" Later, an Indian Chief who had fought in that battle declared that Washington was indeed shielded by the Great Spirit.

John Jay, the first Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court declared: "Providence has given to our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty as well as the privilege and interest of our Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers."

His grandson later wrote, "'It is high time to wake out of sleep!' This gathering of citizens from distant parts, representing the millions who hold to the Bible, and cherish the institutions founded upon its inspired truths, shows that the nation is awakening to the perils, foreign and domestic, which threatens the purity of its Christian civilization."

It has been discovered that after reviewing thousands of documents from our Founding Fathers that "Direct and indirect quotes combined reveal that 94% of all the quotes of the Founding Fathers are derived from the Bible." (America's God & Country Encyclopedia of Quotations)

Our current administration has declared that "We are no longer a Christian nation." I guess we are like the Israelites who wanted a king (president/government) to protect them and not God Almighty. Because we have allowed God to be removed out of public life we have what Abraham Lincoln said, "The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next." He also stated, "The only assurance of our nation's safety is to lay our foundation in morality and religion."

We have forgotten our history just like the Israelites, and we have become like other nations who were not established as Christian nations. God help us to pray for our country, its leaders, and us to know what we need to do to make sure our nation doesn't fall. As the old saying goes, "For evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

If only we as Christians and Americans would do as John Adams, our 2nd President wrote: "Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their only law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited! Every member would be obliged in conscience, to temperance, frugality, and industry; to justice, kindness, and charity towards his fellow men; and to piety, love, and reverence toward Almighty God . . . What a Eutopia, what a Paradise would this region be."

"Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you." I Samuel 12:24 God, help us remember that every good and perfect gift comes from you, not the king (government).

KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON

KAREN