July 10, 2025

The God of Providence

At the Constitutional Convention in 1787, brilliant Founding Father Benjamin Franklin called for prayer to end the contentious impasse being experienced. We quoted from his speech in a recent post [7/2/2025]. A portion of his appeal stated:

“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 His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His 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; I also believe that without His concurring aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”(1)

Without question, Franklin and those gathered with him at the Continental Congress believed that God wanted and needed to be involved in the birthing of America. On that specific occasion, they asked for His help in fashioning the Constitution of the United States of America. Just let that sink in. God was involved in every facet of forming this nation, including our Constitution. In this challenging time when some are trying to remove the influence of America’s Judeo-Christian roots, keep yourself reminded of this. 

I am always shocked and bewildered when I hear Christian leaders ignorantly deny that America was God’s idea. In their ignorance, they sometimes sign onto the blatantly obvious attempt to silence patriotic Christians by using the ridiculous phrase “Christian nationalists.” Many of them contend that the only nation God has ever birthed was Israel. However, Job 12:23 tells us, “He makes nations rise and then fall, builds up some and abandons others” (The Message). It is contradictory, at best, to assert that God would form a nation (Israel) in order to birth the Messiah, but wouldn’t do so for the primary purpose of spreading the good news of His redeeming sacrifice. To believe that God formed America for the purpose of propagating the gospel in no way insinuates that other people or nations do not also exist for divine purposes. As believers, we are all called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and extend His Kingdom on earth. The assertion simply means that this was the primary purpose for America’s existence.

The Delivering Fog

In Franklin’s passionate appeal for prayer, partially quoted above, he also referred to God’s frequent help during the War of Independence, describing it as “frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor.”(2) Some of the testimonies of God’s intervention in the Revolution involved the weather. Moms For America recounts one such example:

“The Battle of Brooklyn found the American forces surrounded by 32,000 British soldiers, 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! The mysterious fog saved the American revolutionaries from capture, or worse.”(3)

“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)

The God of providence came through!

Speaking of providence, Douglas S. Winnail recounts a providential miracle for the United States…before we even existed! When God was still shaping George Washington to be our first commander-in-chief and first president, Winnail said of the young Washington:

“…the fact that he lived to lead this young nation was due to 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. They were 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. I had four bullets through my coat, and two horses shot under me, yet escaped unhurt, while death was leveling my companions on every side of me.’ 

“A Native American who fought in the battle stated later, ‘Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had seventeen fair fires at him with my rifle and yet could not bring him to the ground.’”(5)

The God who declares the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) was preserving and shaping the first president of the United States of America…before there even was a United States of America! And this providential God is not finished with our nation.

Pray with me:

God of Providence, remind us today to keep our focus and gaze on You in this strategic hour of history. May we not be distracted by world events, the clamor of those who don’t like our patriotism, or any other tactic of the enemy. Keep us reminded that You are ruling in the affairs of men, and that we must listen carefully to You for our instructions and guidance. Six times in Daniel 7, You said of Daniel that he “kept looking.” After each time You gave Him a vision and instructions, he “kept looking.” We must do the same. 

We ask for Your guidance as we pray for America and her role in the coming worldwide revival. We ask for this guidance for those working to restore our nation. Lead our President and his team, as well as our legislators and leaders at the state and local levels. Give us a strong America so that we might serve Your purposes in our generation (Acts 13:36).

Motivate the church to rise up as never before and contend for Your purposes. Fan the flames of intercession where they may have dwindled, and bring Your fire and passion to the church. Give a renewed hunger for Your presence and Your cause on the Earth. AND GIVE US LISTENING AND HEARING HEARTS! All of this, we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

Our decree:

We decree that He who began a good work in America will finish it!

Click on the link below to watch the full video.

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1. Benjamin Franklin. June 28, 1787. James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (1787; reprinted NY: W.W. Norton and Co., 1987), pp. 209-210. David Barton, The Myth of Separation (Aledo, TX: WallBuilder Press, 1991), pp. 108-109. Gallard Hunt and James B. Scott, Ed., The Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787, Which Framed the Constitution of the United States of America, reported by James Madison (New York: Oxford University Press, 1920), pp. 181-182. Tim LaHaye, Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Brentwood, TN: Wolgemuth & Hyatt, Publishers, Inc., 1987), pp. 122-124. George Bancroft, Bancroft’s History of the Constitution of the United States Vols I-X (Boston: Charles C. Little & James Brown, 1838), Vol. II. Stephen Abbott Northrop, D.D., A Cloud of Witnesses (Portland, Oregon: American Heritage Ministries, 19887), pp. 159-160.

2. Ibid.

3. https://momsforamerica.us/blog/5-surprising-miracles-from-god-that-helped-make-america-great/ 

4. https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2017/july-august/miracles-of-the-american-revolution 

5. https://www.tomorrowsworld.org/magazines/2017/july-august/miracles-of-the-american-revolution