Independence Day Remembrance

   

     When the Declaration of Independence was signed in July 1776 there was great joy and enthusiasm in the American colonies. John Adams, one of the signers, and future president of this new republic penned these prophetic words to his wife, Abigail: The day on which the Declaration was passed “……will be the most memorable….. in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations, as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illumination from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore.” (John Adams, The Light and the Glory p.310)

     As we enter another election year in a country that has set the world standard for religious liberty and lawful and peaceable transfer of power by elected presidents, senators, and representatives, it is good to look back and see where God has had to intervene from time to time to help us achieve the freedoms that we enjoy in this nation. Freedoms that were penned on a piece of parchment, but then had to be won by long years of blood and sacrifice on numerous battlefields.

    August of the same year found the army of George Washington and the Continental Army in a precarious position. With 8 thousand troops, half of which were untrained, Washington’s army faced 15 thousand British soldiers and an additional 5 thousand Hessians (German mercenaries) in Brooklyn, New York, just across the East River from New York City.  In five days the Americans were almost surrounded and the British attacked inflicting heavy casualties. After the left and center of the Continental line was overwhelmed and pushed back, the right wing was surrounded and trapped. Led by William Alexander, they repeatedly attacked trying to return to American lines but were unable to break through. Washington and his other generals watched the action through telescopes and at one point Washington was observed wringing his hands and said “Good God, what brave fellows I must this day lose!” (The Light and the Glory, p.312) The Continentals were driven almost all the way back to the East River and were low on ammunition and other supplies. Surely the British Navy would now come up the river and bombard them from the back while the British Army attacked from the front.

     Now the Americans waited for the final attack that would finish them off. They waited and they waited. But for some reason, against all military logic, General Howe did nothing. He had planned and executed a masterful plan up until this point but now his army and navy were taking a break. Unbelievable! The next day dawned and still General Howe did nothing. All day the Americans waited for the enemies final assault but the British did nothing. In the afternoon it started raining and a strong Northeast wind kept the British from sailing up the river.

     Now Washington had a plan. They would evacuate Brooklyn by small boats during the night and pray that the British continued to do nothing by land or by river. His generals told him he was crazy. The British Navy could easily destroy a line of small boats as they crossed the mile wide river. At midnight, using a company of Marbleheaders, from Massachusets commanded by John Glover and another regiment of fishermen from Salem they began slowly and quietly rowing soldiers across the river in small boats. The night became clear and the moon was out so that they could be easily seen by the British, but no alarm was ever raised. As dawn approached there were still many that had to be evacuated. But as the sun arose, a fog rolled in and completely obscured the river and the silent evacuation.

   The fog remained intact until about noon until the last boat, with Washington in it, departed. At that point the British sounded the alarm and attacked but to no avail. By the time the British troops reached the shore and started firing at the boats they were out of range! 8 thousand troops had been evacuated without the loss of a single life! “Virtually every soldier who kept a diary that day recorded that fog, and most of them made a point of giving credit where credit was due. The Continental  Army had suffered a severe defeat, with some 15 hundred casualties. Yet, thanks to a storm, a wind, a fog, and too many other human ‘coincidences’ to number, there was still an Continental Army!” (The Light and the Glory, p.315)

    Anyone reading the history of the Continental Army throughout the Revolutionary War will see that time and time again the army was defeated but was never destroyed. It was able to enjoy an occasional small victory from time to time, but not until Yorktown, when once again a competent British General Cornwalis, blundered repeatedly until all he could do was surrender. We need to remember that it is God who raises up nations and leaders for the special times that they are needed according to His plans. We need to pray that God will raise up some new leaders for our nation today! Politicians that we have today are not the ones who will provide the leadership we need. We need godly leaders in the pulpits, in the judicial circuit, in business, and in the local and national government. Our job is to pray fervently and passionately for this leadership and to start today!

Pray:

11.   That God will raise up the godly leaders we need in our families, churches, businesses, local, state, and national governments.

22.   That God will help me to be more faithful in praying for these men and women that God is preparing to take these jobs of leadership.

33. That we will depend totally on God for His direction and leadership in all aspects of our lives.