Trump was a centimeter or so away from having his brains [interesting what they would have found in there...] blown out. He turned his head away fraction of a second before the bullet hit his ear. hashem was RIGHT there making sure he remain alive. Not the first instance of clear Divine Providence in the history of the USA. It has been like that from the very beginning. A frum Jew, Michael Medved, wrote a whole book about it:
The national radio host and bestselling author of The American Miracle reveals the happy accidents, bizarre coincidences, and flat-out miracles that continue to shape America’s destiny.
“A hopeful message for our troubled times . . . Michael Medved has an eye for a story, and a preternatural gift for telling it in beguiling ways.”—Joseph J. Ellis, Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award–winning author of Founding Brothers
Has God withdrawn his special blessing from the United States? Americans ponder that painful question in troubled times, as we did during the devastation of the Civil War and after the assassinations of the ’60s, and as we do in our present polarization. Yet somehow—on battlefields, across western wilderness, and in raucous convention halls—astounding events have reliably advanced America, restoring faith in the Republic’s providential protection.
In this provocative historical narrative, Michael Medved brings to life ten haunting tales that reveal this purposeful pattern, including:
• A near-fatal carriage accident forces Lincoln’s secretary of state into a canvas-and-steel neck brace that protects him from a would-be assassin’s knife thrusts, allowing him two years later to acquire Alaska for the United States.
• A sudden tidal wave of Russian Jewish immigration, beginning in 1881, coincides with America’s rise to world leadership, fulfilling a biblical promise that those blessing Abraham’s children will themselves be blessed.
• Campaigning for president, Theodore Roosevelt takes a bullet in the chest, but a folded speech in his jacket pocket slows its progress and saves his life.
• At the Battle of Midway, U.S. planes get lost over empty ocean and then miraculously reconnect for five minutes of dive-bombing that wrecks Japan’s fleet, convincing even enemy commanders that higher powers intervened against them.
• A behind-the-scenes “conspiracy of the pure of heart” by Democratic leaders forces a gravely ill FDR to replace his sitting vice president—an unstable Stalinist—with future White House great Harry Truman.
These and other little-known stories build on themes of The American Miracle, Medved’s bestseller about America’s remarkable rise. The confident heroes and stubborn misfits in these pages shared a common faith in a master plan, which continues to unfold in our time. God’s Hand on America confirms that the founders were right about America’s destiny to lead and enlighten the world.
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The Founders of America had a providential view of history. In an address to the United States Congress in 1866, historian George Bancroft reflected this predominant philosophy when he said: “That God rules in the affairs of men is as certain as any truth of physical science.” 1
American history is filled with instances of God’s supernatural intervention in important events. In the colonial era, this included, among myriads of examples, Pocahontas providentially saving John Smith’s life, God sending Squanto to help the Pilgrims survive in their new home, William Penn receiving a charter “through my God” to start a new colony, the miraculous defeat of the French fleet sent to destroy America in 1746, the great outpouring of God’s Spirit during the First Great Awakening, and God preserving Washington’s life during the French and Indian War. God’s providence continued during the American Revolution and was acknowledged by all.
In reviewing the events of the first few years of the Revolutionary War, George Washington wrote in 1778: “The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all of this, that he must be worse than an infidel that lacks faith, and more than wicked, that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligations.” 2
A conspicuous providential event that occurred two years later was the discovery of Benedict’s Arnold’s treason. In September 1780, “a combination of extraordinary circumstances” 3 occurred that led to the capture of British Major John André and the discovery of Benedict Arnold’s plan to yield West Point to the British. Washington explained what happened in a letter to General William Heath: “Major General Arnold has gone to the Enemy. He had had an interview with Major André, Adjutant General of the British Army, and had put into his possession a state of our Army; of the Garrison at this post; ... By a most providential interposition, Major André was taken in returning to New York with all these papers in General Arnold’s handwriting, who hearing of the matter kept it secret, left his Quarters immediately under pretense of going over to West Point on Monday forenoon, ... then pushed down the river in the barge, which was not discovered till I had returned from West Point in the Afternoon.” 4
After André had met with Arnold and obtained the information, he was traveling back to New York in civilian dress to deliver it to his superiors. On the road, he encountered a few American militiamen whom he mistook for loyalists. He talked too freely, which aroused their suspicion. They searched André and found the incriminating papers in his stockings. “They were offered,” Washington wrote, “a large sum of money for his release, and as many goods as they would demand, but without effect. Their conduct gives them a just claim to the thanks of their country.” 5 The militiamen took André to the nearest military outpost, where the officer, not realizing Arnold’s participation in the plot, notified him of André’s capture. Thus warned, Arnold fled to British lines. Had his treasonous plans not been found out, West Point would have fallen into British hands, which would have been a blow too great for the Continentals to sustain.
General Arnold plots his treasonous act with Major Andre. Washington said, "The providential train of circumstances which led to it (the discovery of the plot) affords the most convincing proof that the liberties of America are the object of divine Protection."
Washington wrote to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens: “In no instance since the commencement of the War has the interposition of Providence appeared more conspicuous than in the rescue of the Post and Garrison of West Point from Arnold’s villainous perfidy.” 6 In his general orders for September 26, 1780, Washington declared: “Treason of the blackest dye was yesterday discovered! General Arnold who commanded at West Point, lost to every sentiment of honor, of public and private obligation, was about to deliver up that important Post into the hands of the enemy. Such an event must have given the American cause a deadly wound if not a fatal stab. Happily, the treason has been timely discovered to prevent the fatal misfortune. The providential train of circumstances which led to it affords the most convincing proof that the Liberties of America are the object of divine Protection.” 7
The Continental Congress also attributed the discovery of the treason to “Almighty God, the Father of all mercies.” They “recommended to the several states to set apart Thursday, the seventh day of December next, to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer” where the people should praise and thank God, ask Him to pardon their sins and to smile upon their endeavors, petition Him for peace and blessings, and “to cause the knowledge of [religion] to spread over all the earth.” 8
This providential occurrence was typical of many similar events. God moved miraculously to direct history to further His purpose to bring liberty to mankind. The biblically minded Americans recognized the hand of God and officially gave thanks to Him.
Within three years of the discovery of Arnold’s plot, England officially recognized the independence of the United States of America when they signed the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, which appropriately begins with the words: “In the name of the Most Holy and Undivided Trinity. It having pleased the Divine Providence...” 9 Most Americans were in agreement that God directed the events leading to the birth of America and a new era of liberty in the world.
Four years later, representatives of the states formulated the United States Constitution, which went into effect in 1789 after it was ratified by the states. God’s providence was at work in this world-changing event as well. The Framers of the Constitution declared that the forming of that document was a miracle of God. Writing to Thomas Jefferson just a few weeks after the Convention, the Father of the Constitution James Madison said: “It is impossible to conceive the degree of concord which ultimately prevailed, as less than a miracle.” 10 Later Madison wrote: “It is impossible for the man of pious reflection not to perceive in it [the Constitutional Convention] a finger of that Almighty hand.” 11 Even the non-religious Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Our General Convention ... when it formed the new Federal Constitution, [was] ... influenced, guided, and governed by that omnipotent and beneficent Ruler in whom all ... live, and move, and have their being.” 12
Perhaps the greatest affirmation of this came from the most influential of all the Framers of the Constitution—George Washington. In a letter to his good friend, Governor Jonathan Trumbull of Connecticut, he wrote that the “adoption of the proposed General Government” disposed him to be of the opinion “that miracles have not ceased.” For, he said, one could “trace the finger of Providence through those dark and mysterious events, which first induced the States to appoint a general Convention and then led them one after another ... into an adoption of the system recommended by that general Convention.” 13
Just prior to the official ratification of the Constitution by the ninth state, New Hampshire, George Washington summed up the whole era by again referring to the hand of God: “Should everything proceed as we anticipate, it will be so much beyond anything we had a right to imagine or expect 18 months ago that it will demonstrate the finger of Providence in human affairs greater than any event in history.14
America’s Founders, both religious and irreligious, had a providential view of history. They believed, in the words of Franklin when he called the Constitutional Convention to prayer in the summer of 1787: “That God governs in the affairs of man. 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 the house, they labor in vain that build it” (Psalm 127:1). I firmly believe this, and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel.” 15
God gave birth to America to advance His liberty among the nations. The Founders of this exceptional nation acknowledged God’s hand and gave Him thanks for our growth and success. We have advanced due to His goodness and purposes, not our wisdom and abilities. If we reject Him and fail to rely upon Him, this great experiment in liberty will become like the ruins of Babel. Let us, therefore, follow the advice of the President of the Continental Congress and famous Declaration signatory, John Hancock: “Let us humbly commit our righteous cause to the great Lord of the Universe ... Let us joyfully leave our concerns in the hands of Him who raises up and puts down the empires and kingdoms of the earth as He pleases.” 16
FOOTNOTES
1. George Bancroft, Memorial Address on the Life and Character of Abraham Lincoln, Delivered at the Request of Both Houses of the Congress of America, Before Them in the House of Representatives at Washington, on the 12th of February, 1866 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1866), 3-4.
2. The Writings of George Washington (from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745–1799. Edited by John C. Fitzpatrick. 39 volumes. Washington DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1931), 12:343.
3. Washington to the president of Congress, October 13, 1780, The Writings of Washington, 20:173.
4. Washington to William Heath, September 26, 1780, The Writings of Washington, 20:88-89.
5. Washington to the president of Congress, September 26, 1780, The Writings of Washington, 20:92.
6. Washington to John Laurens, October 13, 1780, The Writings of Washington, 20:173.
7. The Writings of Washington, 20:95.
8. Journals of Congress, October 18, 1780, in Mark Beliles and Stephen McDowell, America’s Providential History (Charlottesville: Vir.: Providence Foundation, 1991), 165.
9. Treaty with Great Britain, American Historical Documents, 1000-1904, The Harvard Classics (Danbury, Conn.: Grolier Enterprises Corp., 1910, 1987), 174.
10. Robert A Rutland, ed., The Papers of James Madison (University of Chicago Press, 1962), 10:208.
11. Cleon Skousen, The Making of America, 5.
12. Albert Henry Smyth, editor, Writings of Benjamin Franklin (Macmillan Co., 1905-07), 9:702.
13. The Writings of George Washington, 29:525.
14. George Bancroft, History of the United States of America (D. Appleton and Co., 1891), 6:414.
15. James Madison’s Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 1987), 209-210.
16. John Hancock, “Oration, Delivered at Boston, March 5, 1774,” in Hezekiah Niles, Principles and Acts of the Revolution in America (New York: A.S. Barnes & Co., 1876), 42.
