Praise Him from whom all blessings flow
On Tuesday, July 4, we will celebrate our nation’s 247th birthday. While no nation has a perfect history since all nations are made up of sinful human beings, we as a nation have enjoyed remarkable blessings throughout our history, beginning with success in the Revolutionary War which seemed to indicate Divine intervention. The following is an excerpt from a devotion for July 4, 2017, penned by Rev. Ken Klaus, former speaker of The Lutheran Hour, who recently went home to heaven.
Only 25 days after the Declaration of Independence had been signed by the last delegate, General George Washington's army found itself trapped on the edge of Brooklyn, New York’s, East River. The British had 20,000 seasoned soldiers ready to attack the 8,000 inexperienced, raw Colonials. The end, as everyone could plainly see, was imminent. It would have been imminent, but for some reason -- some illogical, inexplicable reason -- the British forces drew up short. They hesitated. Some have suggested the British commander was waiting for his fleet to sail up the river. The fleet didn’t come, at least not when they were expected. A northwest wind blew, rains came, and the British ships couldn’t set sail.
If the British hesitated, Washington didn’t. Under the cover of darkness, using small boats, Washington led his men in retreat. With haste, carrying a few men at a time, the boats crisscrossed the river. The goal was to save as much of the army as was possible. The night passed before the job was completed. The approach of dawn would make the ferrying boats target practice for the skilled artillerymen of the British. That’s the way history might have written the end of the Rebel Army, but it didn’t happen that way. Just as the sun came up, so did a fog. It wasn’t so thick you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face, but it was thick enough so visibility was reduced to less than 20 feet. The fog hung on until the last Colonial boat, the one with Washington, was launched. The best the British could do was lob some shells at Washington’s boat, which was out of range.
[Some would think that it was all coincidence, that] it would be foolish to think that God sent the rains, that God directed the winds, that God brought up the fog.... But almost every one of the American soldiers who recorded the events of that night gave credit for these “coincidental happenings” to the Triune God. And there were many British troops who wondered if they shouldn't go home since the Lord was obviously fighting for the Colonies. No doubt, many of the American men, having been delivered by this miracle, thought of Psalm 107:1: “Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”
While it may seem that an increasing number of people see no need to give thanks to a God they consider to be born of imagination, we, His people, know differently. And so we continue to make use of the great blessing of being able to freely worship together and speak of what we know to be true. Our God is at work throughout history to accomplish His will. God grant that we honor Him by seeking to follow that will and truly live as salt and light, unashamedly praising Him from whom all blessings flow.