Sermon Illustrations on Divine Intervention

A Butterfly Used to Answer Prayer

Jeremiah 32:27

God can use small, unexpected means to answer earnest prayers.

“Is there anything too hard for Me?” Jeremiah 32:27

An English evangelist, whom I have learned to know and love, Mr. H. P. Barker, tells an interesting story of a poor woman who was being pressed by a tradesman to pay an account which she knew she had already settled. In that case he demanded that she produce a receipt; quite certain she had received one she hunted and hunted, but was absolutely unable to find it. She went through piles of papers and letters, but to no avail — the receipt was not forthcoming. Finally the tradesman came to her again and made a very angry demand upon her for immediate payment.

In her distress she turned to the Lord in earnest prayer, asking Him to bring the receipt to light. Then in a moment or two, a butterfly flew into the room through an open window, and her little boy, eager to catch the beautiful creature, ran after it. The frightened insect flew over to the wall on one side and down behind a trunk. The boy in his eagerness to catch it, pushed out the trunk, and there, behind it on the floor lay the missing receipt! Snatching it up triumphantly, the poor widow showed it to the tradesman, who went away discomfited. As his own handwriting declared, the debt had been paid.

Who can doubt but that He who notes the sparrow’s fall and who would have us learn lessons from the ant and the coney and other small creatures, directed even the movements of a butterfly in order that He might answer His handmaiden’s prayer!

A Child Visits Abraham Lincoln, and Saves the Life of a Condemned Soldier

A child's faith and courage led to divine intervention saving a condemned soldier's life.

During the war I remember a young man, not twenty, who was court-martialed down in the front and sentenced to be shot; The story was this: The young fellow had enlisted. He was not obliged to, but he went off with another young man. They were what we would, call "chums." One night this companion was ordered out on picket duty, and he asked the young man to go for him. The next night he was ordered out himself; and having been awake two nights, and not being used to it, fell asleep at his post, and for the offense he was tried and sentenced to death. It was right after the order issued by the President that no interference would be allowed in cases of this kind. This sort of thing had become too frequent, and it must be stopped. When the news reached the father and mother in Vermont it nearly broke their hearts. The thought that their son should be shot was too great for them. They had no hope that he would be saved by anything they could do. But they had a little daughter who had read the life of Abraham Lincoln, and knew how he had loved his own children, and she said: "If Abraham Lincoln knew how my father and mother loved my brother he wouldn't let mm he shot." That little girl thought this matter over and made up her mind to see the President. She went to the White House, and the sentinel, when he saw her imploring looks, passed her in, and when she came to the door and told the private secretary that she wanted to see the President, he could not refuse her. She came into the chamber and found Abraham Lincoln surrounded by his generals and counselors, and when he saw the little country girl he asked her what she wanted. The little maid told her plain, simple story--how her brother, whom her father and mother loved very dearly, had been sentenced to be shot; how they were mourning for him, and if he was to die in that way it would break their hearts. The President's heart was touched with compassion, and he immediately sent a dispatch canceling the sentence and giving the boy a parole so that he could come home and see that father and mother. I just tell you this to show you how Abraham Lincoln's heart was moved by compassion for the sorrow of that father and mother, and if he showed so much do you think the Son of God will not have compassion upon you, sinner, if you only take that crushed, bruised heart to him?

Blown Into Harbour

Sometimes God uses hardships to bring people unexpectedly into salvation and faith.

"Men in a tempest are sometimes cast upon a place of safety which they had not made for by intention and foresight." Happy mariner, who is forced into port! Blessed is that wave which throws the drowning sailor upon the rock of safety! Such propitious forces are abroad at times, and especially in the spiritual world. We mean not to exclude the agency of the will when

we speak of certain compulsions which have driven men into happiness for which they had not looked. "Had I not lost my eyes," said one, "I had never seen my Saviour." Another attributed his spiritual riches to the fact that he lost all his property, and so was driven to his God for consolation. The utmost faith in God has sometimes been created by the Holy Spirit by means of the utter and entire failure of all visible help. Many a wayward mind has been set free from the bonds of its own obstinate will by being yet more firmly bound by a sacred impulse which would not be denied. When we reach the heights of glory we shall ascribe our felicity, not to our own will or merit, but to those sweet forces which drew us to heaven with cords of love and bands of a man; and perhaps not less to certain ruder agencies, which beat like hurricanes upon our pride, and sank our self-confidence in the floods, wrecking us into rest, destroying us into salvation.

Angel, Legend of the Destroying

Archangel Michael's appearance signified God's protection stopping a deadly plague in Rome.

When Rome was nearly depopulated by a pestilence in the sixth century, St. Gregory, afterwards hope, advised that a procession should be made through the streets of the city, singing the service since called the Great Litanies. He placed himself at the head of the faithful, and, during three days, they perambulated the city; and on the third day, when they had arrived opposite to the mole of Hadrian, Gregory beheld the Archangel Michael alight on the summit of that monument, and sheathe his sword befropped with blood. Then Gregory knew that the plague was stayed; and a church was there dedicated to the honor of the archangel, and the tomb of Hadrian has since been called the Castle of Sant' Angelo to this day.

— Mrs. Jameson

Angels, Ministry of

Angels minister to believers in distress, providing comfort and aid during suffering.

In the ecclesiastical history of Socrates, there is mention made of one Theodorus, a martyr put to extreme torments by Julian the Apostate, and dismissed again by him when he saw him unconquerable. Rufinus, in his history, saith, that he met with this martyr a long time after his trial, and asked him whether the pains he felt were not insufferable. He answered, that at first it was somewhat grievous; but, after a while, there seemed to stand by him a young man in white, who, with a soft and comfortable handkerchief, wiped off the sweat from his body (which, through extreme anguish, was little less than blood), and bade him be of good cheer, insomuch as then it was rather a punishment than a pleasure to him to be taken off the rack: when the tormentors had done, the angel was gone. Thus it is that the blessed angels of God have ministered from time to time to his people, in the days of their distress. They pity our human frailties, and secretly suggest comfort, when we perceive it not; they are as ready to help us as the bad angels are to tempt us; always they stand looking on the face of God to receive orders, which they no sooner have than they readily despatch. Spencer.

Battle, Legend of St

A vision of St. Jago inspired soldiers to trust God and win a decisive battle.

James in. In the year of our Lord 939, King Ramirez, having vowed to deliver Castile from the shameful tribute imposed by the Moors, of one hundred virgins delivered annually, collected his troops, and defied their king Abdelraman to battle.

"The king called God to witness, that, came there weal or woe, Thenceforth no maiden tribute from our Castile should go. 'At least I will do battle on God our Saviour's foe, And die beneath my banner before I see it so.'"

Accordingly, he charged the Moorish host on the Plain of Alveida or Clavijo. After a furious conflict, the Christians were, by the permission of Heaven, defeated, and forced to retire. Night separated the combatants; and King Ramirez, overpowered with fatigue, and sad at heart, flung himself upon his couch, and slept. In his sleep he beheld the apostle St. Jago, who promised to be with him next morning in the field, and assured him of victory. The king, waking up from the glorious vision, sent for his prolates and officers, to whom he related it; and the next morning, at the head of his army, he recounted it to his soldiers, bidding them rely on heavenly aid. He then ordered the trumpets to sound to battle. The soldiers, inspired with fresh courage, rushed to the fight. Suddenly, St. Jago was seen mounted on a milk-white charger, and waving aloft a white standard: he led on the Christians, who gained a decisive victory, leaving sixty thousand Moors dead on the field. This was the famous battle of Clavijo; and, ever since that day, "SANTIAGO!" has been the war-ery of the Spanish armies.

— Mrs. Jameson

Dependence, Omnipotence of

A president pardons a condemned man moved by a mother's humble plea and family presence.

During the presidency of John Adams, a German by the name of John Fries was sentenced to be hung. Fries was aged, and had a wife and ten children. Previous to his expected execution, his wife arrived in the city with her ten children; one of the number being a suckling. Her appearance and her numerous progeny excited great commiseration. A petition was prepared, and signed by thousands; and, through friends, an audience was solicited of the President. It was considered of vital importance to the fate of Fries, that his wife, accompanied by her numerous offspring, should present the petition. A few persons conducted her to the presence of President Adams. As soon as they approached him, the aged matron, with her nine children and one at her breast, kneeled before the President, and in that humble posture sued for the life of her husband, and the father of her innocent children. The President became so affected, that he granted an immediate pardon.

Dreams, Divine Action in

A dream led to discovering a murder, illustrating supernatural divine intervention.

A young woman was murdered in a barn, and buried under the floor. She was thought by all who concerned themselves about her to be still alive in another place; and the murder remained not only undiscovered, but unsuspected at the time, when the young woman's mother was warned repeatedly in a dream to search the barn. She did so: the murder was thus discovered, and the murderer (Corder) condemned and executed. Now, from what other cause than a supernatural action upon the mind of the mother could this dream have been produced? Dr. Kitto.

Extremity, Belief in

God miraculously provides for a faithful family facing eviction in winter.

In a village in Poland, there lived a pious peasant. Without any fault on his part, he had come short in the payment of his rent; and the landlord had threatened to turn him out, although it was in the middle of winter. On the next day, he, with his wife and children, were to leave their home. During the evening, he was conducting family worship, and, while reading a portion of Holy Scripture, there was a knock at the window. It proceeded from an old friend, a raven which Dorby's father had taken from the nest and trained. He opened the window: the raven popped in, having in its beak a ring set with costly stones. At first, he thought of disposing of the ring; but, on reflection, he took it to the minister. The latter at once, never nized the ring as one belonging to King Stanislaus, to whom he went immediately, and told the story. The king sent for Dorby, and rewarded him, so that, at once, he was relieved of want; and the next year he made him a present of a new house and garden. Above the house-door a tablet was erected, with the Bible text inscribed thereon: "Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee."

Youth, Exposure of

Rescue requires immediate action, not delay, even in the face of great danger.

Fable of Andromeda. Cassiopeia, Queen of the Ethiopians, offended the sea-nymphs by comparing her beauty to theirs; and they sent a horrid sea-monster to ravage along her coasts. Andromeda, her daughter, was chained to a rock on the margin of the sea, there to await the coming of the monster to devour her. Thus it was hoped to appease the anger of the goddesses. Perseus, one of the gods, discovered her there. They heard a frightful sound, and beheld the monster rushing through the waters towards his prey. The virgin shrieked: the father and mother now arrived, only embraced the victim, and wept. Perseus cried, "There will be time enough for tears: this hour is all we have for rescue!" Then he flew upon, and rested not till he had slain, the monster.

The Drowning Lady

God's providence arranged a timely rescue for a drowning lady.

—A gay lady in New England once had occasion to go to a neighboring town, where she had often been before. In the immediate vicinity was a stream which she had to go near, and which at this period was high. With a view of showing her courage to a young person whom she had taken with her as a companion, she went into the stream with her horse, and in a very little time was thrown into the water,—had already sunk once or twice to the bottom, and felt that she was within a few moments of an eternal world, without being prepared for so great a change.

It so happened, that a young man in another neighboring town had felt a powerful impression on his mind that morning, that he would visit the same place. He had no business to transact; but, being forcibly impressed with the importance of going thither, he invited a young man to accompany him. Arriving at the side of the stream just as the young ladies were about to cross it, they saw it was improbable that they could ford it; yet, as the ladies went, they determined to follow.

By the time the young lady was thrown from her horse, the others had nearly reached the opposite shore; but, perceiving her danger, one of them immediately followed her on his horse, and in the last moment of life, as it then appeared, she caught hold of the horse's leg; he thus secured her, and snatching hold of the other drowning young lady, she was saved also. After the use of proper remedies they recovered; and the young gentlemen, believing that the design of their coming from home was now answered, returned back. The impressions made on the mind of this young lady were permanent, and she was led to reflect on the sins she had committed against God, to pray for the pardon of her guilt, and to devote herself to the Divine service. She embraced the mercy of the Lord, believing in the Redeemer, who alone saves from the wrath to come. In the same town with herself lived a young gentleman, who had often spent his hours in vain conversation with her. On her return home, he went to congratulate her on her escape, and to his surprise, found she attributed her deliverance to the power of God, and urged him to seek that grace which they had both neglected. Her serious conversation was bled to his conversion, and he became a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Cole'S Commission

A Protestant woman’s clever act prevented a persecution commission from reaching its destination.

It is related, in the papers of Richard earl of Cork, that towards the conclusion of Queen Mary's reign, a commission was signed for the persecution of the Irish Protestants; and, to give greater weight to this important affair, Dr. Cole was nominated one of the commission. The doctor in his way to Dublin, stopped at Chester, where he was waited upon by the mayor; to whom, in the course of conversation, he imparted the object of his mission, and exhibited the leather box which contained his credentials. The mistress of the inn, where this interview took place, being a Protestant, and having overheard the conversation, seized the opportunity, while the doctor was attending the mayor to the bottom of the stairs, of exchanging the commission for a dirty pack of cards, on the top of which she facetiously turned up the knave of clubs. The doctor, little suspecting the trick, secured his box, pursued his journey, and arrived in Dublin on the 7th of October, 1558. He then lost no time in presenting himself before lord Fitzwalter and the privy council; to whom, after an explanatory speech, the box was presented, which to the astonishment of all present, was found to contain only a pack of cards! The doctor, greatly chagrined, returned instantly to London, to have his commission renewed: but while waiting a second time on the coast for a favorable wind, the news reached him of the queen's decease, which prevented the persecution, that would have otherwise proved so awful a calamity. Queen Elizabeth was so much gratified with these facts, which were related to her by Lord Fitzwalter on his return to England, that she sent for the woman, whose name was Elizabeth Edwards, and gave her a pension of forty pounds a year during her life.

Wishart And The Psalm

Psalms 119:1

Faithful prayer and trust in God's word can result in unexpected deliverance.

The Covenanters, in the time of the civil wars were exceedingly fond of singing psalms. When the great Montrose was taken prisoner, his chaplain, Wishart, the elegant historian of his deeds, shared the same fate with his patron, and was condemned to the same punishment. Being desired on the scaffold to name what psalm he wished to have sung, he selected the 119th, consisting of twenty-four parts. In this he was guided by God; for before two thirds of the psalm was sung a pardon arrived.

# IN BESTOWING VARIOUS BLESSINGS.

316. In Overruling Benevolence.

Bible-Recorded Visits

Angelic visits often come in unexpected ways, sometimes bringing judgment.

When angels have come they have spoken to a patriarch in the door of his tent—to a distressed husbandman threshing his wheat under an oak—to persecuted apostles in prison. But can you think of an instance of divine or angelic visitation to a king on his throne—to a nobleman in his palace—to a rich man surrounded with splendors? An angel once came to a seer who was trusting to his own wisdom, and trying hard to outwit Omniscience; but it was with a drawn sword. An angel once came to a king on a throne, but it was to smite him with worms, so that he gave up the ghost.

Helpfulness

God’s care extends from kings to tiny creatures, showing divine helpfulness.

* * * * *

The Koran tells of an angel who was sent from heaven to earth to do two things. One was to save King Solomon from doing some wrong thing to which he was inclined; and the other was to help a tiny yellow ant carry its load. (Text.)

Interruption

Acts 12:6

God miraculously intervenes to free a faithful prisoner at the critical moment.

See HAPPINESS.

INTERVENTION, DIVINE

A large number of Russian criminals were standing in the courtyard of their prison, chained together, and about starting for their long journey to Siberia. Among them was one Christian Stundist, sharing their banishment because he had spoken to his fellow workmen about the faith in Christ he profest. His fellow prisoners were jeering him about it, saying: “You are no better off than we. You are wearing the bracelets (handcuffs) as we do; if your God is of any use to you, why doesn’t he knock off your chains and set you free?” The man reverently replied, “If the Lord will He can set me free even now; and tho my hands are chained my heart is free.” At that moment his name was called; a paper had just been received granting him a full pardon. He was then told to stand aside; his chains were struck off. At the same time the prison gates were thrown open and all the rest of the convicts filed out, the Stundist remaining behind with permission to return to his family and friends. It is said the prisoners were perfectly awestricken with what they had witnessed. Unknown to the Stundist, a Christian lady had obtained his pardon, and God had ordered its arrival at the critical moment.

Life-Saving

Divine providence works through faithful service and technology to save lives.

See KNOWLEDGE APPLIED.

LIFE-SAVING BY WIRELESS

The former sound liner _Kentucky_ is at the bottom of the Atlantic at lat. 32.10, long. 76.30, which is more than a hundred miles off the South Carolina coast, south of Cape Hatteras. Her captain and crew of forty-six men are on their way to Key West on board the Mallory liner _Alamo_. It was the fourth rescue by wireless since that method of communication at sea has been in use. Called by the international distress signal, the _Alamo_ reached the sinking vessel just as the electricity died and but an hour before she sank.

In the meantime her distress calls, heard throughout Atlantic coast waters and sent by W. G. Maginnis, wireless operator, had started speeding toward her the United States Government battleship _Louisiana_, on a speed trial in the vicinity, the cruiser _Birmingham_ and the revenue cutters _Yamacraw_ and _Seminole_.

When 150 miles off Sandy Hook, at the very outset of her long journey, she sprang a leak. By working hard at the pumps Captain Moore managed to get her into Newport News with sixteen inches of water in her hold. She was repaired and certified safe and sound by the United States inspector there and Lloyds. Luckily, this little wooden ship, packed tight with coal, had been installed with wireless before she left. The international distress call, S. O. S., set the sound waves jumping all over the coast and the Atlantic. The United States Government received the message at the same time that every sea-captain on the ocean got it. The _Alamo_, bound for Key West, got it at 11:30 and headed dead for the source at once. Later this came through the air:

“We are sinking. Our lat. is 32 deg. 10 min.; long., 76 deg. 30 min.

“KENTUCKY.”

The _Alamo_ was sixty-five miles off. She had made the run by 3:50 o’clock, when the _Kentucky_ appeared in sight.

The boat was sinking rapidly and in half a gale the work of transferring the crew of the _Kentucky_ by lifeboat was accomplished. As the last man was taken off only the superstructure was visible above the water.

Memory Revived By Sickness

Fever can temporarily restore forgotten memories, revealing the mind's hidden impressions.

A case cited by Dr. Abercrombie confirms the suggestive theory that the stimulus which fever gives to the circulation (sign of the disease tho it is) may bring dormant mental impression into temporary activity. A boy at the age of four had undergone the operation of trepanning being at the time in a state of stupor from a severe fracture of the skull. After his recovery he retained no recollection either of the accident or of the operation. But at the age of fifteen, during an attack of fever, he gave his mother an account of the operation, describing the persons who were present, and even remembering details of their dress and other minute particulars.--RICHARD A. PROCTOR, New York _Mail and Express_.

All He Needed Was Salvation

The following drama was originally reported by Peter Michelmore in the October 1987 “Readers Digest.” Normally the flight from Nassau to Miami took Walter Wyatt, Jr. only sixty-five minutes. But on December 5, 1986, he attempted it after thieves had looted the navigational equipment in his Beechcraft. With only a compass and a hand-held radio, Walter flew into skies blackened by storm clouds.

When his compass began to gyrate, Walter concluded he was headed in the wrong direction. He flew his plane below the clouds, hoping to spot something, but soon he knew he was lost. He put out a Mayday call, which brought a Coast Guard Falcon search plane to lead him to an emergency landing strip only six miles away.

Suddenly Wyatt’s right engine coughed its last and died. The fuel tank had run dry. Around 8 p.m. Wyatt could do little more than glide the plane into the water. Wyatt survived the crash, but his plane disappeared quickly, leaving him bobbing on the water in a leaky life vest.

With blood on his forehead, Wyatt floated on his back. Suddenly he felt a hard bump against his body. A shark had found him. Wyatt kicked the intruder and wondered if he would survive the night. He managed to stay afloat for the next ten hours.

In the morning, Wyatt saw no airplanes, but in the water a dorsal fin was headed for him. Twisting, he felt the hide of a shark brush against him. In a moment, two more bull sharks sliced through the water toward him. Again he kicked the sharks, and they veered away, but he was near exhaustion.

Then he heard the hum of a distant aircraft. When it was within a half mile, he waved his orange vest. The pilot dropped a smoke canister and radioed the cutter Cape York, which was twelve minutes away: “Get moving, cutter! There’s a shark targeting this guy!”

As the Cape York pulled alongside Wyatt, a Jacob’s ladder was dropped over the side. Wyatt climbed wearily out of the water and onto the ship, where he fell to his knees and kissed the deck.

He’d been saved. He didn’t need encouragement or better techniques. Nothing less than outside intervention could have rescued him from sure death. How much we are like Walter Wyatt!

Fan Interference Or Divine Intervention?

Baseball fans will talk about the first game of the 1996 American League championship series between the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles for years to come. The game was played in New York. Going into the bottom of the eighth inning Baltimore led 4-3. With one out and Armando Benitez on the mound, Yankee Derek Jeter hit a towering blast to right field. Orioles right fielder Tony Tarasco ran back to the wall and timed his jump perfectly to snatch the ball before it hit high off the right-field fence.

But before the ball landed safely in his glove, the unexpected happened. “To me it was a magic trick,” said Tarasco later, “because the ball just disappeared out of midair.”

Not quite. A twelve-year-old boy from New Jersey named Jeff Maier had skipped school that day to come to the game and was seated in the front row in right field. When that towering fly ball fell straight in front of him, he did what any Yankee fan would do: he reached out over the wall with his baseball glove and scooped the ball into the stands.

The “magic” continued. The umpire erroneously called it a home run, tying the score. The game went into extra innings, and in the bottom of the eleventh Yankee Bernie Williams hit the home run that won the game, giving the Yankees a 1-0 lead in the series. Afterward the Orioles called the fan interference an outrage. Yankee fans called it a miracle. The Yankees went on to win the series 4 games to 1.

Like the Yankees, sometimes we need outside intervention. We need God to reach out and break the rules of nature to help’ us. Miracles are possible for those who pray and believe.

________

Craig Brian Larson, CHOICE CONTEMPORARY STORIES & ILLUSTRATIONS FOR PREACHERS, TEACHERS, & WRITERS (Baker Books), p. 176.

Cause and Effect

Job 4:8

He may effect us directly by His Spirit, with the force of a thunderbolt, or He may choose to woo us gently by stirring up our conscience. But, in addition, God affects us by determining that in the universe certain causes shall bring about certain effects. Cause and effect is, therefore, the operation of God through normal channels rather than through special channels. We have our normal way of acting when we drive a car. We can more or less put it in “automatic pilot” while we carry on a conversation, but when an emergency arises, we take conscious personal control. I have a hunch that God has something for which this automatic pilot will serve as an illustration. That is, His routine way of operating is cause and effect, and He is in control of it, so that when cause and effect affects us, then God is affecting us. That is what the Apostle Paul means in Galatians when he says, “Do not kid yourself -- God is not blind. What you do, you will get paid for.” The causes which we have set in operation by our own personal choices will inevitably bring about certain results. But God is involved because God makes cause and effect to work.

But since cause and effect is under the personal control of God, He can introduce into the situation other causes than the ones which we ourselves can control. When in faith we come to God for cleansing from the mess we have made of things, and when we ask for power to reverse causes we have set in motion, God sends in other causes by His Holy Spirit. It may be by direct intervention, or by a combination of circumstances which He controls. We can, therefore, be delivered from the wrath to come, because God will add other causes than those that we have initiated.

________

Kenneth L. Pike, “With Heart and Mind”

Bad Deists

Some Christians argue that America’s Founders were overwhelmingly Christian in their faith and outlook, and many were even evangelicals. Most secularists, on the other hand, claim that these men were Enlightenment Deists and Freethinkers, a way of saying they were atheists or at least hard agnostics.

Clearly, there were deeply committed Christ-followers, such as John Witherspoon and Benjamin Rush, who were significant but are often overlooked leaders involved in the Revolution and the Constitutional Convention. At the same time, some of our Founders, though religious, were far from being evangelical, even heterodox. But how many were Deists, as is often claimed? For example, Thomas Jefferson is often cited as a Deist.

Deism teaches that God created the universe but does not in any way intervene in the world. By this definition, none of the Founders would qualify, including Jefferson. Consider these words recorded on the walls of the Jefferson Memorial:

God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever. Commerce between master and slave is despotism. Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free.

In other words, Jefferson was concerned about God judging the nation for slavery. This is something no good Deist would say. He may not have been an evangelical or an orthodox Christian, but Jefferson was no Deist.

Another example is Benjamin Franklin, often recognized as the least religious of the Founders. At an impasse during the Constitutional Convention, Franklin famously said:

In this situation of this Assembly groping as it were in the dark to find political truth, and scarce able to distinguish it when presented to us, how has it happened, Sir, that we have not hitherto once thought of humbly applying to the Father of lights to illuminate our understandings? In the beginning of the contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the Divine Protection. Our prayers, Sir, were heard, and they were graciously answered. All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a Superintending providence in our favor. To that and providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?

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 [H]is notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without [H]is aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings that “except the Lord build the House they labor in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without [H]is concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and a bye word down to future age. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human Wisdom, and leave it to chance, war, and conquest.

I therefore beg leave to move — that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that service.

A good Deist would never seek divine intervention or rely on answered prayer. Here Franklin does both. Like Jefferson, if he was a Deist, he was a really bad one. In fact, the faith that influenced the founding was not always faithful to orthodoxy, but it was far more influential than Deism.

________

The Ordinary God

Job 5:9

Several years ago researchers in England went door-to-door asking people about their belief in God. One of their questions was, “Do you believe in a God who intervenes in human history, who changes the course of affairs, who performs miracles, etc.?” One man who was asked that question answered, “No, I don’t believe in that God; I believe in the ordinary God.”

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Albert Mohler, Words from the Fire, Moody, 2009

Prayer Answered

God answers desperate prayers by providing unexpected help through others.

A penitentiary convict had been converted, and was released from prison in Chicago. He found it impossible to get work. He woke in the night, and arose and prayed for help. He prayed till daylight, crying in agony, “Oh, God, give a poor fellow a chance!” Then he drest and went out again to hunt work. Presently he heard a cry and saw a runaway horse coming down toward him. He snatched up a cracker-box and smashed it on the horse’s face. Then he seized the bridle and stopt him, tho he was dragged some distance; and in the crowd gathering about him was the father of the children in the carriage, and he was the man God sent to “give the poor fellow a chance.”--FRANKLIN NOBLE, “Sermons in Illustration.”