A helpless baby, born amongst a subjugated people to a powerless young woman, cast out into the humblest of shelters, far from home. At first glance, all of the circumstances of this birth seemed to be either unimpressive, or coldly controlled by heartless humanity. Nothing about this event suggested that it was wholly orchestrated by the providential hand of God, sending His Son into the world to redeem, rescue and reconcile us to Himself. Precious few even noticed that the King of the Universe, our Savior, had entered the world. Yet, Jesus’ advent was no accident. It perfectly fulfilled at least fifteen Biblical prophecies, a likelihood exceeding a statistical probability of…

1 in 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000.

In truth, every detail of the entire event was ordained and controlled by God to achieve His purposes.

The Bible is replete with stories like this. Not only in the Christmas narrative, but throughout the Scriptures, the curtain separating the supernatural and the natural is ripped back, spotlighting God purposefully in charge of each event, working it according to His will.  And this truth is not limited only to Biblical events. God is always providentially at work throughout history. There is not a square inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ does not cry, “Mine!”

Sometimes, God’s presence and purpose remain shrouded in mystery, and we wonder where He was and what He was doing.  But others events so clearly trumpet his power and presence that they almost seem to mirror the angelic proclamation in the skies over Bethlehem.  Our early American history contains many such providential events. So frequent and obvious were these providences in our early history, that George Washington once said, “No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the invisible hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States.  Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency.”

One such event was Washington’s own miracle on Christmas Day.

In the months following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the war had not gone well for the Americans. Washington had suffered many defeats, his men were tired, finances nearly non-existent, and morale and commitment were extremely low. The American cause was on the verge of collapse.

By the end of December, the British had trapped Washington near Trenton, NJ, and the end of the war seemed imminent. Yet, for some unknown reason, they did not finish off the job, choosing to wait to attack until the spring.

Washington decided to risk a surprise attack on the Hessian forces encamped in Trenton.  To do so, he had to lead 2,400 men across the Delaware River, through the night, battling a current strong with ice floes.  He then had to march down snow-covered roads, and do so without the British learning of his movements. So oppressive were the driving rain, snow, hail and sleet that only one of his three units was able to complete its mission. Yet, this same inclement weather also concealed them and aided in their approach. The Hessian commander discontinued his routine scouting patrols because he believed that the stormy weather would preclude any attack from the Americans, whom he called, “country clowns.”

God not only used the weather, but He also used a mysterious attack that remains unexplained to this day. The Hessians had been warned that the Americans were coming, and had been watching for them.  But earlier in the day, a small, mysterious band of Patriots had made a minor strike and then had retreated into the forest, leading the Hessians to believe that the enemy had come and gone. It wasn’t Washington’s troops at all, but it led the Hessians to let down their guard and become inebriated and inattentive in their Christmas revelries.

Washington was then able to mount a surprise attack on a drunk, sleeping and totally unprepared force. The battle was decisive and over in just ninety minutes. Morale was raised so high after the victory that Congress was able to raise troops, money and resources to continue the war that had just days before seemed hopeless and finished. And the Americans credited God’s redeeming providence for the victory.

Christmas Day in Trenton…Christmas Day in Bethlehem – one could say that they are simply the stories of men.  Or, we can take a peep behind the scenes and see God’s providential hand, working the deliverance of the Patriots, working the deliverance of mankind. God is always at work throughout history; we simply need the eyes to see it and the faith to believe it and acknowledge it.

George Washington once said,“The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous through this all…that [one] must be worse than an infidel and more than wicked that has not gratitude enough to acknowledge his obligation.

”Emmanuel…God with us…in Bethlehem, in Trenton, and today…“Praise the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever.”

It is the Christmas season – time to celebrate God’s indescribable gift of peace and reconciliation through Jesus Christ.  It is also December 7^th, the tragic anniversary of Pearl Harbor.  On this infamous day over 2,000 Americans were killed, and almost 1,200 wounded.  Countless thousands more would perish as a result of American atomic retaliation. What possible connection can this massacre have with the Christmas message, peace on earth and the reconciliation of God with men?

To understand this question, one must learn the story of beauty that rose from the ashes of the carnage.  Amazingly, it is the story of the “villain” of Pearl Harbor, Japanese Navy Captain, Mitsuo Fuchida. He idolized Adolf Hitler and considered it his finest achievement to lead the first wave of Japanese bombers. Later recalling the destruction he caused, he said, “As smoke began to billow and the proud battleships, one by one, started tilting, my heart was almost ablaze with joy. It was the most thrilling exploit of my career.”

Yet, after the war, Fuchida became sullen and bitter, besieged with memories of death.  This great warrior became plagued with guilt and obsessed with discovering the key to peace.  His answer was to be revealed in his book, No More Pearl Harbors.  Apart from God, however, true peace cannot be found and Fuchida struggled in vain to find the principle by which this peace could work. Ultimately, he could find no answers in himself, the philosophies of the world or in the religions of Japan.

Then, in the midst of darkness, destruction and disillusionment, God providentially began to unfold the Christmas message of true peace and reconciliation.  First, Fuchida learned of a young American girl named Peggy Covel who had lovingly ministered to the Japanese POWs. When asked what motivated her to serve them, she replied, “My parents were killed by the Japanese army.”  To the Japanese, this was incomprehensible.  Their society has no greater offense than the murder of one’s parents. Yet, Peggy, whose parents had been missionaries, knew that her faith demanded such a response of love and forgiveness.

Fuchida was touched; he realized that her story might hold the elusive answer to his question about peace. Perhaps it could be found through forgiving love.

God would then providentially allow Fuchida’s own horrific actions to come full circle in this lesson on peace.

On the day of Pearl Harbor, another soldier, American Jacob DeShazer, was an ocean away.  Hearing the news of Fuchida’s attack, he became enraged, threw a potato against the wall and shouted, “The Japs are going to have to pay for this!” Intense hatred toward the Japanese took root in his heart and it grew with every passing day.  His personal goal became to provide “payback” to the Japanese.

He soon volunteered for a secret mission as a bombardier in a squadron that became known as ‘The Doolittle Raiders.” After a surprise raid on Tokyo, his plane ran out of fuel and he and the crew were forced to parachute into enemy territory, where he was held in a Japanese POW camp for 40 months. Three of his buddies were executed by a firing squad, and another died of slow starvation. DeShazer lived, but his hatred for the Japanese began to consume him.

In despair, he too began to ponder the cause of hatred in the human race. God providentially drew his thoughts to what he had heard of Christianity changing hatred into brotherly love and he was gripped with a desire to read the Bible to understand this secret.  After begging his captors for the Scriptures, one was given to him to read for just three weeks.  He was totally changed. Though his body was suffering terribly from physical beatings and lack of food, God gave him new spiritual eyes and his bitter hatred toward the guards changed to loving pity. Echoing the words of his savior, he could now pray, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  From that day, he vowed to teach his tormentors the message of salvation.  After the war ended, he studied to be a missionary, preparing himself to return to Japan and make Christ known.

Years would pass and God, in His grace and mercy, would providentially bring the pieces of the puzzle together.

Fuchida would be summoned by General Douglas MacArthur to Tokyo to testify in War Trials.

Jacob DeShazer would return to Japan as a missionary and would write a Gospel tract, entitled “I Was a Prisoner of Japan.”

Then, amazingly, this man who once had been filled with hatred toward the Japanese because of Mitsuo Fuchida’s bombing of Pearl Harbor would lovingly stand on their street corner and hand out his tract….

And … Mitsuo Fuchida himself would come by and take one of those tracts straight from DeShazer’s hand!

By this tract, Fuchida’s heart would be changed. The peace that DeShazer had discovered on the heels of Fuchida’s sin was exactly the peace that Fuchida himself had been seeking. After reading the tract and the Bible, he would be saved, finding peace and reconciliation with God and man. Though he had killed in the name of patriotism, he would now bring life in the name of Christ throughout Asia.

God’s providence is not limited to happy, positive events. Scripture says that even the wrath of man will praise God (Psalm 76:10) and the oil of gladness can arise from the ashes of despair. To a world that is sin-sick and hopelessly separated from God, the Christmas message is a pronouncement of peace.  But it is not a peace discovered, created or achieved by man. Like Fuchida, we have plunged ourselves into a holocaust of darkness, death and despair and have no solutions in ourselves. It is God alone who provides the gift, the baby in the manger, and then sends the message in the midst of the darkness…

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, PEACE, goodwill toward men…

Perhaps you are teaching your children the story of Thanksgiving this week.  You know that it is not enough to focus on turkey and football.  But, don’t stop by simply focusing on the Pilgrims, or even their thankful prayers to God.  Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to focus on the ever present, providential hand of God, accomplishing mighty works despite circumstances, sin and the failings of man.  It is a day to strengthen our faith, remembering that we are not alone, that God has an awesome plan, and that He is working it all together for our good and His glory.  History isn’t really about men.  But neither is it about simply acknowledging the presence and reality of God.  History – exciting, life-giving history – is about seeing how God has always been in control.  He reigns.

This Thanksgiving, teach your children to look for the hand of God – to see history with new eyes.

Do you know the story of Squanto?  As a young man, Squanto was captured by white men and forcibly taken to England where he was taught the English language so he could become a guide to future explorers. Sadly, as if this were not injustice enough, after being returned home, he was kidnapped yet again by Thomas Hunt to be sold as a slave.

Compared to Hunt’s other captives, Squanto’s lot was one of providential blessing. He was spared being sold in North Africa, where most slaves quickly perished from hard labor. Instead, he was brought to Malaga, Spain, a Catholic country. Seventy-seven years earlier, foreseeing European mistreatment of the Indians, Pope Paul III had issued a papal decree, opposing their mistreatment and enslavement. As a result, seeing Squanto sold, two monks intervened and rescued him. They treated him well and taught him the Christian faith.

Though it took many years, Squanto eventually made his way home.  Oh, how he longed to see his people again! But, his reunion was to be one of pain, not joy.  As he approached his home he heard nothing but silence. “Mother?” “Father?” Where was everyone?

The answer soon came. A mysterious plague had killed every man, woman and child of his Patuxet tribe. So complete was the devastation that the neighboring tribes shunned the area, convinced that the plague was the work of some great supernatural spirit.

Scarcely one year later, the Pilgrims arrived. They were naïve and sorely ill-prepared to face the winter. Though they had a charter in the Virginia colony, they were blown off course.  Numerous times they tried to correct this, but were prevented from doing so by weather and finally decided that this new destination was of God’s choosing. Upon arrival, they saw land, cleared, and seemingly belonging to no one – a gift. What they didn’t see was God’s hidden hand of protection. Angry at Englishmen like Thomas Hunt, the Patuxets had barbarously murdered every white man who had landed on their shores, and would have immediately killed the Pilgrims upon arrival. By God’s grace, they were now provided with prepared land as well as safety.

Despite his heritage and circumstances, Squanto inexplicably set aside his wrath to help the Pilgrims. Since he knew their language, he helped establish a peace treaty with the Indians of the land.  He also taught them how to survive. They had brought nothing to plant but wheat and barley. He showed them how to plant corn the Indian way, and by the end of the summer, twenty full acres of corn began to flourish. He taught them how to stalk deer, plant pumpkins among the corn, refine maple syrup, discern which herbs were good to eat and good for medicine, and find the best berries.  From him, they learned about the pelt of the beaver, which was in plentiful supply in America and in great demand throughout Europe. This would prove to be the Pilgrims’ economic deliverance, just as corn was their physical deliverance.

Jesus had always been with Squanto, even before he knew Him, controlling his steps. Had Squanto never been kidnapped and taken to England, he would not have learned English.  If he hadn’t been kidnapped yet again, he would have died of the plague and would not have learned about the true God. Had he not found the Pilgrims when he did, being willing and able to help them, the season for planting corn would have been missed and they would not have survived the winter.

Like Joseph of old, Squanto’s life is a testimony of the providence of God. He could truly say, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

And we….are forever grateful.