This Thanksgiving in 21st-century America, a dangerous mindset has permeated our beliefs for over a century. True history has been denied, so we do not benefit from its lessons. Perhaps we can label it the “accidental theory of history.”
This view dominates today despite the eternal truth spoken by Ben Franklin at the 1787 Constitutional Convention: “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?”
Technologically we are giants of intellect, but in “self-government,” we are failing. Today we repeat the history of Israel declining into slavery as the Prophet Isaiah warned: “Therefore my people have gone into captivity for want of knowledge.” The knowledge they forgot is the same that we as a people have forgotten, our “Creator.” And that “He Governs in the affairs of men.”
Let us go back in time to the first Thanksgiving to see how God governed the affairs of our Pilgrim Fathers and how Plymouth Rock was prepared to be a safe haven for them to settle.
In William Bradford’s words, “Squanto” became an instrument of many blessings. Squanto, being the sole survivor of the Patuxet Indian Tribe, had been captured by an English explorer and taken to England in 1605, where he remained until 1619. Meanwhile, local Friars introduced him to Christianity, and when he returned to Plymouth in 1621, his tribe had been the victim of a plague, leaving him the sole surviving Patuxet Indian. Divine intervention? Yes!
Of the 100 Pilgrims who arrived at Plymouth, only 50 survived the suffering through that first winter from cold and disease. And among the 50 survivors, only 6 or 7 were physically sound. Hostile Indians, because of the plague, were spooked not to enter the Plymouth area, giving the disease-ridden remaining Pilgrims a safe haven. This, along with Squanto’s help until 1621, when he joined his adopted tribe, the Wampanoag Indians, enabled them to survive the winter guided by divine province. Being thankful for all their bounty, because of Squanto, Governor Bradford appointed a day of Thanksgiving, inviting Squanto’s adopted tribe to celebrate all these blessings from God.
The feast planned for one day lasted three days. They ate deer, fish, turkey, lobster, eels, vegetables, cornbread, herbs, and pies and the Indians even taught them how to make popcorn, according to the Providence Foundation. The righteous living of the Pilgrims was rewarded during the feast in which 90 Indians competed with the Pilgrims in running, wrestling, and shooting games. This wasn’t accidental history, as Ben Franklin said: “God governs in the affairs of man.”
In these troubled times, if America is to survive as a free nation, we must go back to the strength the Pilgrims modeled for us: even in their darkest hours in the deep cold of winter, their faith in God’s province carried them through. Let us learn the lessons from that First Thanksgiving. The blessings did not come from the government. No matter what moral persuasion you are, let us unite and look to our Creator, who is the soul Author of liberty who governs in the affairs of men. And “give thanks for the bounty that His liberty has produced.” Liberty is not accidental! Give Thanks! May all have a “blessed” Thanksgiving.
