Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2014

Cedarville Magazine | 21 What did Washington mean by “providential agency”? His view of providence came from the Bible. As President, he wrote to the Hebrew congregation of Savannah, Georgia, paralleling Israel’s exodus with American independence: May the same wonder-working Deity, who long since delivering the Hebrews from their Egyptian Oppressors planted them in the promised land — whose Providential Agency has lately been conspicuous in establishing these United States as an independent Nation — still continue to water them with the dews of Heaven and to make the inhabitants of every denomination participate in the temporal and spiritual blessings of that people whose God is Jehovah. Providence was Washington’s favorite theological truth. Providence prompted him to exercise faith and thanksgiving. In a private letter on August 20, 1778, he called himself a “preacher of providence”: The hand of Providence has been so conspicuous in all 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, but it will be time enough for me to turn preacher, when my present appointment ceases; and therefore, I shall add no more to the Doctrine of Providence … . Providence and Perseverance ForWashington, God’s providence gave strength enabling perseverance in the adversities of life. He wrote on October 27, 1777, “I flatter myself that a superintending Providence is ordering everything for the best, and that, in due time, all will end well.” One can hear an echo of Romans 8:28 in these words. The Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:18, “Keep alert with all perseverance.”Washington also prized perseverance. On October 17, 1779, he wrote, “The troops … manifested a patience, perseverance, and valor that do them the highest honor.” To his adopted grandson, George Washington Parke Custis, he wrote on December 19, 1796, “… ’tis to close application and constant perseverance, men of letters and science are indebted for their knowledge and usefulness …”. On August 28, 1793, he wrote to the inhabitants of Richmond: Every good citizen will then meet events with that firmness and perseverance which naturally accompany the consciousness of a good cause… . Providence and perseverance enabled Washington to have an ideal balance for a great leader. Jim Collins of Good to Great fame writes, “Every good-to-great company embraced what we came to call the Stockdale Paradox: You must maintain unwavering faith that you can and will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties, AND at the same time have the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.” Washington the leader trusted in providence and persevered in adversity. Providence and Humility The invisible hand of providence not only supports leaders’ perseverance in adversity, but it enables them to have humility in success. With victory secured, Washington wrote on June 11, 1783: Glorious indeed has been our Contest; glorious, if we consider the Prize for which we have contended, and glorious in its Issue; but in the midst of our Joys, I hope we shall not forget that, to divine Providence is to be ascribed the Glory and the Praise. Washington prayed on June 8, 1783, for the newly independent governors. He identified an ingredient of national success to be humility like that of “the Divine Author of our blessed religion”: I now make it my earnest prayer, that God … would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all, to do Justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that Charity, humility and pacific temper of mind, which were the Characteristicks of the Divine Author of our blessed Religion, and without an humble imitation of whose example in these things, we can never hope to be a happy Nation. Providence and History The invisible hand of providence that Washington preached sustained his perseverance in adversity and humbled him in victory. It made him great by keeping him from doing two things, thereby changing history. He didn’t quit when all seemed lost. He didn’t become king when all was won. Providential perseverance kept him going at Valley Forge. Providential humility established America’s principle of the orderly transition of power. A “happy nation” is yet possible with reliance on the invisible hand Who worked inWashington’s biblically informed leadership. For the “invisible hand” and the “Divine Author” working together can still create leaders who succeed in the endeavors of life. Peter A. Lillback ’74 is President and Professor of Historical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania. He received his Th.M. at Dallas Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from Westminster Theological Seminary. Dr. Lillback has authored several books including GeorgeWashington’s Sacred Fire . Editor’s Note: Unusual spellings and capitalizations are part of the original text.