Browse
← Older: Colonial Americans Understanding of Providence
Americans during and before Washington’s era understood the theological term “Providence” very well. “Providence” is not an American theological invention but comes to us starting with …
Newer: The Indians’ Prophecy →
Fifteen years after the battle of Monongahela George Washington and his friend Dr. James Craik returned to the Fort Duquesne region and encountered several Indians …
What is Providence?
In order to answer this question we are going to examine: First, what did “Providence” mean to George Washington? Secondly, what did it mean to his listeners? Thirdly, what does “Providence” say to us today? I do not pretend to be an expert on George Washington, the Revolutionary War or church history in America. My hypotheses as to the origins of Washington’s preferred term to describe the God of the Bible is my attempt at finding an accurate picture. Thus, as an amateure detective I have attempted to connect the dots.
“Providence” is George Washington’s preferred term to describe the God of the Bible as God’s Sovereign will in the history of mankind. George Washington’s definition of providence is clearly discernible in his many letters. The over 270 reference to “Providence” and “Providential” is well summarized in Sacred Fire by Peter A. Lillback as (Page 580);
Washington understanding of “Providence” was formed early in his life. Alexander and Mary Washington taught their children at home. George Washington’s person library has been well preserved; though from these books we can see some were used by his father and mother that speak directly to the theological idea of “Providence”. Specifically we know that Sir Matthew Hales book Contemplations of Moral & Divine was used by Mary Washington in the home education of their children. Author James K. Paulding describes as he is looking at the very book Mary Washington has signed in her own handwriting, “It bears the appearance of frequent use, and particular chapters are designated by marks of reference.” (Sacred Fire by Peter A. Lillback Page 131). Thanks to Google one can easily find this text. Searching the text one finds 83 references to “Providence”. One of those frequently used pages by Mary Washington as noted by Paulding (page 253 Contemplations of Moral & Divine by Sir Mathew Hale)
These words to me, more then any other describe George Washington. There are other books in Washington’s library that address the theological concept of “Providence”, such as “The Travels of Cyrus”, and the fiction text “The Travels of Pergrine Pickle” (Sacred Fire by Peter A. Lillback Page 119).
Washington so believed in the “Doctrine of Providence” he considered becoming a “preacher”. George Washington wrote to Brigadier General Thomas Nelson, August 20th 1778:
In conclusion the combination of George Washington’s character qualities, formed by Biblical truth, imparted to him by his mother’s home education, the historical context of current events and the miraculous events in his own life only severed to confirm his view of the world. That view was the God of the Bible working His Sovereign will in his own life, and through the events of the revolutionary war which empowered godly men and women to self govern. Instead of having to say this in one long sentence every time he wished to convey his thinking, he could say it all in one word “Providence”. “Providence” was the lens which George Washington understood the world.
Read more about the work of Providence in George Washington’s life (select the next post below):