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George Washington set a bar for American that has never been matched, and studying his life can strengthen testimonies of the knowledge that God is in the details of our lives. The foundation of The United States of America is where you can encounter coincidence after coincidence. It is easy to brush each example off as luck, but when you add all the coincidences together it is hard to deny the hand of God in the laying the foundation of The United States of America, especially the life of George Washington.
The life of George Washington if full of miracles, coincidences and hard choices, and Washington knew he was being guided by God. The chances of the George Washington being in the right places, surrounded by the right people to bring about a great work, and literally change the world, is magnificent. Through the guidance of George Washington, the way was paved for 'The great American experiment' to changed the world that we now know for the better. George Washington was guided, directed and protected by God, (or Providence, or a Great Spirit). There was a Providential hand in the establishment of The United States, and the story of George Washington in the French and Indian War is one of the many examples. God protected George Washington for this great work, years before the Constitution was written. From these accounts it is obvious that George Washington should have been killed in the French and Indian war, but miraculously lived to change the world, and lay the foundation of America. Without George Washington this great American experiment never would have had a chance. The protection of George Washington, during the French and Indian War, was essential for the United States and demonstrates the protecting hand of God in the life of George Washington.
French and Indian War
On February 20th, 1755, a battle took place in the French and Indian war which changed the life of George Washington forever. George Washington was only 23 years old and a Colonel in the British army.
The odds were for British winning the war with little effort, and the commanders of the British army were not worried. In fact, many believed the British would win the war against the French, by simply showing up. The British army came with 2,000 men, ready for an easy victory. The problem was the British had never fought against the Native Americans who were taking sides in the war. The British were accustom to different ways of war, with straight forward fighting on the battle in a field, not hiding and sneak attacks from the Native Americans. The Natives did not follow the same rule book as the British, but not paying close attention to the advice from the people of the New World, the British still thought they would win without much of a fight.
The British army marched toward Ford Duquesne and on the way, a group of Shawnee and Delaware Indians offered to support the British troops. The General in charge, General Braddock did not believe he needed the help of the Natives, and did not treat them very well. General Braddock's offended the Natives who offered their help, and the British army was left to face their enemy alone, just like the General Braddocks wanted.
When the battle commenced the Natives on the side of the French purposely targeted the officers of the British. Nearly all of the Generals staff were shot and killed. George Washington was Braddocks only uninjured staff. Washington rode all over the battlefield working to carry General Braddocks orders to the men fighting. Washington was targeted, like all the other officers and he could not be shot. The Natives continued to shoot at Washington with no effect.
It was at this point when the Natives believed that George Washington was protected by Great Power. With hundreds of people all around him, falling to their deaths, George Washington remained unharmed. During the fight, Washington had two horses shot out from underneath him and his coat was pierced by four musket balls, and he was miraculously not hit. Washington’s calm leadership helped many of the surviving soldiers to effectively escape the slaughter.
One famous Indian warrior, who was a leader in the attack, was recorded saying “Washington was never born to be killed by a bullet! I had 17 fair shots at him with my rifle, and after all that, I could not bring him to the ground.”
There were multiple Native Americans who told the similar accounts, of a clear shot at Washington, and simply not being able to hit him. One man known as Red Hawk, an Indian chief, said he had shot 11 different times at Washington without hitting him and because his gun had never before missed its mark, Red Hawk ceased firing at him, convinced that the Great Spirit protected Washington.
15 years after the war, in 1770 George Washington was exploring the western territories with a friend when a company of Indians asked to speak to George Washington. The chief of the company said: “It was on the day when the white man’s blood mixed with the streams of our forest (the Battle where Braddock was killed) that I first beheld this chief, George Washington. I called to my young men and I said ‘Mark yon tall and daring warrior? He is not of the red-coat tribe. He has an Indian’s wisdom, and his warriors fight as we do. Himself is alone exposed. Quick, let your aim be certain. Our rifles were leveled- rifles which, but for you, knew not how to miss. It was all in vain; a power mightier far than we shielded you. Seeing you were under the special guardianship of the Great Spirit, we immediately ceased to fire at you. I am old and soon will be gathered to the great council fire of my fathers in the land of shade, but before I go there is something that bids me speak in the voice of prophecy. The Great Spirit protects that man, George Washington, and guides his destiny. He will become the chief of Nations, and a people yet unborn will hail him as the founder of a mighty empire. I am come to pay homage to the man who is the particular favorite of heaven and who can never die in battle.”
This quote is six years before the Constitution of Independence was written and the United States was founded. It is through the power of God that George Washington was saved. George Washington knew his life was saved for a great cause and acted accordingly. It is marvelous that the Lord saved George Washington to do his great work, and we are the recipients of the blessings of "The Great American Experiment."
References:
Latterday Saint Magazine "why george washington could not be felled by powder and ball" By Mark Albright · July 22, 2020
https://rsc.byu.edu/things-which-my-father-saw/delivered-power-god-nephis-vision-americas-birth