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CHAPTER NINE

AT VALLEY FORGE

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear,” Isaiah 65:24.

One night at Valley Forge, a Quaker overheard a man praying in a thicket. The Quaker told that he had come unexpectedly upon a person who was kneeling in prayer and saw tears on his cheeks. This man was George Washington.⁵⁵ (⁵⁵D. James Kennedy, The Faith of Washington, Coral Ridge Ministries, Fort Lauderdale, FL., p. 7.)

Early in the morning of December 26, 1777, Washington led an attack on the Hessian garrison at Trenton, New Jersey. As the troops prepared to cross the Delaware River, God providentially sent a violent snow and hail storm which suddenly came up. This storm caused the enemy’s sentries to seek cover and reduced their visibility to near zero. The Americans entered Trenton so unexpectedly that they were able to take 1,000 prisoners captive in only 45 minutes. The total battle from beginning to end was less than two hours long. Only three Americans were wounded in the fight.

Before George Washington entered the city, he and the army were seen and a messenger ran in to tell the commander. The commander was playing cards and did not want to be bothered. He took the note and shoved it into his pocket. Thus again, God providentially protected Washington and his army.^{56
(56}Richard Wheeler, The Battle Of Teinton, VHS cassette, Mantel Ministries, Bulverde, TX.)

At Valley Forge, Washington’s army was often poorly clothed. They sometimes left bloody foot prints in the snow. An even greater problem was the lack of food. The army frequently went whole days without eating. A soldier’s meal on Thanksgiving Day was a half of a gill (a gill is one forth pint) of rice and a teaspoon of vinegar. As one of the soldiers came near to the Schuylkill River, one morning, he noticed the water seemed to be boiling. Closer observation revealed that the disturbance was caused by huge schools of fish swimming upstream in an unusually early migration. The soldiers jumped in with shovels and pitchforks and scooped the fish out onto the land. Suddenly and wonderfully, there was plenty of food for the entire army.⁵⁷ (⁵⁷Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.157)

On February 23, 1778, Baron Von Steuben, a veteran Prussian soldier, offered his assistance to Washington. Von Steuben then trained Washington’s soldiers to operate as a disciplined army. The brilliance of this man, and the timing of his offer, testify again of the providence of God.⁵⁸ After Valley Forge, the Americans never lost a battle!⁽⁵⁸Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.157 )

That same winter, God providentially intervened by moving the country of France to decide to become America’s ally. Now, the troops and money that Washington so desperately needed would be furnished to him. By declaring a National Day of Thanksgiving, Congress acknowledged this gift as a providential intervention of God.⁵⁹ (⁵⁹Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.157.)

Study Guide

Chapter Nine

1. According to Isaiah 65:24, how fast does God move when we pray?

2. How do we know that Washington prayed at Valley Forge?

3. How did God providentially keep the Hessian soldiers from seeing Washington’s army coming toward them at Trenton?

4. How many prisoners was Washington able to take at Trenton?

5. From beginning to end, how long did it take to win the battle at Trenton?

6. How many American soldiers were killed by the Hessians at the battle of Trenton?

7. Did anyone see Washington as he entered the city?

8. What happened to the warning message that was sent to the British commander?

9. How did God providentially feed the soldiers one day at Valley Forge?

10. How was Baron Von Steuben a blessing to Washington?