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CHAPTER TWO

GOD’S INTERVENTION IN

MEDIEVAL TIMES

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land,” 2 Chronicles 7:14.

To understand America’s providential heritage, we must go back to the history of England, for our inheritance is rooted deeply in the history of this part of the world.

Tradition says that Christianity was introduced into England in the first century by Joseph of Arimathea, the person who helped Nicodemus take the body of Jesus off the cross.^{2
(2}Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.39.)

In the early 400’s, England was served by one of England’s greatest preachers, Patrick (Saint Patrick). Patrick eventually left England and evangelized Ireland.³ (³Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright1989, p.39.)

In 428 A.D., the Anglo-Saxons (people from northern Germany) were invited to come to England to help King Kent fight off his enemies. They stayed and eventually took over the island and named it Anglo-land, Engel-land (today England). The Anglo-Saxons conquered the Christians militarily but the Christians conquered the Anglo-Saxons spiritually.^{4
(4}Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.39.)

In 876 A.D., a general from Denmark named Guthrum attacked and nearly conquered England. That winter King Alfred disguised himself as a minstrel and actually performed for Guthrum and his army. Alfred listened to Guthrum’s war plans and then came up with his own plans. The next spring, Alfred conquered Guthrum’s army. Then, he did what only a Christian would do; he offered Guthrum and his army a peace treaty. He required them to become Christians! When Guthrum came up from his baptism, Alfred embraced him as a new brother. Then, he said in effect: “My brother, this land is too big for me to rule by myself, and the important thing isn’t who’s in charge. The real issue is a Christian England. Stay here and rule this land with me under the lordship of Jesus Christ.”

Alfred established the Ten Commandments as the basis of their law.^5
(5Mark A. Beliles & Stephen K. McDowell, America’s Providential History, The Providence Foundation, Charlottesville, VA., Copyright 1989, p.41.) He also organized the nation in units of 10’s, 50’s, 100’s and 1000’s as shown in Exodus 18:25 and Deuteronomy 1:15. The leader over 100 was called an Earl. The Earl’s territory was called a shire. His assistant was called the “shire-reef”. This is where we get the word “Sheriff” today.

Alfred the Great was England’s king from 871-899.

The three greatest periods of England’s history came when national recognition was given to the Bible.^{6
(6}“During the reign of Queen Victoria, the British Empire climbed to its greatest height in world influence, power and territory. When asked by a foreign prince the secret of her country’s greatness, she replied, ‘The Bible, my lord, the Bible is the secret of our greatness.’” Norman Childs Sr. What Made America Great?” Childs Family Publications, Olney, IL. p. 29.)

During the reign of King Alfred the Great, who took a personal interest in having portions of the Bible translated into English, England rose from barbarism, division and ignorance into a united civilized nation.⁷ (⁷James C. Hefley, What’s So Great About The Bible, David C. Cook Publishing Co., Elgin, IL., pp. 65,66.)

If God had not intervened in the life of King Alfred, he probably would have never considered entering the enemy’s camp and performing as a minstrel. Alfred would not have known the enemy’s plans and he probably would have been conquered by the foreign nation. Without God’s intervention, he would not have forgiven his enemy and certainly would not have offered his enemy an equal seat as king. Without God’s intervention, England would have never risen to its greatness and would not have parented the great Christian movement that made America so great.

In 1492, Christopher Columbus opened up the New World to civilization. Christopher means “Christ-bearer”. He said, “It was the Lord who put it into my mind--I could feel His hand upon me--the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies... There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because He comforted me... I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics, or maps. It is simply the fulfillment of what... had [been] prophesied.”

Without God’s intervention, Christopher Columbus would not have opened up the new world to the message of Christ.

In 1558, Elizabeth became Queen of England. She called the Bible, “The jewel I love best.” She was the first to officially promote the circulation of the Bible and, for the first time, the Bible became a best seller and England became a world power for the very first time.⁸ (⁸James C. Hefley, What’s So Great About The Bible, David C. Cook Publishing Co., Elgin, IL., pp. 65,66.)

In 1588, Philip of Spain sent his Spanish Armada (armada = fleet of warships) to bring England under Roman control. The Admiral wrote Queen Elizabeth a letter in which he stated that, without a miracle, English ships would not dare come within sight of the Spanish fleet because God was on Spain’s side. All the people throughout England humbled themselves in prayer and fasting to God. The English ships were ready to meet the Spanish fleet when it came up the English Channel. A storm suddenly came up and blew most of the Spanish ships up against the coast of Holland. Many of them sank. Strangely, the storm did not affect England’s small ships and they were able to sail in and out among the larger ships and set many of them on fire.

A few Spanish ships, without touching English soil, limped back to Spain. The nation of Holland acknowledged the providence of God. In commemoration of the event, they minted a coin. On one side were ships sinking; on the other, men on their knees in prayer, with the inscription: “Man Proposeth, God Disposeth,” and the date 1588.

Study Guide

Chapter Two

1. What promise do we have in 2 Chronicles 7:14 that we can apply to America?

2. Who, according to tradition, introduced Christianity to England?

3. What did “Saint” Patrick do for England and Ireland?

4. How did England get its name?

5. Name three wise acts of King Alfred the Great?

6. What did Alfred say was more important than the person who was in charge of England?

7. What did Alfred use as an example of how to organize England?

8. In what three ways did England advance under Alfred the Great?

9. What does the word “Christopher” mean?

10. Who did Christopher Columbus give credit to for the idea of his voyage?