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George Washington

June 15, 1775: The American Colonies are at war with mother England. The Continental Congress votes unanimously and appoints one of its members to be commander-in-chief of the colonial army. Forty-three year old George Washington stood before them and said, “I beg it may be remembered by every gentleman in this room [that] I do not think myself equal to this command I am honored with.”

Eight years later, by the grace of God and the genius of Washington, the war was won, and America, the land of divine destiny, was free. General Washington gave up his power and returned to the private life of a farmer at Mount Vernon. He was beyond doubt America’s most revered hero.

But the country was yet in turmoil. The existing government was weak. James Madison and others pled with Washington to attend a convention for the purpose of revising the government. Reluctantly, at the call Washington once again left Mount Vernon for service to his country.

May 15th, 1787, delegates entered the Pennsylvania State House to begin the task of restructuring the national government. No sooner were they seated than Washington was unanimously elected president of the convention.

Five months later, by the wisdom of the greatest minds of that century, the Constitution of the United States was drafted and sent to the states for ratification. The debates were hot and furious. Foremost among the objections to the new system of government was the awesome power of the office of the President of the United States.

Well, the Constitution was finally ratified with the clear understanding that only one man could be trusted with such power. And on February 4th, 1789, George Washington was – and get it – was unanimously elected president of the United States.

On April 14th, he once again answered the call and left Mount Vernon with a heavy heart, “… feeling,” he said, “like a culprit going to his execution.”

Sixteen days later he stood on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York. With a multitude watching, he placed his hand on the Bible and repeated the Constitutional Oath of Office: “I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.” And then Washington of his own accord added the following: “So help me God.”

President Washington then bent down, and kissed the Bible.

The grand experiment was underway. He would be unanimously elected to two terms as president, and guide a fledgling nation to find its wings and fly. In 1797 he refused to allow himself to be reelected; two terms was enough. He retired to Mount Vernon and his family. Two years later, after more than 40 of his 67 years in public service, he died quietly at his home.

George Washington was a wise man raised up by the Lord to assist in establishing America, the promised land of Joseph, the vineyard of God. I find it most interesting – given that – that when President Washington was sworn in as the president of this nation, his hand rested on the 49th chapter of Genesis, the patriarchal blessing of Joseph of Egypt.

“No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency….” — George Washington, First Inaugural Address.