There are also many incidences where God has come to the aid of America Manasseh but space prevents too much discussion. Still, the one that stands out in my mind, yet is little known to Americans, came to me from a visiting professor from the eastern United States who is aware of his identity. I know you will agree that this the event outlined below is most certainly a powerful demonstration of the Mighty Hands of God. As the article sent to me suggests, Reverend Jonathon French, a New England man of God, recorded it in a sermon in 1798. He began by quoting Psalm 40: 5 to demonstrate the power of prayer, “Many, 0 Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered." Then Reverend French proceeded to tell the story of God's intervention on behalf of the American colonists, who were then still a part of the British Empire. He began his sermon with the statement, "What cannot a people do when the Lord is on their side." He related that the French were filled with resentment against the British over the loss of Louisburgh, in Nova Scotia, on June 17,1745. And that they had sought revenge. The French plan was to raise a fleet and whatever armaments were necessary to recover their possession, to make a conquest of Nova Scotia, and from there to lay waste to the whole seacoast from Nova Scotia to Georgia. They made intense preparations; they gathered together fourteen of their most modern vessels, twenty smaller ships, and a number of transport ships, vast quantities of bombs and ammunition and eight thousand fighting men. They placed the fleet under the command of the great military strategist, the Duke d'Anville, and made plans to set sail at the beginning of May 1746. It all looked so promising during the early planning stages. Yet, it propbably should have been considered a bad omen when the unusually unfavourable winds delayed their departure from France until nearly the end of June.

When they did set sail, the British detected their presence as they sailed past the British coast. Nevertheless, the British Navy, under the command of Admiral Lestock, unsuccessfuly tried sailing out of Britain on seven occasions to pursue the French but each time was driven back by adverse winds. So the French were able to sail by unmolested. Then, an unexpected hazard. The fleet steered too far south and fell into the hot climate of the heat of summer. The tremendous heat, along with the lengthy three-month passage, caused a terrible sickness, thought to have been scurvy. In any event, thirteen hundred men died at sea. The rest were so weakened, they lost their appetite for battle. Yet, worse luck awaited them. The plan had called for four French vessels stationed in the West Indies to join them prior to the commencement of military action. These four important vessels arrived sometime before the main fleet and were met by severe storms and fog. They were unfamiliar with the coast and after searching unsuccessfully for the main fleet; they grew disillusioned and returned to France. The main fleet was left on its own to carry out the grand design, notwithstanding the weakened condition of the troops. Sadly for them, God wasn't finished.

In the colonies, the settlers grew very alarmed at the news of the approaching fleet. The streets filled with men marching for the defence of the seaports and those who later recorded their impressions talked about the feeling of fear amongst the settlers, particularly the women and children. But they also remembered that the Lord Jesus Christ never appeared more important to the settlers than at that very moment and prayer was constant. Looking at succeeding events, Reverend French was to state, "God heard their prayers and stretched forth the arm of His power, and destroyed that mighty French armament, in a manner almost as extraordinary as the drowning of Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea."

As Reverend French related the story, as the French ships neared the coast, a tremendous storm erupted, which threw the fleet into total disarray. Five ships, along with one of the transport ships, were lost and most others incurred some damage. Then, an uncommon fog for that time of year enveloped what was left of the fleet and they spent several days drifting. More ships were lost. When they finally entered the harbour of Halifax, then called Chibucto, they were in such shattered condition, with so many dead, that the Vice Admiral, who had taken over from the Admiral, a casualty, himself committed suicide. Even when the remaining French decided to leave after another eleven hundred fighting men succumbed to sickness, they somehow learned that Admiral Lestock was close to intercepting them. This meant they had to destroy some of their own ships because those crippled vessels would be too easy a prey . Their only goal at this time was to put their bad experience behind them and escape to France. Yet, God was still not finished inflicting His wrath upon the forces invading the possessions of the sons of Joseph. As the fleet passed Sable Island, one final devastating storm brought more havoc on the remaining fleet. What ultimately limped back to France was only a pittance of the original massive fighting force.

Thus, Nova Scotia and the settlements along the coast of America witnessed the Salvation of God and the great power of prayer. The colonists probably had no idea that God was simply fulfilling His promise to the Birthright tribe of Joseph. Nevertheless, they prayed and He answered. He demonstrated the Mighty Protective Hands of God.

Today, the great nations formed by the descendants of the tribe of Joseph are in dire straits. It is the time of Jacob’s trouble. Whether one lives in the U.S.A., Great Britain, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand or Canada, it’s difficult not to sense the punishment from Almighty God for our indisgressions and fall from His Law. Sadly, we are reaping the whirlwind of the curses of Deuteronomy 28 because we have turned our backs on Him and have permitted other gods to rule our lives, including the god of materialism. Strangers now control almost every aspect of our lives and the enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ are taking every opportunity to blaspheme His Glorious Name. The great falling away has reached its zenith and comparatively few are the Christians today who respect what we were and what got us there in the first place. Why the Lord God chose to enlighten those that he did is probably a mystery to each and every one of us. Still, He did and it has enabled us to clearly see the workings going on today in an attempt to frustrate His Kingdom Plan. Of course, those involved will fail and will ultimately pay for their wickedness. Still, we believers must feel a little like the soldier on the beach at Dunkirk, we have our backs to the wall and the blanket of ungodliness which covers most of our world is akin to the cold, dark and hopeless atmosphere at Dunkirk. But, we must take heart. For just as the sun unexpectedly shone and calm prevailed to rescue the hundreds of thousands of soldiers, the atmosphere will change for today's world. For the Mighty Hands of Almighty God will one day reach out again as the Lord Jesus Christ intervenes. Make no mistake about it, Israel will awaken. Of this we are sure because the fourteenth chapter of Hosea tells us so. “0 Israel, return unto the Lord thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the Lord, say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously. " The Lord will say, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely. for mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found Whoever is wise, he shall understand these things? Whoever is prudent, he shall know them? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fail therein."