A Truth Behind God and the Confederacy

The legacy of the Civil War is profound. Ramifications are felt all the way into our more modern times and today it’s in the fabric of our culture. It certainly was not a matter of “hero” and “villain”—because we all know that in life there is good and evil. It could be said that for some, the envisioning of good and evil is a regional concept. That is, as long as good and evil exist, it will fit into whatever struggle meets an individual or groups own societal political narrative.

While I myself would never condone the Confederacy, it is in our more recent history that American symbols for southern tradition and culture were either destroyed or removed. Whatever the matter, destroying history is a sin. At least in these eyes. General Robert E. Lee actually has a biography that is incredible. I highly recommend reading it if you ever have the time. Lee was a man of prestige, honor, and righteousness—even before and after the American Civil War.

A great example to give is this: In a conversation with a minister one Sunday morning shortly after the start of the war. Lee was asked: “Is it your expectation that the issue of this war will be to perpetuate the institution of slavery?” Lee replied: “The future is in the hands of Providence, but if the slaves of the South were mine, I would surrender them all without a struggle to avert a war.”[1] This is just one fraction of the truthful character General Lee showed not just in public, but during private conversation. And besides virtues, his military record was pretty spectacular regardless of his personal decision and belief to take on the calling as a revered Confederate general.

I think we all have a pretty good idea that the Union was blessed by God throughout the Civil War. God is good, and a confederacy against God (and His ultimate final planning) is evil. Did you know that the Bible speaks of the Confederacy and Confederates throughout the Scriptures? True stuff. The Bible gives the origin and meaning behind “Confederate” and “Confederacy.” Check this out: Isaiah 7:2, and 8:12—speaks of a confederate rebellion . Also, even Genesis 14:13 speaks of those being confederate with Abram. Not convinced yet? Check out Obadiah 7 and Psalm 83:5 too!

The Confederacy was not just the title of a grey-dawning, slave-owning, southern aristocracy—it is a deep seated principle cloaked in rebellion. Ultimately, there was no way God was going to sanction the South to be allowed to continue slavery in a truly free society… especially after God Himself sent Moses to free the Israelites from captivity in Egypt. Answers-in-Genesis, ran by Ken Ham, also the Founder of the Creation Museum, explains that “[From Noah] Ham’s son Mizraim founded Egypt (still called Mizraim in Hebrew). Egypt was the first recorded nation in the Bible to have harsh slavery and it was imposed on Joseph, the son of Israel, in 1728 BC, according to Archbishop Ussher. Later, the Egyptians were slave masters to the rest of the Israelites, and Moses, by the hand of God, freed them.”[2]

Under this same principle, is it not unreasonable to believe that Abraham Lincoln was brought up to his position to ultimately lead the southern slaves to freedom? Is it not unreasonable to believe that God sanctioned the Union’s cause? If America was founded by Divine Providence, that is, through the guidance and intervention of God in its national inception; the last bastion of liberty and freedom on the planet—than just how unreasonable is it to believe that the Confederacy was not included within God’s final plan?

And look, even further, Romans 8:31 states “If God is for us, Who can be against us?” It’s simple. Providentially, if the Union was sanctioned by God to achieve victory and emancipation, there was absolutely no way outside of a daydream that the South would have won the Civil War in the first place.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28
 
Daniel L. Smith,
ComplexAmerica.org
 
Resources:
[1] Dr. Beliles, Mark A., and Stephen K. McDowell. "The War for the Union." In America's Providential History, 3rd ed., 233. Charlottesville, 2010. Print.
[2] Hodge, Bodie, and Paul K. Taylor. "The Bible and Slavery." Answers in Genesis. Last modified February 2, 2007. https://answersingenesis.org/bible-history/the-bible-and-slavery/.