Lincoln, Slavery, and the Hand of God

Abraham Lincoln in his “Second Inaugural Address” (1865) suggests to the American people that the tragic continuation of the Civil War has been directly influenced by G-d and serves as retribution for the troubles and injuries caused by slavery. Lincoln explains how America fell into the Civil War using antithesis, details the irony and oddities of slavery in America, and describes G-d’s possible role in the war, its irony and payback. President Lincoln intends to expound and pinpoint America’s mistake in their long overdue refusal to eradicate slavery through using G-d, in addition to providing an explanation for the long and detrimental war. He stands as a moral leader towards his American audience, as he reflects and regrets on slavery and accepts G-d’s punishments and retribution for the country.

As a Jew, from my youth I’ve learned about war in the Bible and G-d’s hand in every battle. In fact, in almost every battle in the Bible, the great adversity and deficit the Jews faced in terms of numbers is detailed. Thus, it portrays and depicts the immense role G-d played in every battle won by the Jewish people. This proves to be true time and time again, even until this day with modern day Israel. While the war of independence for Israel took place in 1948, long after Biblical times, there was no shortage of help from the Holy One up above. While no one split the sea or collapsed a wall like Jericho, the victory alone was clearly an open miracle. Facing danger from almost every direction Israel came out on top, despite the unbelievable adversity they faced. Their army was like a man in a wheelchair bringing a knife to a gun fight, they seemed to have between little and no chance. Yet, with the help of G-d they ended up on top. And again in 1967. Israel faced an amazingly dangerous threat from all directions as explained by Egyptian president at the time Gamal Abdel Nasser, “We swear to God that we shall not rest until…we shall it with its soil saturated in blood.” The Arab nations were out to destroy Israel no matter the extent. Yet, in a miraculous and quick six-day war, Israel not only escaped alive but gained land from their enemies. And again in 1973 with the Yom Kippur War. Once more Israel faced extreme danger from all directions and came out alive. How? With the help of G-d. There is no other logical explanation for Israel’s ability to survive each of these incredibly powerful attacks. Clearly to this day G-d’s involvement in war is extremely prominent, at least in dealing with Israel’s battles. To say G-d has a strong presence in wars outside of Israel, however, is far more questionable but still possible. In my opinion, in many cases of war, often there is no one side that strikes as more moral or significant in the eyes of G-d and thus often it likely it does not warrant such divine intervention. However, I believe both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars do provide evidence of help from G-d in the forms of non-Israeli wars. The infant colonists were so far outmatched in their war with the Brits, it required some form of a miracle to overcome the deficit they faced. An ultimate American victory can and has been explained in a multitude of ways, ultimately to me, though, it just appears as a more hidden miracle, less clear to the average eye. Similarly, by the Civil War, while the Union might not have been as outmatched as the colonists or Israel, the ultimate result clearly demonstrates a moral and ever-so-significant outcome. America has proven to be one of the elite countries of the world and overcoming the challenges of the Civil War, specifically slavery, at least in my opinion, was definitely influenced by G-d. Furthermore, the influence and involvement of G-d in war applies on both ends. Many look to G-d in times of war, as who else can save them from the great adversity that stands in their way besides a higher being. Just as President Lincoln stated, G-d and religion definitely play a role in war and without it, who knows where we would be today.