Have you seen this flag before? Unfortunately, most haven’t. If you have a belief in the Divine Providence of America, then you need to know the story about a flag and philosophy so important that the Declaration of Independence – our most foundational document – bows its head to this great truth. It very well could be the greatest untaught story about the founding of America.
“…they made a covenant at Beersheba (translated “the well of the oath”)…Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree (an evergreen tree) in Beersheba, and there made an appeal to the Lord, El Olam (translated “The Strong Everlasting God”). And Abraham stayed in the land many days.” ~ Genesis 21:32-34
Abraham made a covenant “appeal to heaven” in the land and memorialized it with the planting of an evergreen tree to symbolize the covenant as everlasting. Thus, the evergreen tree became a common Judeo-Christian symbol of covenant in the land.
In 1775 the powerful British military was occupying Boston as problems in the colonies were rising, and war was threatening. George Washington wanted to intercept incoming British supply ships, so at his own expense he commissioned a fleet of six vessels which came to be called “Washington’s Secret Navy” and they all were to have a white flag with an evergreen tree and the words “An Appeal to Heaven“. This fleet was so critical to America’s victory in the eventual war, many colonial flags incorporated the evergreen (also known as “The Liberty Tree”) into their designs.
The phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” was created by John Locke, a great philosopher from England in the mid 1600’s who deeply influenced America’s Founding Fathers. Locke derived the fundamental concepts of his political theory from biblical texts, in particular Genesis, Exodus, and the Sermon on the Mount. “An Appeal to Heaven” comes from his studies on “Natural Laws”, a system of justice common to all humankind in which the ultimate judge is our Creator. It is in these laws where our unalienable rights come from and the foundation on which this country was formed. The phrase “An Appeal to Heaven” connotes that when all resources and powers on earth are exhausted, there’s only one thing that remains…“An Appeal to Heaven”.
“And now, Almighty Father, if it is Thy holy will that we shall obtain a place and name among the nations of the Earth, grant that we may be enabled to show our gratitude for Thy goodness by our endeavors to fear and obey Thee.” ~ A prayer from the journal of George Washington
