God’s Providence in Jamestown

This is a poem I wrote for a contest done by Vision Forum. I did not win, but I thought that you all might enjoy reading it. I plan to do a post very soon, about Jamestown (not in poetry form). If you have any questions about it, the answers of which you would like me to include in my post, please leave me a comment and I will consider putting it in my post.

God’s Providence in Jamestown

The providence of God has been displayed
Through all the nations of the world.
From England to Egypt, Canada to Spain
His power and majesty have been unfurled.

The place I wish to speak of
Was in the country called the U.S.A.
Of this place in the state Virginia
The facts before you I will lay.

Long before the Revolutionary War…
Thirteen years before the Pilgrims came…
There rose a settlement by a river
And Jamestown was it’s name.

Jamestown is one place
Where God’s glory is told.
One place that has seen
The Lord’s story unfold.

It was founded in the year 1607
After a charter was granted by King James.
A group had sailed away from England.
Here are some of their names:

Thomas Couper was a barber,
Edward Wingfield a member of council.
William Laxton was a carpenter
And a gentleman was Nathaniel Powell.

Master Robert Hunt was a reverend.
Another gentleman was Thomas Gore.
James Read was the only blacksmith.
These are just a few people… there were many more.

One hundred and five was the number
Of individuals who to Virginia sailed.
The journey was fraught with tempest’s.
Without God’s help the voyage would have failed.

Lost they became on that voyage
They nearly returned whence they came.
But God sent a storm that forced them
Into a harbor, Cape Henry by name.

On May 13th Sixteen Hundred and Seven.
They arrived at their final destination,
The next day they commenced building a town,
Without showing any hesitation.

When some of the men were sent to explore,
The Indians attacked those remaining.
A ships crossbar struck down a bough from a tree,
Scattering the Indians and thereby the colony retaining.

So many ways God did provide for these people,
When they had a great lack of food,
The Indians behaved kinder and brought to them
Fruits and other provisions that were good.

When Captain Smith was taken prisoner
The Lord used it for great good.
Capt. Smith saved the lives of the colonist’s
And behaved as bravely as he could.

He almost lost his life to clubs,
But God sent Pocahontas the Kings daughter
To beg for the life of Captain Smith.
And she succeeded in changing the mind of her father.

The Indians declared themselves friends to Capt. Smith.
They sent him back home to Jamestown.
Pocahontas often brought food to them.
God was providing for them so they found.

Three times the colonists’ attempted
To abandon the fort they’d raised.
But Captain Smith prevented them
For that let God’s name be praised!

Captain Newport brought over more people,
Who accidentally fired the town
Houses, clothes and possessions were lost
Even their palisade’s were burnt down.

After the fire was put out,
And Captain Newport had sailed again,
Capt. Smith and Matthew Scrivener
Directed the town to be rebuilt by the men.

Soon after an expedition was headed by Capt. Smith
Where they planned to explore surrounding land.
While on the long and perilous journey
A stingray stung the Capt. near his hand.

His hand was swelled in four hours,
They were certain he was going to die.
They even prepared a grave
Where after his death he would lie.

But by the help of their Doctor Russell
And by the mercy of our God Almighty
The life of this great leader was spared
And they gave the praise to Whom it was due rightly.

When the men returned from their expedition
The whole town was very sick they found
It was all due to their selfish president
Who in this suffering had them bound.

God used Captain Smith to change
The government to the core.
Mr. Scrivener was appointed president
Then Capt. Smith went to explore some more.

On his return he became the president
And a fine president he made!
God used him to run Jamestown
By directions and the example he laid.

The men in the town became proficient with arms.
The town was rebuilt and repaired.
When the men were practicing with their arms in Smithsfield
The neighboring Indians came and just stared.

Many times the people were saved
From a death treacherous and cruel.
God sent them warning messages.
He often used Pocahontas as a tool.

Of this very same Pocahontas
I must say just a little more.
She was the first Indian who
The name of Christian bore.

She married a man named John Rolfe
To him she bore a son Thomas by name
She traveled with them to England
And died shortly after leaving the same.

Many other ways did God Almighty
For this small colony provide.
If I were to narrate of all He did
I should here much longer abide.

So now I conclude my narrative.
It is to God’s glory I write.
Praise be to Him for all good I do
I do it only by His great might.

Rebekah ~ The Lord’s Daughter