Trivia question. Category: United States Presidents. Question: In 1841 and 1881, something unique happened in our nation. What was it? If you don’t know the answer and want to take a minute to try and figure it out, set the devotional aside and try to come up with the answer. If you say, “Get on with it!” then keep reading.
Let’s start with 1841. One term president, Martin Van Buren ends his presidency on March 4, 1841. Our 9th president, William Henry Harrison takes office, serving only 32 days making him the president with the shortest presidency as well as the first president to die in office. It was believed that he died of pneumonia but modern medical reports concluded that “he likely died of septic shock due to “enteric fever” (typhoid or paratyphoid fever).”1 Van Buren’s vice president, John Tyler, took office on April 4, 1841.
Moving to 1881, another one term president, Rutherford B. Hayes ends his presidency on March 4, 1881. The next president would be Ohioan James A. Garfield. On July 2, 1881, assassin Charles J. Guiteau, shot Garfield twice. One bullet hit him in the arm while the other entered through his back, shattering a rib, and lodging in his abdomen. On September 19, 1881, Garfield died with the bullet still lodged in his abdomen. Garfield’s VP, Chester Arthur, took office on the same day.
The answer to our trivia question is that in each of those years, 1841 and 1881, the United States had three different presidents. It’s hard to imagine the turmoil and uncertainty this must have caused in our fledgling nation. How do you move forward with any cohesiveness after these kinds of events?
ANY time transition takes place, there is going to be the feeling of instability. To some degree, I have to think that is normal. But this is something that happens all the time. Factories are sold and new management takes over. Employees come and go. Students get new teachers. Teams get new players. Churches lose a pastor. Members leave and new ones come in. And typically, we get a new president every four or eight years. Three in the same year is a bit excessive but it is manageable because life is always in flux.
Do we accept this and make the best of it, or do we jump ship and quit? Sadly, there are those that can’t seem to handle the change and they will leave rather than making the best of things, realizing that the changes just might produce something better than what they had.
When Israel transitioned from Moses to Joshua, there must have been some angst among the people. Oh, they knew the time was coming because Moses had prepared them. But they were used to Moses. Yes, they caused him a lot of headaches and heartaches along the way, but he was comfortable. What if Joshua really changes things? What if we don’t like his leadership style? What if he isn’t as patient as Moses? Things just don’t seem the same anymore and I just don’t feel like I fit into the program.
If Joshua was feeling a bit overwhelmed by his new responsibilities and duties, the Lord made certain to supply him with some assurance. Joshua 1:5-8 says, “There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (6) Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. (7) Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest. (8) This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
The best way to sum up what Joshua did to rally the people behind his leadership is found in Joshua 3:9. “And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.” Like Moses, Joshua faithfully gave them the messages from the Lord to show them how they were to live and function in the Promised Land.
Change is inevitable and you just have to roll with it rather than run from it. If you jump ship every time a change occurs, you will never see anything through and find the blessings at the end. Israel responded correctly to Joshua and the finale of his life is summed up with a fitting epitaph.
“And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.” (Joshua 24:31)
1https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Henry_Harrison#Death_and_funeral
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