On June 14, 1775, the Continental Army was created and by June 19th, George Washington was commissioned as “General and Commander-in-Chief of the army of the United Colonies and of all the forces raised or to be raised by them”.1 Washington accepted this position and declined a salary. He just wanted to serve his country.
In August 1776, the British were attempting to overtake Long Island with a far superior force than Washington commanded. Still, the Patriots fought valiantly but to no avail. British General William Howe was Washington’s military counterpart. Howe sent a letter of reconciliation to Washington, claiming a desire to negotiate peace. The letter was rejected, unopened. What would have caused Washington to reject the letter?
It was addressed to George Washington, Esq. Since it did not contain Washington’s proper title, it was returned with a message, saying that “there was no one with that title in the army.”2 A second attempt was made to send the letter, this time addressed to “George Washington, Esq., etc.,” the etc. meaning… “and any other relevant titles.”3 Again, the letter was rejected.
At first, we may think that the General was being incredibly petty, taking the snub personally. Why would he turn down a letter of peace just because it wasn’t addressed properly? Was this egotism at its worst that it would allow others to suffer and die in a war just so that he could be addressed properly?
First of all, Washington was acting in accordance with the directives of Congress. “The legislators, who only a few weeks earlier had voted in Philadelphia to approve the Declaration of Independence, directed American commanders to henceforth accept letters from their foes that had been addressed to them “in the characters they respectively sustain.””4
Second, “Washington declined, demanding to be addressed with diplomatic protocol, as general and fellow belligerent, not as a “rebel”, lest his men be hanged as such if captured.”5
Washington agreed to meet with one of Howe’s subordinates. The terms of peace would have required the Patriots to surrender and be reintegrated into the British realm in order to receive a full pardon. Independence would be squashed, and America would still be under the British rule.
Washington wasn’t going to make a deal with the devil! He wasn’t going to sell his soul and the soul of the Colonists. The alleged snubbing indicated the spirit and heart of the British and Washington rightfully discerned their deception.
How many people are making deals with the devil today? Perhaps you wonder why anyone would want to. Why aren’t we as savvy as Washington? 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 warns, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (15) Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” Satan has a way of making things look exceptionally good – we might even say tempting!
And, if we want to get 100% truthful, making a deal with the devil is impossible because the devil has nothing to offer. “The Bible gives no support to the notion that people can make a deal with the devil, but some people have attempted to make such a bargain unilaterally, pledging themselves to Satan in hopes of receiving some special favors back from him. In a sense, that’s the nature of idolatry and genuine witchcraft as described in the Bible.”6 That still doesn’t stop the devil from trying. We see this in the final temptation of Jesus in Matthew 4.
Matthew 4:8-10 says, “Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; (9) And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. (10) Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” Satan is trying to offer something that isn’t his to offer.
General Washington was shrewd and saw right through what Howe was trying to do. May we be equally as shrewd about the things the devil is trying to do. Peter was spot on with his warning in 1 Peter 5:8. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
1“Commission from the Continental Congress, 19 June 1775”. National Historical Publications and Records Commission (The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). 1775. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020.
2https://www.revolutionary-war-and-beyond.com/howe-brothers-attempt-negotiate-george-washington.html
3Ibid.
4https://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/continental-congress-learns-of-washingtons-refusal-july-17-1776-109007
5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington
6https://www.gotquestions.org/deal-with-the-devil.html
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