Plucking the Eagle's Wings

Hebrew Parallels Associated with Early American History

frustrated the Plan. Matters degenerated quickly to the point that the colonists cannibalized their own dead. At one point, the colonists kidnapped Chief Powhatan's daughter, Pocahantas. They held her for ransom and demanded that Powhatan give them food. This was their method of survival. Instead of working to provide for themselves, they took what belonged to others. They should have been planting and preparing for the winter, but according to John Smith, their time was spent looking for gold. Ironically, there was no gold. The death rate in Jamestown swelled to 90%. In May of 1610, they decided to abandon the settlement and return to England. This could have aborted God's plan for America except for the timely arrival of the new Governor, Lord De la Warr, who made the colonists return to the settlement. Eventually discipline, a work ethic, and church services were instituted. These practices helped Jamestown survive and 20 years later it became self-sufficient. During those years, the tobacco industry was established and became profitable. Once again, the Englishmen decided that it would be more profitable for others to do the work. In 1619, Jamestown received its first African slaves and put them to work in the tobacco fields. The issue of slavery and the cavalier English attitudes would explode some 250 years later, as brother fought against brother in America's Civil War. God allowed Jacob to endure difficult times in his life. These difficulties were often caused by his deceitfulness. As an old man, Jacob himself was deceived regarding his favorite son, Joseph. Joseph's jealous brothers sold him into slavery and told Jacob that a wild animal had killed him. To create evidence for the deception, they smeared blood on Joseph's coat and took it to their father. Jacob mourned the loss for years —never knowing that he had been told a lie. Joseph obtained great favor while in Egypt and became the second most powerful man in the land. When famine came, Jacob's sons journeyed to Egypt to buy food. They encountered Joseph who eventually forgave them saying, "But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass as it is this day, to save much people alive" (Genesis 50:20). Virginia also survived and grew into a wealthy colony. But America was to pay a great price for the colony's treacherous policy of slavery. The lessons learned at Jamestown were critical for America. Even as Jamestown struggled to survive and grow, another group of colonists was preparing to embark on a voyage to the New World. 63