I suppose that if you dug back through anyone's ancestry far enough you might find a person of some significance  somewhere in the family tree.  In my case, that person is James Longstreet, a general who served in the Civil War for the Confederacy.

While Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were the most known of the South's generals,  Longstreet was just beneath them seniority and was a major player.  His legacy, however, was tainted by his performance at the Battle of Gettysburg.  The troops he was leading arrived late to the fray.  By the time they engaged the North, the tide of the battle had already turned - and with it the momentum of the war.  The South never recovered.

So why weren't Longstreet's troops there when they were needed?  The answer isn't clear.  He may not have received his orders in time.  Or he may have disagreed with the orders and dragged his feet.  But at some level he was at fault.

³⁰ There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
    that can succeed against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but victory rests with the Lord.

 Sometimes we think too much of ourselves - and start to believe that our wins in life are becaue of our own wisdom or efforts or skill.  But the battle belongs to the Lord - and He ultimately decides the winner.

Read Proverbs 21

Slavery was a horrible thing.  To think that people could be treated as they were based on the color of their skin is a disturbing blot on our nation's history.  And 150 years later, we are still trying to work through the damage that was done.

So did Longstreet lose the war for the South?  Or do you think it's at least possible that God intervened?  It's at least something to consider, right?

God is involved and engaged in our stories. 

We can make our plans.  
We set our agendas.
We can lay out our itineraries.
We can devise our strategies.   

But ultimately it is up to God.  And we can take comfort in that.

Today's wisdom:

We should do our best - and trust God with the rest!

P.S. Yes, that is actually a picture of Longstreet.  Notice the forehead!