In elementary school, most Americans learn that an Indian named Squanto played a key role in the first Thanksgiving by teaching the Pilgrims how to grow the food they enjoyed at the historic feast. But a closer look at the character\u2019s life discloses a strong parallel to the story of Joseph in the Old Testament.<\/p>\n
In a portion of his 13-week educational curriculum on early American history titled \u201cThe Spirit of America,\u201d Kenyn M. Cureton recounts the story of the Pilgrims, Squanto and Thanksgiving with a special emphasis on the role of the Christian faith.<\/p>\n
Cureton begins with Squanto\u2019s story in 1605, when Squanto and a half-dozen of his friends were captured by some Englishmen on a fishing expedition and taken back to England.<\/p>\n
\u201cSquanto lived there with an English Captain, where he learned to speak English fluently, learned to eat English foods, and learned English customs and ways,\u201d Cureton writes. \u201cNine years later, he came back across the Atlantic on another fishing expedition, and he was let off to return to his village.\u201d<\/p>\n
But a few months later, another group of Englishmen arrived and Squanto was taken prisoner again and toted back across the ocean with other Native American captives to the slave trading port of Malaga, Spain, Cureton recounts.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll 27 were auctioned off one by one, many to Arab slave traders. When it came time for Squanto to stand on the auction block, a monk providentially walked by, looked at Squanto, took pity on him, bought him, and took him back to the monastery,\u201d he writes. \u201cThere he learned about Jesus. Eventually, the monks granted Squanto his freedom. Homesick, he made his way back to England and joined up with another fishing expedition to the coasts of New England.\u201d<\/p>\n
But when Squanto arrived at home, he discovered that his entire tribe had been killed by a mysterious disease that likely had been introduced by the white men. Grief-stricken, he went to live with a neighboring tribe until in 1621 he received word that a group of Englishmen were attempting to settle on the ground that once belonged to his kinsmen.<\/p>\n
\u201cInstead of seeking revenge, Squanto came and offered them his services,\u201d Cureton writes. \u201cThe Pilgrims had been craftsmen and townspeople in England, with little experience as farmers or hunters. In four months time they had caught only one codfish. Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to provide for the necessities of life, including how to fish for cod, how to plant corn with a fish, stalk deer, plant pumpkins, skin beavers, and determine what berries were edible.\u201d<\/p>\n
In fact, William Bradford, governor of Plymouth Plantation, called Squanto \u201ca special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Pilgrims decided to have a Thanksgiving celebration at harvest time to rejoice in their fruitfulness. Ninety Indians came with five dressed venison on poles and 12 dressed turkeys along with berry pies, fish, fowl and vegetables.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had three wonderful days of feasting and celebration, with foot races, wrestling, archery contests … [and] a prayer of thanksgiving to God,\u201d Cureton includes in his study. The event became a tradition each year.<\/p>\n
In 1622, Squanto became ill with Indian fever, Bradford recounted in his writings, and died within a few days. He desired \u201cthe Governor to pray for him, that he might go to the Englishmen\u2019s God in Heaven.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHere was this Native American who understood English fluently, he understood English customs and ways, he ate English foods, and he reportedly became committed to the same Christ that they were,\u201d Cureton writes. \u201cHe was the right man, at the right place, at the right time. Only God can do that! Squanto\u2019s story is not unlike Joseph in the Old Testament — he was shaped and molded through suffering and slavery to become the instrument of God to literally keep the people of God alive.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cureton, former pastor of the Nashville-area First Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee, said his interest in early American history began several years ago, when he and others were contemplating ways to mobilize churches to be salt and light and also to educate people about who they are as American citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur nation\u2019s story is filled with Christian heritage and heroes, which have been left out of our modern textbooks,\u201d Cureton says. \u201cTheir story needs to be told so believers grasp that they\u2019re standing in a long line of Christians who\u2019ve molded and shaped this country and its culture from the very beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo me, the big story with Squanto is that he went through so much — being captured, being made a slave — and yet somehow by the grace of God he didn\u2019t want to seek revenge on those people who had moved into his village and settled,\u201d Cureton said. \u201cHe wanted to help them, and I want to read into that that he had come to Christ and had a totally different outlook.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is just like an American Joseph, going through slavery and all the bad things. You don\u2019t get a quote that \u2018you meant it for evil but God meant it for good,\u2019 but you\u2019ve got the actions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cureton said Squanto\u2019s story is significant to Americans today because he\u2019s a model of how to deal with adversity in a positive manner for the greater good of others.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of people go through difficulty and hardship and become bitter because of it,\u201d he said. \u201cOther people go through the difficulty and hardship and see how God has used that to mold them and shape them to do good. I think that\u2019s his story, and I love it. It\u2019s a great story.\u201d<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
[Original illustration at this number was deleted for being obsolete]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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