My wife and I recently watched the new movie released about the evacuation at Dunkirk during World War II. Even after watching the movie, I did not realize that “Dunkirk is not simply a gripping story; it is also a thought-provoking one because even today the word ‘miracle’ hangs over it.” I was amazed to read this “behind the scenes” account.

I love watching movies that tell a story from history and expose more of the details behind the event. Here is the background that J. John Canon revealed in his blog: “On 10th of May, 1940, Hitler unleashed a military onslaught on France and Belgium. Within days, the British Army – outmanoeuvred and unprepared – along with soldiers of other Allied nations, found themselves (some 400,000) with their backs to the sea and hemmed in by enemies.”

Here is what I did not realize: On 23rd May, King George VI requested that the following Sunday should be observed as a National Day of Prayer. On that Sunday of prayer, the call was made to rescue these stranded men, with about 800 private fishing boats and vessels responding.

Here is the kicker: In a decision that infuriated his generals and still baffles historians, Hitler ordered his army to halt. It is no wonder that Churchill referred to this as the miracle of Dunkirk. How impactful was it that a nation was called to pray? The calming of the winds (so the vessels could rescue those stranded), the ceasing of the attack for this time of calm, sounds like a miracle we would read about in the Bible or hear a pastor reference in a sermon.

I find the tag line of the movie “the event that shaped our world” to be an interesting one. Many in our society discount God’s involvement or even His existence, but when I see the hidden details of this story, I cannot help but think that He is likely more involved than we realize. Some may argue about war itself and also about those who lost their lives asking, “Where was God for those people?” While I can’t claim to have all the answers, I do know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. This verse (1 John 5:19) has answered many of my questions and helped me realize that the events we often call “acts of god” are in truth, acts of the god of this world, or the evil one, not the acts of a loving God.

However, from time to time we do see a miracle like Dunkirk and it can help restore our confidence and trust in a God who can intervene in the events of this world. When I watched the movie, I saw a rescue, but after learning the hidden details of the story, I see a miracle!