God's preparation of Europe for coming to the New World

One of the ways that God’s hand can be seen in history, is in the way He brings everything together in the perfect time. In Galatians 4:4, it says that Christ was sent to the world in the fullness of time. In the same way, America was discovered and settled in the perfect time. A man by the name of Leif Ericson discovered the New World in about 1,000 A.D. However, America was not rediscovered by Columbus until 1492. Why did it take almost 500 years for a person to come back to America? I believe the answer to be found in God’s timing. Europe had to be prepared economically, educationally, politically, and Spiritually, in order for God to allow the discovery and settlement of America.
During the Dark ages, Europe was in a period of economic stagnation. Many of the people of Europe had embraced some form of the Feudal system. One feature of this system was the barter system in which people exchanged goods instead of using money. Most of the serfs lived lives of poverty with no hope of escaping their condition. In 1100 A.D. the Pope declared a series of Crusades against the Muslims in order to take back the Holy Land. Although none of the Crusades were particularly successful to this end, they did accomplish God’s will. Many of the men who took part in the Crusades saw the silks and spices from the far East and desired them for their people. This led to Europe being forced to use money again, and eventually led to increased wealth for Europe. By the time of Columbus, the Feudal system was gone and the principles of private ownership and individual responsibility were ready to be established.
In 1000 A.D. Europe’s education consisted of training people for their jobs. If you were a serf, you would learn how to farm, make tools, work with your hands and take care of your lord. If you were a Knight, you would learn all of the skills required for battle and Tournaments. In 1300A.D. The Renaissance began, and people were encouraged to think and study. In 1440, Gutenberg invented the printing press. Now the average person could afford to buy books, which encouraged the teaching of reading and writing in Europe. By the 1500s, people were much more educated, and many were beginning to question much of what had been taught for centuries.
During the time of Leif Ericson, the political power was in the hands of a few. Either a king or a lord would control the lives of the masses. In 1215 King John of England was forced to sign the Magna Charta. This document not only placed the king under the law, but established such rights as trial by jury, no taxation without representation. In 1300 King Edward I established modal Parliament, which laid the foundation of self government. By the time Jamestown was settled, the concepts of freedom and self government were being widely discussed.
The last way that God prepared Europe for coming to the New World, was the Spiritual changes that had to take place. In the 1000-1500 period, Europe was controlled by the Roman Catholic Church. As people read God’s word, many began to question many of the teachings of the Church. Among those people was a monk named Martin Luther. In 1517, he posted his 95 thesis against the practice of indulgences. This began the movement known as the Reformation. The major feature of the movement was the belief that salvation was by faith alone and not of works. For many years Catholics and Protestants fought wars over their differences. Many of the people who came to America were Protestants who were coming for religious freedom.
When Europe was ready in the four ways that I have mentioned God allowed Columbus and many other explorers to come to America. I remember reading a statement by one early explorer who said it was if there had been a giant hand in front of America for hundreds of years, and suddenly after Columbus, it was lifted. He had it right, God allowed America to be discovered and settled at the perfect time for it to be wealthy, educated, free, and Spiritually strong.