Telecommunication Series Part 6 – The First Morse Code Message Sent

Happy Sabbath!

Last Sabbath we learned about the telegraph and how Samuel Morse’s discovery was very useful. 

Today I want to start this reflection with a question, have we ever heard of Morse code? If we’ve heard, Samuel Morse created Morse code by relying on dots and electric lines to make the alphabet.

In Morse code, SOS, it starts with three short beats (or “dots”) for “S” and is followed by three longer “lines” for “O,” followed by three short “dots” for another “S”. These points and knock lines are tapped by the sender of the telegraph, transmitted electrically along the telegraph wire and captured by the receiver with his headphones. 

Then do you know what was the first message in the world sent by Morse? 

The world’s first Morse code message by telegraph was sent on May 24, 1844 by Morse himself which reads “What hath God wrought!”

Did you know that the first message Morse sent was taken from the Bible based on the suggestion of Annie Ellsworth, wife of US Patent Office Commissioner Henry Leavitt Ellsworth, who was Morse’s best friend. 

The sentence is taken from Numbers 23:23 The Bible says: “Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!”

Why was this sentence chosen? Because of the phrase “What hath God Wrought!” is an expression of gratitude for everything God has done in their lives so that they can make a useful telegraph for many people. 

That is why we should not give up hope but remember that, “It is for Him who can do much more than we pray or think, as is evident from the power that works in us.” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV) 

Trust God and see how God does much more than what we pray or think in our lives. 

Happy Sabbath and God bless us all. Amen.