Providence

ISBE on Providence (9/11/02-9/12/02)

Definition

Done with forethought and foresight, indicating a plan and a purpose. Every creature exercises a degree of providence as they plan to achieve a desired end. But God alone is all-knowing and all-wise, and in Him we find the true Providence, as He governs over all His creation so that all creation will achieve the ends for which they were created. God's Providence is the thread that ties all of history and creation together, uniting everything in His redemptive purpose.

Spheres of Activity

Providence divides into the laws of Nature that govern the physical universe, the work of God in sustaining life, and the rational, moral governance of man. Free will leaves man able to obey or rebel as he will. Providence can alternatively be divided into two pieces: the general providence which He shows towards good and evil alike, and the more particular providence He exercises over the good, over those working in harmony with His will.

Biblical Views

The Word Itself

"Providence" occurs only once in translation, and but twice in the underlying Greek.

Ac 24:2 Tertullus accused Paul in the presence of the governor, appealing to the governor's work in maintaining the peace, and the reforms carried out by his providence.
Ro 13:14 Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh and its lusts.

In both cases, the focus is on the work of man. In spite of its lack of Scriptural usage, the doctrine remains key to Christianity, being implicit throughout Scripture. All Scripture reveals God's providential purpose for His people. God's providence is found to cover the needs of the least individual, as well as those of God's kingdom.

Old Testament

Pentateuch

From the first verse of the Bible, we see God's intimate involvement with His creation, as He orchestrates the origin of all things. What He created, He preserves, and He governs. Although God's lordship extends to all the earth, there was a special care on His part for His people Israel.

Ex 8:22 I will set apart the land of Goshen for my people, such that no swarming insects will be found there. Thus, you will know that I, the LORD, am in the land.
Dt 10:14 All of heaven and earth belong to the LORD your God.
Dt 32:8-9 The Most High gave each nation its inheritance, separating the sons of man, and setting boundaries for the people, according to the number of Israelites. His people are His portion. Jacob is His inheritance.

Just as His special providence was shown towards the nation of Israel, it was also shown to specific individuals.

Ne 9:7-8 You are the LORD God, the One who chose Abram and took him from Ur. You changed his name to Abraham, and found him faithful in Your sight. You made covenant with him, giving him the lands of the Canaanites, and other nations as an inheritance to his descendants. You have fulfilled Your promise, for You are righteous.
Ge 31:42 If the God of my father had not been for me, you would have sent me away with nothing. But God has seen my affliction and my labor, and He rendered judgment.
Ge 48:15 Jacob blessed Joseph, saying that the same God in whose sight Abraham and Isaac walked had been his shepherd all his life.
Ge 45:5-7 Don't grieve, don't be mad at yourselves for selling me here. God sent me to preserve life. The famine has already lasted two years, and will last yet another five. God sent me to preserve a remnant for you, to keep you alive by a great deliverance.
Ge 50:20 You meant to do me evil, but God turned it to good, bringing this present result whereby many are being kept alive.

Histories

Moses' entire life stands as a testimony to God's providence. Other examples abound in the pages of the Old Testament. The historical portions all work to show God's guiding hand in history, that it is truly His story. He is not silent. He is the supreme Governor of all men, and all men owe Him loyalty.

Because all history is His story, all history has a moral significance. The darkest portions of Israel's history yet show the extent to which God will go to work His will, even through the most imperfect men. He may work His will through broken vessels, but the work is always more glorious when in the hands of truly righteous servants. Nehemiah is the most clear in presenting God as the Divine Governor of all the earth.

Neh 9:6 You alone are LORD. You made the heavens and all that is in them. You made the earth and all it contains, giving life to every creature. And all the hosts of heaven bow before You.
Neh 9:19-20 In Your great compassion, You did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud never left them in the day, nor the pillar of fire at night, by which they could see the way to go. You gave Your good Spirit to instruct. You gave manna to feed them, and water for their thirst.

Because of divine providence, Israel's history moves ever toward the Messianic goal.

Psalms

Poets are in general those of highest and purest faith. This is particularly true of the poets of Scripture. Here, we see God not only as the Creator, but as the One who hears and answers prayer, we see the fullness of His mercy and love. Here, we see clearly Him whom Christ taught us to call "Father."

Ps 91:1-16 Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will say to Him, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!" It is He who delivers you from snares and pestilence. He covers you in the refuge of His wings, shielding you with His faithfulness. You will not fear in the night. You will not be afraid of the arrows of the day, of the pestilence of the night, or of the destruction that comes at noontime. Though thousands may fall around you, it will not touch you. You will only look, and see the evil repaid. For you have made the LORD your dwelling place. No evil will come upon you or your household, for He charges angels to guard your ways. They will keep you from stumbling. You will tread down both lion and cobra. Because you have loved Him, He will deliver you. He will keep you secure because you know His name. You will call upon Him, and He will answer, He will rescue you in times of trouble, and give you honor. He will satisfy you with long life and salvation.
Ps 103:1-104:35 Bless the LORD, my soul. With everything in me, I bless His holy name, forgetting nothing of His benefits. He pardons all iniquities, and heals all diseases. He redeems life from the pit, crowning you with love and compassion. He gives you long life filled with good things, renewing your youth like the eagle. He works righteously, giving judgments to the oppressed. He revealed Himself to Moses, and by His actions, to Israel. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always strive with us. His anger will not be withheld forever. He has not treated us as our sins deserved. His love towards those who fear Him is great beyond measuring, and He removes our sins far away from us. His compassion for us is like that of a father. He knows how we are made, how weak and temporary we are, but His love and His righteousness are eternal towards the covenant keepers who do His commandments. He rules over all from His heavenly throne. All you mighty angels who do His word, bless Him! All you who serve Him, doing His will, bless Him! All you whom He created, bless Him! Indeed, my soul, bless Him! My God is very great, clothed in splendor and majesty. You cover Yourself in cloaks of light, and stretch out the heavens like a tent. The beams of His upper chambers are in the waters, clouds are His chariots, and the wind His messenger. Fire is a minister of His. It is He who has established the earth on foundations that do not fail. He covered the deep. Waters once stood higher than the mountains, but at His rebuke they fled, the mountains rose, and valleys sank down to the place You had set for them. The boundaries You set for the seas, they do not pass over; that the earth will not be covered by them again. He sends the springs that flow, giving water to every beast of the field. Donkeys and birds are satisfied by those waters, and give voice to their thanks among the branches. Mountains are watered from His upper chambers, and the earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works. He causes grass to grow, feeding the cattle. He grows vegetables for man to labor at, that he might have food from the earth, and wine to gladden his heart. Thus, also, man has oil for his face, and food to sustain himself. The LORD's trees drink their fill, the cedars of Lebanon which He planted, and there birds nest, and also storks. He made high mountains for the goats, and cliffs for the badgers. He made the moon to rule the seasons, and showed the sun where to set. You appoint darkness and it is night, all the beasts of the forest come out; lions seeking prey, seeking food from God. When the sun rises, they return to their dens, and man goes forth to his work until evening. How many are Your works, O Lord! All of them made by You in perfect wisdom. Indeed, the earth is filled with Your possessions. The sea is filled with swarms of Your creatures, and ships move upon its surface. All of these wait for You to give them food at the proper time. When You give it, they gather it and are satisfied with the good of Your hand. When You hide away, they are dismayed, and should You take away their spirit, they die, returning to the dust. When You send Your Spirit, they are created, renewing the face of the earth. Let Your glory endure forever, and may You always be glad in Your works. When You look upon the earth, it trembles. Mountains smoke at Your touch. Oh, I will sing to You as long as I live. I will sing out my praises to God so long as I exist. May my meditation please Him, for I shall be glad in the LORD. May the sinner and the wicked man be taken from the earth. Bless the LORD, my soul, praise the LORD!

Many other examples of God's hand upon the world and upon nature are found in the Psalms. There are also numerous examples of His hand in the moral government of His people.

Ps 1:6 The LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Ps 31:19-20 How great is Your goodness, stored up for those who fear You, sent for those who take refuge in You! You hide them in the secret place of Your presence, protecting them from the conspiracies of man. You keep them in a shelter, protecting them from trouble stirred up by loose tongues.
Ps 74:12 God is my king from long past. HE works deliverance in the earth.
Ps 84:11 The LORD is a sun and shield, giving grace and glory. He doesn't keep anything good from those who walk in righteousness.
Ps 91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
Ps 125:2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people forever.
Ps 37:23 God establishes the steps of man, and delights in his way.

The providence of moral government does more than meet our needs, it secures our good, both as individuals, and as nations.

Wisdom

The wisdom literature of Scripture also addresses God's Providence in numerous places.

Pr 3:21-26 Let God's words not depart from you. Keep wisdom and discretion close to you, for they are life to your soul, and beauty upon your neck. By them, you will walk securely, and your footing will not fail. When you lie down, you will not fear, your sleep will be pleasant. Don't be afraid of sudden fear, nor of the attacks of the wicked which will come, for the LORD is your confidence, and He will keep your foot from being trapped.
Pr 16:4 The LORD makes everything for its own purpose. Even the wicked are made for the day of evil.
Pr 26:10 The one who hires fools and strangers is an archer who will wound everybody.
Pr 2:7-8 God stores up wisdom for the righteous, and shields those who walk in integrity. He guards the paths of justice, and preserves His godly ones.
Pr 12:2 A good man will know God's favor, but He condemns those who devise evil.
Pr 12:21 No harm comes to the righteous, but the wicked are filled with trouble.
Pr 3:6 Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will straighten your path.
Pr 16:9 Man plans, but the LORD directs.
Pr 16:33 Man casts lots, but the LORD gives the lots' decisions.
Pr 20:24 The LORD ordains man's steps, so how can he expect to understand his own way?
Pr 21:1 The king's heart is like water in the LORD's hands. He turns him wherever He will.
Pr 21:31 The horse is prepared for battle, but victory is from the LORD.

God rules, and He may overrule in the affairs of man, but He will not destroy man's freedom to choose. It is because of the effects of man's fall that the things we know are as we know them. They are not the result of His perfect providential will, but reflect His will as our freedom has affected it.

Ecc 9:1 I have taken my lessons to heart, and see that the righteous and the wise, along with all their deeds are in God's hand. Man does not know what may await him, whether love or hatred.
Ecc 9:11 I have seen that the race is not to the swift, and the battle does not belong to the warriors to determine; wisdom does not automatically give bread, and wealth does not always come by discernment. No, men of ability cannot count on favor, for time and chance will overtake every one of them.
Ecc 3:12-14 I know there is nothing better than for man to rejoice and do good while he lives. Every man who eats and drinks sees the benefit of his labors. This is a gift from God. Everything that God does will stand forever, and nothing can be added to it, or taken from it; His works are so fashioned that men should fear Him.

Job

This entire book is a discussion of divine providence and its relationship to human suffering. Job was strong enough to defy the theology of his day, because it failed to address the problems of life. It is one of the worst lies of false theology that claims that suffering is proof of sin and guilt. Although many specific verses can be found in Job that address God's general providence, it is the book as a whole that best explains His divine providence to us.

Job 12:9-10 Who doesn't know that the LORD's hand did this? The life of everything that lives is in His hand, as is the breath of every man.
Job 34:13 Nobody gave Him His authority over the earth, and nobody set the world upon Him as His burden.
Job 34:24 He breaks mighty men without inquiry, and sets others in their place.

Prophets

More, perhaps, than any other portion of Scripture, the prophets are unanimous in seeing God as sovereign over all the nations, bringing His will to pass in heaven and earth. He is seen as the supreme authority, determined that Messiah will come to establish His kingdom. All of the prophets saw that a time would come when out of Israel would arise the one who would establish God's providential government upon the earth, and they saw all of their nation's history being directed towards that goal.

Da 4:35 All that is on the earth is as nothing to Him. He does as He wills in heaven and on earth. There is nobody who could stay His hand, or demand an explanation from Him for His actions.

The pronouncements of the prophets either for or against the nations were never matters of favoritism, but were always connected with matters of conduct and character.

Isa 33:13-16 You who are so distant, hear what I have done. You who are near, acknowledge My power. In Zion, sinners are trembling in terror, for they know that none can survive the consuming fire, none can live with continual burning. But the righteous and sincere, who rejects illicit gain and refuses every bribe; he whose ears will hear no thought of bloodshed and whose eyes refuse to look upon evil; he will dwell on the heights in refuges of indestructible rock. He will be given his bread, and his water supply will be certain.
Isa 35:8-10 There will be a roadway there called the Highway of Holiness. No unclean thing will travel upon it, for it will be only for those who walk in its ways, not for fools. No vicious beast will be found, but only the redeemed walking. Thus will those ransomed by the LORD be returned, coming into Zion with joyful shouts and everlasting joy. They will have gladness and joy, and all sorrow and sighing will depart from them.
Isa 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. The rivers you must cross will not overflow you. When you walk through fire, it will not scorch or burn you.
Isa 46:4 I will remain the same, even when you are aged and graying. Even then I shall bear you as I have done. I have carried you all along, and I shall carry you then, and I shall deliver you.
Isa 54:14-17 You will be established in righteousness; fearless and unoppressed. No terror will come near you. Anyone who seeks to attack you will not be coming from Me, and therefore they will fail. Know this! I made the smithy Myself. The one who fires the coals and makes weapons is My creation. I made him for the purpose of destroying. But no weapon formed against you will succeed. Any who accuse you, you will yourself condemn, for this is the heritage of the LORD's servants, I am the One who vindicates them.
Isa 52:12 You will not go hastily, nor will you depart like fugitives, for the LORD will go before you, and God will be your rear guard.

New Thoughts (9/13/02-9/14/02)

God's intimate involvement. That's what it's all about. He is not, as some have believed in times past, a Creator who creates and runs. He is not a 'deadbeat dad.' No. He remains intimately involved with His creation, with each individual within that creation. This is the God I know. This is the God I have been seeing in action so clearly over the last several weeks. This is the God who kept whispering to me of His providence until I would listen.

It was largely the consideration of Providence that finally led me to believe He was real, and He has sovereignly turned my thoughts back in that direction in His perfect timing; keeping me planted in thoughts of His great care for me throughout the turmoil of job uncertainty. Is that uncertainty over yet? I don't know, but I believe it is. I know He has His perfect plan for my future, and my constant prayer is that He won't allow me to miss it.

These studies, this time in His word and in His presence, have been a source of strength and peace in a time of need, even as He promised. When those around me have been in despair, I have been able to know confidence. No, I have not been free of all the emotions that come with this ugliness of layoff, but I have had that daily reminder that God is in control. God is the One who decides, not me, not my interviewers, not my employers. He has had a reason for the timing of this event, and what the reason is will be made clear as He decides to reveal it.

Providence, when it has been experienced and recognized, when we have come to know the power and the meaning of God's providential care over us, will change us. It will alter the whole perception we have of our life. Take the example of Isaac and Jacob. Isaac had seen God's providence play out most dramatically in his life. Here was the one who was offered on the altar by his own father. He was not asleep for this. He was aware of what was happening. He had asked the questions, and heard no answer but God. God will provide. This was the faith of Abraham. God will provide. This was the faith of Isaac, that allowed him to take his place on that altar. God will provide. And He did provide. Both men knew their faith confirmed and strengthened.

The impact this must have had on Isaac! I know Scripture speaks of God as the God of Abraham and Jacob, but speaks of Him as the fear of Isaac. Was that holy fear, or outright fear? I suspect a little of both. He had witnessed God's power too intimately not to be awed by it. He knew God's hand too well to allow his child to be unaware of Whom it was with which they had to do. It seems clear that the story of that altar stuck with Isaac all his life, and that he told it often to his children, perhaps to etch the seriousness of righteousness upon them. In Jacob's blessing upon Joseph, I see evidence that the lessons stuck. There, Jacob points to God as the Shepherd, he sees himself as the sheep; much like Isaac before him, fit only for sacrifice. But God… God had preserved him, and cared for him all his days. This was Jacob's assurance, and this was the heritage he passed on to Joseph.

How well it served Joseph in his own trying times to be assured of that same Shepherd watching over him! Joseph had the history of his forebears to back up his own belief. He had the knowledge of experience, not only his own, but that of generations, to tell him that his Shepherd would not fail to care for him. This knowledge, because it was backed by such experience, could not be shaken even by the darkness of an Egyptian dungeon. The same sorts of experiences played out over and over again in Joseph's life, such that he could never fail to have a memory of God's careful shepherding in his own life.

This is our heritage, the truth about the life of every believer. He is our Avenger, our Provider, our great Shepherd, our Sun, our Shield. Indeed, Lord, there is none like You. You have cared so wonderfully for me, my God! How can I ever hope to thank You enough? I have felt Your hand upon the events of my life more than ever before in these last weeks, as You have held me close to Yourself through hard times, and You have brought the end of those hard times.

I know, my God, that I have often wondered in Your presence whether I had truly learned to be satisfied, as Paul had learned. I know that in some fashion, this has been a time of testing of that very matter, and I thank You that it was a gentle testing. I hope and pray, my Lord, that You found me to be passing that test, that my attachment to the things of this life has not grown out of proportion. I thank You, also, for the good things You bless this family with. I thank You for the times of abundance we have known, and continue to know. I thank You, Lord, that You have taught us how to be faithful with much, how to put what You have given us to work in Your service. Oh, God, how I love You! Bless Your holy name!

Proverbs 3:26 reminds me that the LORD is my confidence. No job, no church, no man, no woman, nothing in this life can be my confidence. These studies cannot be my confidence, nor any effort that comes of my own strength of mind or body. The LORD is my confidence, and my confidence is Him alone. And my Confidence comes to me with a promise in that verse. He says that He will keep my foot from being trapped. Again, as I look around at my coworkers in this time, and as I look at how my time in that same company has played out, I can see this verse proven true in my own life.

Where others have been pigeon-holed into very definite tasks, by the grace of God, I've been able to keep myself active in a broad array of tasks. Where my way of doing things used to consist of forcing my way through all barriers, by the grace of God, I've been put into positions where I needed to learn a better way, a way that built consensus and teamwork, rather than playing the maverick hero. This has been the hand of God, His providential care and preparation of me for this time. He has kept me from being trapped by having limited my scope. When the world has advised specialization, He has led me to remain more of a generalist. He has arranged to smooth out my rough edges, to bring strength to my weaknesses.

And now, that He has prepared me, He has also prepared for me a new place of employment, so that I can continue to fulfill the role of provider for the family He has entrusted to my care. In the course of finding this job, He has shown me most clearly that it is Him at work, preparing the way before me, making my roads straight. I confess that I cannot look forward to this change without a degree of trepidation. Change is never comfortable. But, I also know that high on my list of concerns is what impact this new situation might have on my service to God. And, in this, I find my heart knows greater confidence.

God, this appears to be my answer from You as to the state of my heart. I can look back on this time of wondering what was coming, and seeing that You were high on my list of concerns, higher than I, as You should be. The cry of our hearts came not from fear over our own situation, but sorrow for the impact it was having on our ability to support Your kingdom concerns. As the answer began to come, the joy we felt in this house, admittedly held in it a large part of relief, that the time of wondering was past. But, there was also a joy in knowing the way we would be able to bless Your church, Your workers, Your children, because of the way You had worked events in this situation.

You have done great things! You have worked the timing of this out to the finest detail, providing me with downtime to regroup after the weirdness of the last several months, providing me with the freedom to serve as our church celebrates its 20th anniversary, providing me with the certainty I needed to know, to proceed with the things that need to be done in this house You have given us. Awesome! There's just no other word for it, and even that doesn't come close to describing the wonder I feel at this whole thing.

How You have kept me in this time, my Lord, how You have poked and prodded me until I turned my attention to the very thing that I needed to keep in my heart through this time! There just isn't a word that can truly capture my amazement, my joy, my awe, at seeing what You have done. You have done great things! In my life, in my sight, You have done great things!

Somewhere towards the end of Psalm 91, it says that because we have loved Him, He will deliver us. I know many times I have looked at the matter of free will, at the fact that we never chose Him, He chose us. I know, in many places I have commented on the fact that we have this need in us to feel like we've had some part in things. Here is the part that God has assigned us. Here is a place that we can say our actions, our works, have somehow brought about the things God does for us. Because we love Him, He delivers us.

Yet, even this, is but a part of the truth. We love Him because He first loved us. This is the other piece of the Scriptural picture. He loved us. Even while we remained His enemies, He loved us. And, as Nehemiah 9:20 points out, He loved us enough to send His Holy Spirit to instruct us. It is because of His first acting upon us that we can love Him. It is because if Him that we can choose to love Him. And because, now that we can choose, we have chosen to follow Him, to love Him, to try our utmost to please Him by our obedience to His commands, He will deliver us. He will deliver us from our sinful ways. He will deliver us from the damage we have done ourselves in our rebelliousness. He will deliver us from the traps our enemy lays for our soul. What is there that He cannot do? He is God. And He has said He will deliver. Praise be to His name!