Providence

ISBE on Providence

New Testament (9/15/02)

Synoptics

The Synoptic gospels see Christ as the fulfillment of God's providential purposes from the start. Christ, throughout His life here, modeled absolute trust in God's providence. His parables, His teachings, provide numerous declarations of God's watchfulness over man and over creation, as well as laying out His providential plan for the Kingdom, which He has pursued from the beginning.

Mt 1:22 hese things took place to fulfill what the LORD had foretold through the prophets.
Mt 2:5 The prophets had declared that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea.
Mt 2:15 He remained in Egypt until Herod died, so as to fulfill the words of the prophet, who had said that God would call His Son out of Egypt.
Mt 3:3 He is the one Isaiah referred to, when he said, "There is a voice crying in the wilderness, 'Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!'"
Mt 11:25 Jesus said, "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for You hid these matters from the wise and the smart, and revealed them instead to children."
Mt 26:39 He walked away, and fell on His face in prayer, seeking that the Father might find another way to do His will. But, He submitted Himself fully to the Father's plan.
Mk 1:35 He rose early in the dark and went to a lonely place to pray.
Mk 6:46 He said goodbye. And went to the mountain to pray.
Lk 3:21 Jesus was also baptized, and while He prayed, heaven was opened.
Lk 11:1 While He was praying, when He finished, one of His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray.
Mt 13:24-50 The kingdom is comparable to a man sowing seed, but while he sleeps, his enemy comes and sows tares among his wheat. Thus, when the wheat grew, the tares grew as well, and his slaves came to him, asking whether he had sown good seed, for they were surprised to see the tares. The man told them that an enemy must have done this thing, so his slaves asked if he wanted them to go gather out the tares. But, he told them not to, for fear that the wheat might be damaged in the process. Instead, he suggested they allow both to grow to fullness, and then separate the tares out during the harvest and burn them up. In another parable, he told them that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, for though that seed is among the smallest of seeds, it grows to become a tree in which birds come and nest. Further explaining, He compared the kingdom to leaven, which women will take small portions of, and put in the dough. Yet, by this small portion, the whole dough is leavened. He continued to teach with parables, so that the prophet's words would be fulfilled in saying, "I will speak in parables; I will reveal things hidden since the beginning." Having departed the crowds, He and His disciples went into a house, and the disciples asked him to explain the parable of the tares. He explained that the Son of Man was the sower, and the world was His field. The good seed were sons of the kingdom, while the tares were sons of the devil, sown by the devil. The harvest represented the end of the age, and the reapers were His angels. In all this, He was revealing the endtimes, when His angels would come remove all stumbling blocks and lawlessness from His kingdom, and cast them into the fire. At that time, the righteous will shine forth like the sun in their Father's kingdom. The kingdom is also to be compared to a hidden treasure, which a man found and hid again. So overjoyed was he at his find, that he sold all he had to go purchase the field in which the treasure lay. Another way to see it is to compare the kingdom to a merchant seeking pearls. When he finds one of particularly great value, he sells all he has, and buys that one. You could also view the kingdom like a dragnet, which gathers up all sorts of fish. When the net is full, it is drawn up to the beach, where they will sit and gather the good fish into containers, but they will throw out the bad. Thus will it be at the end of the age, when angels will come to remove the wicked from among the righteous, and cast them into the fire.
Mk 4:26-29 The kingdom of God is like the man who throws his seed. He goes about his days and nights, and the seed sprouts and grows. Yet, he doesn't know how this has happened. The soil produces crops of its own accord; first a blade, then the head, then mature grains. But at the proper time, he comes to the harvest with his sickle.
Lk 14:16-24 A certain man gave a great dinner to which he invited many people. At the dinner hour he sent his slave to call those who had been invited, for all was ready. But they all began making excuses; one saying he needed to go look at some new land, another that he had some new oxen that needed attending to, and another that he had just married. The slave reported these excuses to his master, and his master became very angry. He sent the slave out to gather the poor, crippled, blind, and lame from the streets, which he did. When he had done this, he reported that there was yet room at the dinner table, so the master sent him out onto the highways to compel others to come, so that his house would be filled. No place was to be left at the table for those who had refused his first invitation.
Mt 5:45 He causes the sun to rise on both evil and good, and sends rain on both the righteous and the unrighteous.
Mt 6:26-34 Birds do no sowing or reaping. They gather no goods in barns. Yet, your Father feeds them, and are you not worth more than they? Can your anxiousness add even the smallest length to your days? Why, then, are you concerned about your clothes? Look at the lilies. They do not labor, nor do they spin new clothes, yet even Solomon was not dressed as gloriously as they. If God dresses the grass in such finery, even though it will be thrown in the furnace tomorrow, how much more care will He take over you, you faithless men? So, don't be worried about where your food and drink will come from, or how you will take care of your clothing. The Gentiles seek anxiously after these things, as well. But your heavenly Father is quite aware that you need such things. However, seek His kingdom and His righteousness first. Then all these things will be added to you. So don't be anxious about tomorrow. Tomorrow can take care of itself. Each day is sufficiently troubling on its own.
Mt 10:29-31 You can buy two sparrows for a penny, yet your Father does not allow a single one to fall to the ground without His knowledge. He has numbered the very hairs of your head. So don't fear. You are far more valuable than sparrows.
Lk 21:16-18 Even your own parents, your own relatives, will turn you in. They will even put you to death. And all will hate you because of My name, yet not one hair of your head will perish.

John's Writings (9/16/02)

John sees God's purpose formed from the very beginning, where the other Gospels look back no farther than the prophecies. Yet, all the gospels share in focusing on divine love, and the trust we have towards our Father. In this, they find the assurance of His providential care. In the Revelation, John lays out the course of God's providential care into the future history of man. John shows God to be not some arbitrary King, but a loving Father, who even prepares a home for his children.

Jn 1:1-5 In the beginning, there was already the Word, and He was with God, and He was God. He was there with God in the beginning. It is by Him that all things were created. Not one thing that has existed came about without Him. For, in Him was life, and that life was the very light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn't comprehend it.
Jn 14:1-20 Don't be troubled; believe in God, and in Me. In My Father's house are many dwellings. I would not tell you this, if it weren't true. I am going there to prepare your place, and having gone, I will return to get you, so that you can be where I am. You know the way. Thomas pointed out that they didn't even know where He was off to, so how could they know the way there? Jesus replied that He is the way, the truth, and the life; that no man comes to the Father except through Himself. "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father; and from now on you do know Him, and you have seen Him." Philip asked Him to show them the Father, thinking to be satisfied in this. Jesus was concerned. "I've been with you all this time, and you still don't know Me? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father! So, how can you be asking Me to show you the Father? Don't you believe yet that I am in the Father, and He is in Me? I am not speaking from a whim, here. No! The Father abides in Me, and does His own works. Believe Me. I am in the Father, and He is in Me. If you don't believe my words, then believe the works you have seen Me doing. I tell you with all assurance that he who believes in Me will do those same works, and even greater things than that, because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Ask Me anything in My name, and I will do it. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments, and I will ask the Father, and He will send another Helper to be with you forever. That helper is the Holy Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive Him, because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you know Him, because He abides with you, and will be in you. I am not leaving you to be orphans. I will come to you. In a little while, the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will also live, and in that day, you will know that I am in the Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you."

Histories (9/17/02)

While showing the deeds of people and nations, the historical portions of the New Testament material always show God as ever-present and all-controlling. John the Baptist is declared to have been sent from God, but then, every man, in the New Testament understanding, is sent from God. Stephen and Paul were just as much men sent by God. Throughout the biographical works we see men sent by God, including some who refuse to go. This shows the power of free will in man. Since Pentecost, Christ has arisen as the single most potent moral force, whose work is accomplished through the Holy Spirit. This is the providential view of future presented by the New Testament, and, as all history since has shown, we have every reason to hold fast to its truths, for they have been borne out even 'til now. All history is shown to be Christian history.

Ac 17:28a In Him we live and move and exist.
Jn 1:6 There came a man named John, who was sent from God.
Ac 22:21 God told Paul to go, for He was sending him to the Gentiles far away from Damascus.

Paul's Letters

As Paul's life was a non-stop evidence of God's providential guidance, it is no surprise that his letters are filled with proofs of his faith, and of God's providence. Predestination is best understood in relationship to this providential care of God. It is not the nullification of the will, but God's eternal purpose having been contemplated from the beginning, and working out in history. That purpose is the redemption of creation through Christ. Divine providence is shown to be able to overrule and guide those who work with God, but the goal of that providence is never primarily concerned with temporal blessings. It is concerned with spiritual health. We could consider the whole concept of providence to be summed up in Paul's statement in Romans 8:28. Any further discussion of Providence from the New Testament perspective will be shown to be no more than an expansion on the words of this passage. In Romans, Paul unfolds the view of God's work in history, showing his purposes both for individuals and nations, always worked out through Christ.

Ro 8:28 We know that God causes everything to work in unity for good to those who love God, those called according to His purpose.
Ro 11:36 From Him and through Him and to Him are all things. All glory is His forever. Amen.

Other Letters (9/18/02)

Peter once failed to see how Christ's suffering death could be part of God's plan, but his letters show that he came to see that the power of the Gospel was inextricably connected to the death and resurrection of Christ.

1Pe 1:11-12 The prophets were trying to determine who and when the Spirit within them was indicating when He predicted Christ's sufferings and the glories that would follow upon them. It was revealed to them that their seeking served not themselves, but us. In our day, these things have been announced by those who preach the Gospel by the Holy Spirit from heaven. These are things that angels still long to look into.
1Pe 3:12-13 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and He is attentive to their prayers. But He turns away from those who do evil. Who, then, can harm you if you are zealous to do good?

James sees providence played out in matters of ethic and character, as God works to perfect man.

Jas 1:5 If you lack wisdom, ask God for it. He gives generously, and will not reproach you for asking. He will give it.
Jas 1:17 Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights. He does not change like shifting shadows.
Jas 1:27 What God considers to be pure religion is to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to remain unstained by the world.
Jas 2:5 Listen, beloved: didn't God choose the poor in this life to be rich in faith, to be heirs of the promised kingdom, to be those who love Him?
Jas 5:7 So be patient until the Lord comes. Consider: the farmer waits patiently for his soil to produce, waiting for both the early and late rains to come.

The book of Hebrews displays Christ as the fulfillment of all the prophecies over Israel, and as of God's purposes upon the earth.

Heb 1:1-2 God spoke to the fathers and prophets in many different ways. In these most recent times, He has spoken to us in His Son, the appointed heir of all things. Through Him, God made the world.
Heb 11:7-40 God warned Noah of things yet unseen, and in reverent faith, Noah prepared the ark. By that ark, his family was saved from the condemnation of the world, and became heirs of the righteousness that is by faith. Abraham obeyed God by faith, and went into the land he was to inherit, though he knew not where he went. He remained an alien in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs of that same promise. He sought the city with strong foundations, the city whose designer and builder is God. Sarah's ability to conceive so late in life was by faith, for she believed Him faithful who had promised, and so one man, who was old enough to be dead himself, was father to descendants beyond counting. Yet, all of these died in faith, not having obtained the promise, but always welcoming it from a distance. They all confessed to being exiles on the earth, making it clear that they were seeking their own country, a better, heavenly country. Because of this, God is not ashamed to be their God, and He has prepared a city for them. When tested, Abraham was faithful to offer up Isaac, the child of promise, his only son. He believed that God could raise men from death, and received his son back as a type of Christ. Isaac's blessing of his sons was by faith, and reflected their future. Jacob's blessing upon the sons of Joseph was likewise by faith. By faith Joseph spoke to the sons of Israel of the exile that would come, ordering them to carry his bones out with them. Moses' very birth was by faith, as he was hidden by his parents to avoid the king's edict. His own faith led him to refuse to be considered Pharaoh's family. He chose, instead, to suffer alongside the people of God, refusing the pleasures of sin. He found the reproach of Christ a far greater treasure than Egypt could provide, for he saw the reward of Christ. By faith, he left without fearing the king's wrath, enduring on the sight of Him who is unseen. By faith, He kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, that the destroyer would not take the first-born. They passed through the Red Sea as if on land, and the Egyptians were drowned in following them. This, too, was by faith. Faith made the walls of Jericho fall. Faith kept Rahab from dying among the disobedient. And there are so many others, from the judges to the kings to the prophets, whose faith conquered kingdoms, worked righteousness, gained promises, quieted lions, and delivered from the sword. Faith made the weak strong in war, to put armies to flight. Women knew their dead resurrected. Others refused to be delivered from their tortures, so as to gain a better resurrection. Mocking, whipping, imprisonment, stoning, tortures beyond description were suffered so as to gain approval through faith. Yet, they did not receive what was promised, because God provided something better, so that they should not be made perfect without us.
Heb 13:20-21 The God of peace, who resurrected the great Shepherd through the blood of eternal covenant - Jesus our Lord - will equip you in every good thing, so that you can do His will. He works in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jude also offers a comprehensive vie of God's providential workings in the moral law.

Jude 5 Although you know everything well, I would remind you that the Lord, after He had saved the people from out of Egypt yet destroyed those who would not believe.
Jude 7 Just like Sodom and Gomorrah they were destroyed, because they indulged in the same sorts of immorality. These all have been displayed as examples of the punishment that will come in eternal fires.
Jude 11 Woe to them! They have followed after Cain, and will pay for the error they rushed into, just as Balaam and Korah before them.
Jude 14-15 Enoch prophesied about such as these, when he spoke of the Lord coming with thousands of His holy ones to bring judgment, to convict the ungodly of their deeds, and to avenge all the lies that sinners have spoken against Him.
Jude 24 He is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand blameless and joyful in the presence of His glory.

 

New Thoughts (9/19/02-9/20/02)

Malachi told Esther it was possible that she had been put in place by God for just such a time as she found herself in. The more I look at God's providence, the more I find it's not just a possibility, it's necessarily true. Consider that great message from Acts: In Him we live and move and exist (Ac 17:28). He has created us. He has brought us into existence, and breathed life into us. Can we really conceive of God as doing things on a whim? He is all-wise, that's part of what it is to be God. If He is all-wise, there can be no question as to whether He is doing things in the best of ways, there can be no question as to whether He is purposeful in His acts.

He is purposeful. He had a purpose in mind when He created the earth and populated it. He had a purpose in mind when He created me. He had a purpose in mind when He created you. Certainly, there is that primary purpose of all creation to glorify God, and to enjoy fellowship with Him. That's clear. But, I believe He also has carefully placed each one of us, in perfect timing, with perfect purpose. Elsewhere in Paul's writings, we are told that God has prepared specific good works for us to do in advance. He has had them timed, placed, and ready for us to arrive and do His will. He has timed our own paths, our own places of existing, to ensure that we will be there to do it.

Romans 11:36 tells us that all things came from Him, continue to exist because of Him, and are there to serve Him. This is a statement of purposeful existence. He created everything. He determines the lifespan of everything. And everything He created, He created with purpose: to serve Him. This is glorious! This is true life, life worth the living, to know that life has a reason!

Lord, help me to keep my eyes open to Your purpose in this time and place. You are moving me into a new work arena. You are moving me into more responsibilities within Your house. It would be easy for me to overstep what You desire, to begin doing works You haven't called me to do. Keep me focused on Your lead, my God. Keep me attentive to Your desires, Your commands. I don't want to overstep, but I don't want to lag behind either. I don't want to veer to the left or to the right. I want to be centered in Your purpose for me in each moment.

There is a bit of a warning for us in this matter of providence, as well. We are ever in danger of thinking that it's all about us. That we are the people at the end of all things, that somehow, everything God is doing in this time is strictly with a view to blessing us personally. But consider the statement that comes in the midst of that 'hall of faith' section of Hebrews:

As great as these heroes of faith were, every one of them died without having gained the promise. They never reached the final goal. Yet, there is no record of their having been in despair over this situation. No, they all confessed that they were but exiles in this life, and were seeking a better place, seeking to return to their heavenly home. And notice the result of this attitude: Because of this, God is not ashamed to be their God!

Is God ashamed to be our God? Can that possibly be? I think so. When we allow our religion to become a 'bless me' addiction, when we allow ourselves to get caught up in material blessings, and cannot grasp the spiritual concerns. Yes, I think He may very well be ashamed to be our God. When we make Him out as so small and weak that He cannot even control the devil - who He did create, after all - I think He may be ashamed of us. When we live as though He didn't really exist, didn't really see us, doesn't really care what we do; when we behave like virtual atheists and yet claim to worship Him. Yes. I think we give Him great cause to be ashamed of us.

We, like those patriarchs of old, need to learn to keep our thoughts and concerns focused on the grander scheme of God's purpose. We need to remain in a kingdom focus, all our attention devoted to kingdom purposes. We are strangers in this land, yet we are not here on vacation. We are here as emissaries, representatives of God to a people that don't know Him. We serve in His diplomatic corps, and as such, we must keep our attention on the work of His kingdom, rather than the concerns of the kingdom we happen to be in. This is the attitude that God seeks. This is the kind of faith and belief that God will honor; not faith for healing, not faith for abundant wealth, not faith for any concern of this earthly life, but faith in Him, in His wisdom, in His goodness, in His faithfulness, in His truth. This is the faith of which He will not be ashamed, because this is the faith that will not disappoint.

Health will fail. Death is a fact of life, until He comes. Financial status is subject to change without notice. If our faith is counting on such matters as these, our faith will fail the moment these things fail. If, on the other hand, our faith is on the God who knows our needs, if our faith is concerned with reaching the goal He has set for us, if we are seeking that heavenly city that is our true home, then our faith will remain strong, no matter what may come.

While Jesus prayed, heaven was opened (Luke 3:21). What an awesome thing! When prayer was as effectual as this, is it any wonder that His disciples were anxious to learn how to pray as He did (Luke 11:1)? We should still be seeking to discover how to pray like Jesus today. When He prayed, the heavens were open. Today, at least in our church, we seek to know that open heaven, to see the living and lively connection between heaven and earth, allowing God's business to be done unimpeded. Learning to pray like Jesus prayed seems like a key factor in this search.

John tells us that Jesus prophesied to His disciples that they would see the heavens opened, and angels ascending and descending on Him (John 1:51). In that gospel, we also read Jesus' words, saying that those who believe in Him will do not only the things He did, but even greater things (John 14:12). This should be the reality for us today. If we truly believe in Christ our Savior, if we truly seek to please our God, our prayers should avail much. Our prayers should be opening up the heavens, so that the presence of God is undeniable not only to those of us who already believe, but to everybody around us. This should be the quality of our life, as we develop a habit of prayer. Is it the quality of my life today?

Jesus told us that if we had seen Him, we had seen the Father (John 14:9). Why? Because He is in the Father, and the Father is in Him (John 14:20). This was His present reality, and it is to be ours, as well, for that verse continues to include us. He is in you. He is in me. If it was the presence of God in Christ that made it true that men could see the Father in Him, is not the presence of God in Christ in us reason for men to see the Father in us, as well? This is not to suggest that we are gods, or anything of that sort. It is to suggest the life we ought to be leading, it is to suggest the impact we ought to be having, and the desire we ought to be pursuing more than all the riches this world can offer.

How does this relate to the topic of providence? Providence has to do with God's purpose in creation, His purpose in history, His working in the lives of men. When we pray as we ought, when we learn to pray the kinds of prayers that will open the heavens, when we so reflect our Savior, that people look at us and see Him instead of us; then we will have been working in one accord with His purpose. His will will be done on earth. Our prayer is that it will be done in the same way as it is done in heaven. While we certainly pray that His will be done, this is the lesser part. He is God. His will is certain to be done. When it is done as it is in heaven, though, there will be no hesitation, no argument, only instant and joyful acquiescence to His purpose.

We should already be in the place of working in His will. If we are not, this must be the first focus of our prayer, to bring ourselves into one accord with our Lord and Master. Only then can we hope to be of use in spreading that heavenly accord to those around us. Only then can we expect to see the heavens opened around us, and the power of God poured out into our neighborhoods. Until the sons of God learn to obey, how shall the sons of the world?