the providence of god

THE PROVIDENCE OF THE PROVIDENCE OF GODGOD

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"The foresight and forethought "The foresight and forethought of the infinite God who planned of the infinite God who planned the creation of man and a world the creation of man and a world in which to place him—in which to place him—

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"a world in which He could "a world in which He could control the destiny of the control the destiny of the inanimate creation and direct inanimate creation and direct man to the consummation of His man to the consummation of His purpose." (Homer Hailey, purpose." (Homer Hailey, Prayer Prayer and Providenceand Providence, p. 123), p. 123)

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"General providence" concerns "General providence" concerns God’s support, care and God’s support, care and supervision of His material supervision of His material creation from beginning to end. creation from beginning to end.

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"Special providence" concerns "Special providence" concerns God’s support, care and God’s support, care and supervision of His spiritual supervision of His spiritual creation. creation.

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God is able to provide for both God is able to provide for both His material and spiritual His material and spiritual creations, without violating creations, without violating either "the laws of nature" or either "the laws of nature" or the free will of man.the free will of man.

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Providence and NatureProvidence and NatureNature Nature existsexists by the will of God. by the will of God.Nature was Nature was orderedordered by the will by the will of God.of God.Nature is Nature is balancedbalanced by the will of by the will of God.God.Nature is Nature is regulatedregulated by the will by the will of God.of God.

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Providence and Free Will

As the crown of creation, man As the crown of creation, man exists on two planes - physical exists on two planes - physical and spiritual. and spiritual.

Man alone, of all physical Man alone, of all physical creatures, was given free will. creatures, was given free will. This means that he may choose his This means that he may choose his actions and has very few instincts. actions and has very few instincts.

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As a result, man has the ability As a result, man has the ability to obey or disobey commands. to obey or disobey commands.

Adam, for example, could choose Adam, for example, could choose to eat from to eat from anyany of the trees of the of the trees of the garden but was garden but was forbiddenforbidden to eat to eat the fruit of the tree of the the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. knowledge of good and evil.

Thus, freedom to sin is Thus, freedom to sin is notnot license license to sin.to sin.

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Genesis 2:8Genesis 2:8The Lord God planted a garden The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had put the man whom He had formed.formed.

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Genesis 2:9Genesis 2:9And out of the ground the Lord And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. knowledge of good and evil.

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Genesis 2:16Genesis 2:16And the Lord God commanded And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely of the garden you may freely eat; eat;

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Genesis 2:17Genesis 2:17"but of the tree of the "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely you eat of it you shall surely die."die."

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Two historical accounts Two historical accounts demonstrate God’s ability to use demonstrate God’s ability to use the free choices of human the free choices of human beings to accomplish his will for beings to accomplish his will for His people.His people.

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Genesis 15:13Genesis 15:13Then He said to Abram:Then He said to Abram: "Know Know certainly that your descendants certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them them, and they will afflict them four hundred years."four hundred years."

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Genesis 15:14Genesis 15:14"And also the nation whom they "And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great they shall come out with great possessions. possessions.

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Genesis 15:15-16Genesis 15:15-16"Now as for you, you shall go to "Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. But be buried at a good old age. But in the fourth generation they in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete."yet complete."

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God accomplished this through a God accomplished this through a series of decisions that were series of decisions that were made by a number of people who made by a number of people who were seemingly unaware of their were seemingly unaware of their part in fulfilling God’s promise.part in fulfilling God’s promise.

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1.1. Jacob decided to make Joseph a Jacob decided to make Joseph a coat of many colors.coat of many colors.

2.2. Joseph decided to tell his dreams Joseph decided to tell his dreams to his brothers.to his brothers.

3.3. Joseph’s brothers decided to Joseph’s brothers decided to move the flock from Shechem to move the flock from Shechem to Dothan.Dothan.

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4.4. They decided to put Joseph into a They decided to put Joseph into a pit, rather than kill him.pit, rather than kill him.

5.5. Some Ishmaelites decided to pass Some Ishmaelites decided to pass by on their way to Egypt.by on their way to Egypt.

6.6. The brothers decided they would The brothers decided they would sell Joseph into slavery.sell Joseph into slavery.

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7.7. Potiphar decided to purchase Potiphar decided to purchase Joseph as a slave.Joseph as a slave.

8.8. Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce Joseph and then decided to frame Joseph and then decided to frame him.him.

9.9. Potiphar decided to put Joseph Potiphar decided to put Joseph into prison.into prison.

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10.10. The jailer decided to make Joseph The jailer decided to make Joseph a trustee.a trustee.

11.11. Pharaoh decided to put his butler Pharaoh decided to put his butler and baker into prison.and baker into prison.

12.12. The butler and baker decided to The butler and baker decided to tell Joseph their dreams.tell Joseph their dreams.

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13.13. Joseph decided to interpret their Joseph decided to interpret their dreams.dreams.

14.14. Pharaoh decided to mention his Pharaoh decided to mention his dreams to the butler.dreams to the butler.

15.15. The butler decided to mention The butler decided to mention Joseph to Pharaoh.Joseph to Pharaoh.

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16.16. Pharaoh decided to release Pharaoh decided to release Joseph.Joseph.

17.17. Joseph decided to interpret Joseph decided to interpret Pharaoh’s dreams.Pharaoh’s dreams.

18.18. Pharaoh decided to appoint Pharaoh decided to appoint Joseph as Secretary of Joseph as Secretary of Agriculture.Agriculture.

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19.19. Jacob decided to send Joseph’s Jacob decided to send Joseph’s brothers to Egypt for food.brothers to Egypt for food.

20.20. Joseph decided to keep things in Joseph decided to keep things in their proper perspective.their proper perspective.

21.21. Jacob decided to move his family Jacob decided to move his family to Egypt.to Egypt.

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There is no reason to think God There is no reason to think God forced them to make the forced them to make the decisions they made. decisions they made. Of course, He could have Of course, He could have influenced some or all of those influenced some or all of those decisions. decisions. But the decisions were theirs to But the decisions were theirs to make. make.

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There was the miraculous There was the miraculous element in the form of dreams. element in the form of dreams. But those who were given the But those who were given the dreams decided to discuss those dreams decided to discuss those dreams with others. dreams with others.

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Joseph’s dreams seem to have Joseph’s dreams seem to have increased his brothers’ hatred of increased his brothers’ hatred of him. him. This could have been part of This could have been part of God’s intended purpose in God’s intended purpose in giving Joseph those dreams. giving Joseph those dreams.

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Of this series of events, Joseph Of this series of events, Joseph later said to his older brothers, later said to his older brothers,

"But now, do not therefore be "But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve sent me before you to preserve life."life." (Genesis 45:5) (Genesis 45:5)

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Of this series of events, Joseph Of this series of events, Joseph later said to his older brothers, later said to his older brothers,

"But as for you, you meant evil "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people it is this day, to save many people alive." alive." (Genesis 50:20)(Genesis 50:20)

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This inspired account This inspired account demonstrates the truth that demonstrates the truth that

"all things work together for good "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His who are the called according to His purpose."purpose." (Romans 8:28) (Romans 8:28)

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Consider, also, the case of Consider, also, the case of Esther.Esther.

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1.1. King Ahasuerus decided to show King Ahasuerus decided to show off his beautiful wife, Queen off his beautiful wife, Queen Vashti.Vashti.

2.2. Queen Vashti refused to be Queen Vashti refused to be displayed.displayed.

3.3. Ahasuerus decided to replace her.Ahasuerus decided to replace her.

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4.4. Ahasuerus decided to gather Ahasuerus decided to gather many virgins to see whom he many virgins to see whom he would make queen.would make queen.

5.5. Ahasuerus decided to make Ahasuerus decided to make Esther his queen not knowing she Esther his queen not knowing she was Jewish.was Jewish.

6.6. Mordecai decided to reveal to Mordecai decided to reveal to Esther his discovery of a plot to Esther his discovery of a plot to kill the king.kill the king.

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7.7. Esther decided to relate the plot Esther decided to relate the plot to the king.to the king.

8.8. Mordecai decided not to bow Mordecai decided not to bow down to Haman.down to Haman.

9.9. Haman decided to ask for Haman decided to ask for permission to destroy all Jews.permission to destroy all Jews.

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10.10. Haman decided to build a gallows Haman decided to build a gallows in his own house on which to in his own house on which to hang Mordecai.hang Mordecai.

11.11. After learning that Mordecai had After learning that Mordecai had not been rewarded for foiling the not been rewarded for foiling the assassination plot, the king assassination plot, the king decided to ask Haman what honor decided to ask Haman what honor should be paid a great man.should be paid a great man.

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12.12. Haman suggested the great man Haman suggested the great man should be paraded in front of the should be paraded in front of the people on the king’s horse. This people on the king’s horse. This was done for Mordecai.was done for Mordecai.

13.13. Esther decided to petition the Esther decided to petition the king (at risk of death) that her king (at risk of death) that her people be given the right to people be given the right to defend themselves.defend themselves.

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14.14. The king decided to pass a law The king decided to pass a law guaranteeing them that right.guaranteeing them that right.

15.15. The king decided to hang Haman The king decided to hang Haman on the gallows Haman had built on the gallows Haman had built for Mordecai.for Mordecai.

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Through this series of free will Through this series of free will decisions the Jews were decisions the Jews were providentiallyprovidentially preserved. preserved.

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God gave man the ability to God gave man the ability to make free will decisions. make free will decisions. But He may influence* those But He may influence* those decisions in any number of decisions in any number of ways.ways.

* * "to produce an effect without "to produce an effect without using force."using force."

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This should not be difficult for This should not be difficult for anyone to grasp, since God has anyone to grasp, since God has all nature at His disposal. all nature at His disposal.

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Remember, nature exists by His Remember, nature exists by His will, was ordered by His will and will, was ordered by His will and is both balanced and regulated is both balanced and regulated by His will. by His will.

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The respective dreams of Joseph, The respective dreams of Joseph, the butler, the baker and the butler, the baker and Pharaoh, which proved to be Pharaoh, which proved to be prophetic, were surely not prophetic, were surely not coincidental. coincidental.

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They certainly could have been They certainly could have been caused by God in order to caused by God in order to influence the free will decisions influence the free will decisions of Joseph and others. of Joseph and others.

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God could have produced more God could have produced more rain at Dothan than at Shechem rain at Dothan than at Shechem so the grazing lands of Dothan so the grazing lands of Dothan would be more lush. would be more lush. This would influence the decision This would influence the decision of Joseph’s brothers to move the of Joseph’s brothers to move the flock.flock.

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God could as easily have God could as easily have influenced the decisions of influenced the decisions of Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife and the Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife and the jailer. jailer. "There is nothing too hard""There is nothing too hard" for God for God (Jer. 32:17).(Jer. 32:17).

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