Providence
Grace Notes February 2002
A Spitfire test pilot recalling the pivotal role of that fighter aircraft during the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 concluded that our nation had been ‘very lucky’ that the Luftwaffe had not overcome the RAF and so paved the way for a German invasion. We view things differently: Hitler’s decision to blitz London, thus allowing the RAF some crucial breathing space in which to regroup; the genius of the Spitfire’s designer R J Mitchell which gave it the edge in aerial combat; the timely development of radar; the inspiring leadership of Winston Churchill; and the modest heroism of the fighter pilots themselves – in all of these things we see God’s over-ruling to deliver Britain from Nazi tyranny.
Providence is the term used to describe the way God controls and directs everything in the world he created so that what he has decreed actually comes to pass, for the good of his people and his own glory. This is the God who works all things according to the counsel of His will, Ephesians 1:11. In this work of governing the world, God normally uses secondary means, ie. events and people (whether good or bad), to carry out what he wants to be done.
How should we understand providence?
1. Providence includes every detail of life
The hairs on our head are all numbered - Matthew 10:29-31. The movements of the planets and position of the stars are in his hands. God is in control of the weather - Job 37:1-13. He regulates natural occurrences for his own ends. He has fixed our allotted days to live - Job 14:1-5. Every moment he is thinking about us: How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with you. (Psalm 139:17-18) 2. Providence includes ‘chance’ happenings
Things which may appear to be coincidences are in fact planned deliberately by God. It is said of Ruth that she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech (Ruth 2:3). God over-ruled her movements to make sure that she found Boaz and together the couple would play their part in the history of salvation.
There is no such thing as a lottery! The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD (Proverbs 16:33). Nothing in God’s world is random. Actions which are quite purposeless and without rational explanation all come within the sphere of providence. The Syrian archer shot an arrow at random in the midst of the battle. It unerringly struck King Ahab of Israel between the joints of his armour. He was fatally wounded. (1 Kings 22:34). ‘What incredibly bad luck!’ the world would say. But the way Ahab died was not bad luck at all: it was God working out his purposes of judgement against a wicked king. How could he leave it to chance? The involvement of ‘luck’ would imply an alternative deity, just as talking about ‘luck’ implies a world-view which is God-less.
2. Providence includes evil actions.
There was no question that Joseph’s brothers acted with malice against him, but God meant it for good - Genesis 45:5-8; 50:20. The sovereign LORD has a way of making evil actions serve his own purposes of salvation. Reports from Kosova say that many Moslems are ashamed of the events of September 11th and more open to the gospel – hardly the intention of the terrorists!
Of course the ultimate example is the cross. There has never been a more evil act than when the Lord Jesus Christ was taken and crucified by the hands of wicked men. But Peter insists that this was part of God’s plan from eternity (Acts 2:22-23).
3. Providence includes the suffering of God’s own people
Over the last few months I have had the privilege of visiting a dying Christian who has recently gone to glory. Though he was converted as a child and had served the Lord consistently for more than fifty years he would say that the last year of his life, when he was struck with cancer, was the most fruitful in terms of witness. His illness brought him into contact with people to whom he could radiate peace and even joy.
What effect should this understanding of providence have?
1. Keep trusting in God in difficult times!
In Acts 27 it seemed likely from a human perspective that a violent storm would put paid to Paul’s sea journey to Rome. But Paul was not about to give up on the promise God had made. In the midst of the danger he stood firm. They would have to run aground, but he knew it would not stop God fulfilling his word.
‘Trust God when providences seem to run quite contrary to promises.’
(Thomas Watson)
‘Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust him for his grace
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.’
(William Cowper)
2. Plan humbly for the future
A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps (Proverbs 16:9).
God can engineer things far better than we can!
3. Don’t read too much into the way things turn out.
It was remarkable that in the course of running away from God Jonah should find a ship at Joppa at just the right time waiting to take him to Tarshish! When ‘things fall into place’ like that we must remember that God does not necessarily undertake to make the right path smooth and the wrong one bumpy. He looks for maturity. Christians who intend great sin will not usually find their way barred, whereas those who set out to do great good may well encounter one frustration after another.
‘It is good to observe providence, but we must not make it our rule to walk by. Providence is a Christian’s diary, but not his Bible. Sometimes a bad cause prevails and gets ground; but it is not to be liked because it prevails. We must not think the better of what is sinful, because it is successful. This is no rule for our actions to be directed by.’
(Thomas Watson)