GOD'S PROVIDENCE

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROVIDENCE

When we think about God’s providence, we see that He has always been working toward one great purpose. In Genesis 1 and 2, God and man had communion with one another, but when Adam and Eve sinned, God immediately began working to restore what had been broken. Genesis 3:15 introduces that plan, and the rest of Scripture unfolds around God bringing mankind back into communion with Him through His Son. Paul later explains in Ephesians 3:1–6 that this mystery was revealed through Christ. God’s plan of redemption has always been made known through His word.

God has always worked through His providence, while miracles served as exceptions for specific purposes and times. In Exodus 4:1–9, God gives Moses signs so the people would believe he had been sent by God. In Acts 1:4–9 and Acts 2:7–12, miraculous signs confirmed the authority of the apostles and testified concerning Jesus. Even the miracles of Jesus were not His ultimate purpose. In Matthew 9:12–13, Jesus explains that He came to call sinners to repentance. His miracles demonstrated His authority, but His mission was to die for our sins so that we might be redeemed. Providence, however, is constant and ongoing. One of the clearest examples is found in the life of Joseph. In Genesis 37:5–11, Joseph receives dreams that reveal God has a plan for him, though he does not yet understand it. Even through suffering, Joseph remained faithful, and Genesis 39:3–5 says the Lord was with him and blessed Potiphar’s house because of him. God used Joseph to preserve Abraham’s descendants during the coming famine. Later, in Genesis 50:19–21, Joseph tells his brothers that although they meant evil against him, God meant it for good. God worked through difficult circumstances to accomplish His will. The book of Esther provides another example of providence. Although God is never directly mentioned, His hand is evident throughout the events of the book. In Esther 4:11–14, Mordecai tells Esther that deliverance for the Jews would arise from another place if she remained silent, and that perhaps she had come to the kingdom “for such a time as this.” God was working behind the scenes to preserve His people because Christ would come through the Jewish nation according to His promise to Abraham. At the same time, providence does not mean every event is a direct message from God. Ecclesiastes 9:11 reminds us that sometimes things happen by time or chance. Adam and Eve suffered the consequences of their own choices, and Abel was murdered by Cain despite having done nothing deserving of death. This does not mean God desired sin or wanted Abel to die. God allows mankind to choose, even when those choices are sinful. Because of this, we must be careful not to misunderstand providence. Some believe every event in life is part of a hidden calling from God, but Scripture does not teach this. When God wanted someone to do something specific, He revealed it directly. In Exodus 3:10, God plainly commands Moses to go to Pharaoh. Likewise, in Genesis 20:1–7, God directly warns Abimelech concerning Sarah. In situations where God has spoken, there is a clear choice to obey or disobey. However, in matters where God has not spoken, such as where to live, what job to take, or whom to marry, we are not searching for hidden revelation. Acts 17:27 teaches that mankind’s purpose is to “seek and find the Lord.” Our responsibility is to seek God and glorify Him in the lives we live. Ephesians 5:1–2 calls Christians to imitate God and walk in love. Joseph did not know every detail of God’s plan, but he knew God was with him, and he remained faithful through every circumstance.

God is still present in our lives through His providence. He is present when His word is taught (I Corinthians 3:6-7), when we pray, and when we worship. As Jesus promised in Matthew 28:20, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” God continues to work toward His will, and our purpose is to seek Him, find Him, and live faithfully before Him.

~ Cole LeBlanc