BIBLE MESSAGES

The Providence of God

“But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will these things be which you have provided?’” [Luke 12:20]

  I have made this study because of a question asked me. The first thing we need to establish is what we are talking about when we talk about the providence of God. Mr. Webster says it is “the act of providing, exercising foresight, or preparing”. Here is a quote from W.B. Pope in Compendium of Christian Theology:
  “The word ‘provide’ (from the Latin providere) means to foresee. The corresponding Greek word ‘pronoia’ means forethought. This implies a future goal and a definite plan for attaining that goal. The doctrine of providence, therefore, has reference to that preservation care and government which God exercises over all things that He has created in order that they may accomplish the ends for which they were created”.

  W.E. Vine, a recognized scholar, says the word ‘provide’ in the text above means that the man had laid his goods up for his future use. Jesus says, in Matthew 10:9; “provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belt”. They were to make no provisions for their trip. Again, “and all these having received a good testimony through faith did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect from us”. God has looked forward to a life for the Christian when we are through with this old world. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestinated us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ himself according to the good pleasure of His will” [Eph. 1:3-5]. God looked ahead to the making us sons by Jesus Christ Himself. As we read the Bible we see the providence at work as He works to accomplish His end.

  Let us begin at the beginning. ‘In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” [Gen. 1:1]. Next let us look at the make up of the universe He created. First there is the inanimate which is governed by God according to certain uniform principles called the law of nature. Then there is the animate which embraces the vegetable and animal world over which God cares for with His providential care that they might live. He foreknew that the plant life would require moisture and oxygen, he knew that everything would need to be able to reproduce itself. He knew that the animal life would require food, water, and oxygen. These are examples of the providence of God in action. Thirdly there is the rational world which in addition to the animal life possesses the ability to reason as a free moral being. These are governed by God through reason, they have the power to obey or disobey the laws of God according to their own will. The following is a quote: “This widespread care and supervision which God exercises over His created universe is commonly designates as His general providence which embraces alike the evil and the good, in addition to which there is a more special and particular providence over and in behalf of the good, those whose will are in harmony with the divine will”. The Old Testament scriptures are best understood when we interpret them as a progressive revelation of God’s providential purpose for Israel and the world. We will do no harm in saying the Old Testament can be regarded as a training and providential preparation of God’s chosen people for the coming of the Messiah.

  When we come to the New Testament, we see the providence of God at work in fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament. “And she will bear a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus for He will save the people from their sins. So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophets” [Matt. 1:21,22]. In His private and public life Christ set forth God’s ever watchful and loving care for all mankind. He told of the providential plan to establish His kingdom and to instruct His disciples in the way of Christian living.

Written by: Clifford Sims