God's Providence
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
If God controls all things, how can our actions have real meaning?
Explanation & Scriptural Basis
Explanation & Scriptural Basis
God’s providence has been traditionally used to summarize God’s ongoing relationship to his creation.
When we accept the biblical doctrine of providence, we avoid four common errors in thinking about God’s relationship to creation.
Deism - which teaches that God created the world and then essentially abandoned it.
Pantheism - which teaches that creation does not have a real, distinct existence in itself, but is only part of God.
Randomness or chance - which teaches that things in this world just randomly happen without any purpose or meaning.
Fate.
Providence teaches that though God is actively related to an involved in the creation at each moment, creation is distinct from him.
Definition
Definition
God’s is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do; and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes.
Three General Categories
Three General Categories
Preservation
Concurrence
Government
Preservation
Preservation
Definition: God keeps all created things existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them.
Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)
He (Jesus) is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power.
The word “uphold” does not mean “sustain” but has the sense of active, purposeful control over the thing being carried from one place to another.
Hebrews 1:3 uses a present participle which indicates that Jesus is continually carrying along all things in the universe by his word of power.
(illust. - wind up toy, vs. water pump)
Colossians 1:17 (ESV)
In him all things hold together.
“All things” refers to every created thing in the universe.
This verse affirms that Christ keeps all things existing.
Both verses indicate that if Christ were to cease his continuing activity of sustaining all things in the universe, then all except the triune god would instantly cease to exist.
Nehemiah 9:6 (ESV)
“You are the Lord, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
2 Peter 3:7 (ESV)
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
God preserves all things he has made and causes them to maintain the properties with which he created them.
God creates water in such a way that it continues to act like water
God causes grass to continue to act like grass
God causes the air to continually act like air
God’s providence provides a basis for science: God has made and continues to sustain a universe that acts in predictable ways.
Understanding God’s providence should stir a deep sense of worship within our hearts.
Ask why
Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV)
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
Concurrence
Concurrence
Definition: God cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do.
Ephesians 1:11 (ESV)
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
No event in creation falls outside of his providence.
Inanimate Creation
There are many things in creation that we think of as merely “natural” occurrences. Yet Scripture says that God causes them to happen.
Job 37:6–13 (ESV)
For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour. He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he made may know it. Then the beasts go into their lairs, and remain in their dens. From its chamber comes the whirlwind, and cold from the scattering winds. By the breath of God ice is given, and the broad waters are frozen fast. He loads the thick cloud with moisture; the clouds scatter his lightning. They turn around and around by his guidance, to accomplish all that he commands them on the face of the habitable world. Whether for correction or for his land or for love, he causes it to happen.
Psalm 135:6 (ESV)
Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps.
Psalm 104:14 (ESV)
You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth
(John is a farmer)
Matthew 5:45 (ESV)
For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
2. Animals
Matthew 6:26 (ESV)
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
3. Seemingly “Random” or “Chance” Events
Proverbs 16:33 (ESV)
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
The doctrine of concurrence affirms that God directs, and works through, the distinctive properties of each created thing, so that these things themselves bring about the results that we see.
We may explain things happening from a natural point of view, but Scripture says God sends the rain, feeds the birds, causes the grass to grow.
This shows that it is incorrect for us to reason that if we know the “natural” cause of something in this world, then God did not cause it. Rather, if it rains we should thank him. If crops grow we should thank him.
He controls and directs all things in creation.
Joshua 10:1–15 (ESV)
As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, he feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel.
So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
4. The affairs of Nations
Job 12:23 (ESV)
He makes nations great, and he destroys them; he enlarges nations, and leads them away.
Psalm 22:28 (ESV)
For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.
Acts 17:26 (ESV)
And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
Daniel 4:34–35 (ESV)
At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,
for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”
How does knowing God directs the affairs of nations give us comfort and peace?
5. All Aspects of our Lives
Our dependence upon God for our daily food
Matthew 6:11 (ESV)
Give us this day our daily bread,
Paul trusted that God would provide every need
Philippians 4:19 (ESV)
And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Our days are numbered by God
Psalm 139:16 (ESV)
Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
The individual steps we take each day are directed by the Lord.
Jeremiah 10:23 (ESV)
I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.
Proverbs 20:24 (ESV)
A man’s steps are from the Lord; how then can man understand his way?
Proverbs 16:9 (ESV)
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
All our talents and abilities are from the Lord
1 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?
God influences rulers in their decisions
Proverbs 21:1 (ESV)
The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
“But we must guard against misunderstanding. Here also, as with the lower creation, God’s providential direction as an unseen, behind-the-scenes, “primary cause,” should not lead us to deny the reality of our choices and actions. Again and again Scripture affirms that we really do cause events to happen. We are significant and we are responsible. We do have choices, and these are real choices that bring about real results. Scripture repeatedly affirms these truths as well. Just as a rock is really hard because God has made it with the property of hardness, just as water is really wet because God has made it with the property of wetness, just as plants are really alive because God has made them with the property of life, so our choices are real choices and do have significant effects, because God has made us in such a wonderful way that he has endowed us with the property of willing choice.”
“It seems better to affirm that God causes all things that happen, but that he does so in such a way that he somehow upholds our ability to make willing, responsible choices, choices that have real and eternal results, and for which we are held accountable. Exactly how god combines his providential control with our willing and significant choices, Scripture does not explain to us.”
6. What about evil?
What is the relationship between God and evil in the world?
Does God actually cause the evil actions that people do? If he does, then is God not responsible for sin?
Scripture nowhere shows God as directly doing anything evil, but rather as bringing about evil deeds through the willing actions of moral creatures. Moreover, Scripture never blames God for evil or shows God as taking pleasure in evil, and Scripture never excuses human beings for the wrong they do.
The story of Joseph.
Joseph’s brothers were wrongly jealous of him
Hated him
Wanted to kill him
Cast him into a pit and left him for dead
Sold him into slavery in Egypt
Yet, later, Joseph was able to say to his brothers once he had risen to a level of power and authority in Egypt, “God sent me before you to preserve life. (Gen. 45:5) and “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Gen. 50:20)
Here, we have a combination of evil deeds brought about by sinful men who are rightly held accountable for their sin and the overriding providential control of God whereby God’s own purposes were accomplished.
The story of Job.
The Lord gave Satan permission to bring harm to Job’s possessions and children through the evil actions of the Sabeans and Chaldeans, as well as a windstorm (Job 1:12, 15, 17, 19)
Yet, Job looks beyond those secondary causes and, with the eyes of faith, sees it all as from the hand of the Lord.
Job 1:21 (ESV)
“The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 1:22 (ESV)
In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
To blame God for evil that he had brought about through secondary agents would have been to sin. Job does not do this, Scripture never does this, and neither should we.
God brings evil and destruction on people in judgment upon their sins; They have been disobedient or have strayed into idolatry, and then the LORD uses evil human beings or demonic forces or “natural” disasters to bring judgment on them.
All of us are guilty and deserving of God’s wrath and justice.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
None of us deserve God’s mercy or favor, but only condemnation.
Therefore, when God brings evil on human beings, whether to discipline his children, or to lead unbelievers to repentance, or to bring a judgment of condemnation and destruction upon hardened sinners, none of us can charge God with doing wrong.
Ultimately all will work in God’s good purposes to bring glory to him and good to his people. Yet we must realize that in punishing evil in those who are not redeemed, God is also glorified through the demonstration of his justice, holiness, and power.
The crucifixion of Christ
It was ordained by God - not just the fact that it would occur, but also all the individual actions connect with it.
Acts 4:27-28 (ESV)
Acts 4:27–28 (ESV)
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Acts 2:23 (ESV)
this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
God is not to blame for the evil which contributed to the murder of Jesus, human beings were responsible for it, yet God worked through the actions of these evil men to bring the crucifixion of Jesus about.
What do we take from this?
What do we take from this?
God uses all things to fulfill his purposes and even uses evil for his glory and for our good.
Nevertheless, God never does evil, and is never to be blamed for evil
Luke 22:22 (ESV)
For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!”
James 1:13–14 (ESV)
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
God rightfully blames and judges moral creatures for the evil they do
Isaiah 66:3–4 (ESV)
These have chosen their own ways, and their soul delights in their abominations; I also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring their fears upon them, because when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, they did not listen; but they did what was evil in my eyes and chose that in which I did not delight.”
The blame for evil is always on the responsible creature, whether man or demon, who does it, and the creature who does evil is always worthy of punishment
Evil is real, not an illusion, and we should never do evil, for it will always harm us and others
Matthew 6:13 (ESV)
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
James 5:19–20 (ESV)
My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
“In spite of all of the foregoing statements, we have to come to the point where we confess that we do not understand how it is that God can ordain that we carry out evil deeds and yet hold us accountable for them and not be blamed himself: We can affirm that all of these things are true, because Scripture teaches them. But Scripture does not tell us exactly how God brings this situation about or how it can be that God holds us accountable for what he ordains to come to pass.”
Government
Government
Definition: God’s providence indicates that God has a purpose in all that he does in the world and he providentially governs or directs all things in order that they accomplish his purposes.
Psalm 103:19 (ESV)
The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
1 Corinthians 15:27 (ESV)
For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.”
Application
Application
We are still responsible for our actions.
Prayer is one specific kind of action that has definite results and that does change the course of events.
We must act.
Do not be afraid, but trust in God.
Be thankful for all good things that happen.
There is no such thing as “Luck” or “Chance.”