Providence

One of the best known and quoted verses in the Word of God is …

Romans 8:28 … "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

The first thing that we should take notice of is the conviction that Paul shows when he writes these words … "we know" … not we hope they do or would like it to be, or even that we believe these things, but rather he wrote … we know.

Today, the strength of Paul's conviction is very much absent from our churches.

The belief and trust in God's Divine Providence has all but disappeared from our culture today. The view today is that God is now just an uncaring onlooker and has stepped back from the affairs of man and no longer has or wants control over this world. Most of us just "hope" He will answer our cries for help.

Notice that Paul is speaking to those he says are … "the called." He goes on and says … "for whom he did foreknow" … as in foreknowledge; we'll speak to this a little later. "He also did predestinate … and He also called."

"What shall we then say to these things?" To me Paul is saying …

1.) What more can be added to tell of the love of God to save us.

2.) And then looking ahead he speaks of these things … "shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword; neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God."

What should our response be to … all the things … that come against us?

The world's response to the pain and suffering and whatever else that comes their way is … "I don't like these things; don't tell me that God is working out His plan. How can a good God allow these things?"

Paul answers his own question with … "If God is for us, who can be against us?"

One of the phrases used in the early church was … "Deus pro nobis" … which means in English … "God for us." This is what the Doctrine of Providence is all about … "God being for His people."

Look at the word … Providence.

It's made up of a prefix and a root word; the Latin root is "videre" … to see … or if translated into English it would be … video.

The prefix … "Pro" … means "Before," so providence means "to see before, or having foresight." It's called God's foreknowledge; to see before it happens.

The closest word in English might be … "provision" … which is what God provides us with through His Providence; He sees the need beforehand.

The first time God's Providence is seen in the Bible is in Genesis 22:7 when Abraham answers Isaac's question … "I see the wood but where is the lamb?" Abraham answers his son with a very simple … "God will provide."

God's Providence covers several areas; one is … sustenance. After creation was finished, God didn't just step back and leave us on our own but rather God sustains and preserves us both physically and spiritually. Not only are our lives dependent on God for being here in that He is our creator; but we are also totally dependent on Him for our daily existence.

God alone is self existent; we are not. We depend upon His Providence, even for every heartbeat and breath we take.

Another area of Providence is called … the laws of nature … and is just one of the ways God has chosen to operate and deliver His care over all His creation. This means there is nothing in this natural world that operates by chance.

Chance has no power of its own. It's a risk; it may or may not happen. Chance is an unknown, unpredictable possibility. Man has used this term "chance" as a replacement for the concept of God.

Nothing happens on its own; all things come under the Sovereignty of God and His Providence … which should bring comfort and peace to the believer. There is nothing in the universe that is not under the control of God. Nothing.

There is something else in Providence called … the Doctrine of Concurrence. One example of this would be when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Two things were happening at the same time; the action taken by his brothers was intended as evil, which in turn set up God's action for good. Remember what Joseph later told his brothers when they came down to Egypt to buy grain during the famine … "You meant it for evil but God meant it for good."

Concurrence … is like two rivers coming together and flowing into one … they flow together to accomplish a larger or greater objective. Evil and good must sometimes "work together" to accomplish God's will and purpose in our lives.

Why did the Apostle Paul say … "we know" … that all things work together for good? Because God is Sovereign and He is in control of all things.

So, if Providence could speak it would also say … no matter what comes our way, God is working all things for our good.