Providence

 Of Providence.  Ch. V - Westminster Confession of Faith.

" God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold, direct, dispose, and

govern all creatures, actions and things,from the greatest even to the 

least,  by his most wise and holy providence,  according to his infallible 

foreknowledge,  and the free and immutable counsel of his own will,  to 

the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and 

mercy."

  That seems clear doesn't it?  Is this Biblical?  Let's take a look.  It makes sense if we see God is the Governor of His creation from start to finish.  We have discussed original sin, free will and justification in the last couple of days.  My first thought is that most people accept that this is true.  If you have heard the news since last Saturday a week ago people keep saying that the ony thing that kept the former President alive was providence.  

People understand that providence is the over watch of God .  Some of our greatest revolutionary heroes did believe this.  There were some that did not. " For example, in his 1776 political sermon The Dominion of Providence over the Passions of Men, Declaration signer and Presbyterian minister John Witherspoon spoke of Providence as many colonists generally understood it, as a wise and directing presence in their lives.  He preached, “He [God] overrules all his creatures, and all their actions.  …  …It is the duty of every good man to place the most unlimited confidence in divine wisdom, and to believe that those measures of providence that are most unintelligible to him, are yet planned with the same skill, and directed to the same great purposes as others"  americanheritage.org

Even Franklin and Jefferson asserted Divine providence in their arguments about liberty:"Franklin stood up and gave an impassioned speech advising delegates to remember God’s aid during the revolution and to pray again for God’s direction in constructing their government.  In this speech, Franklin expressed with striking biblical illustrations his view of a providential God.  In doing so, he alluded to Bible verses including , James 1:17Every good [a]gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning, Matthew 10:29-31Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father: 30 but the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows, , Psalm 127:1Except Jehovah build the house,

They labor in vain that build it:

Except Jehovah keep the city,

The watchman waketh but in vain, , and others.  "  americanheritage.org

Why have we as a body of Churches and as a nation fallen short of this belief?  We only seem to quote providence when we think we need it.

We agree with Romans 8:28 that God does work all things for our good, but somehow we lose sight of His working when we see bad things happen.  Does God intervene in the affairs of men ?  Proverbs 3 is what comes to mind.  In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.  

We fail to see God's hand when the going gets tough.  We are much like the Israelites in the desert who complained in the wilderness about the continual manna God sent them .  They missed the food from Egypt.

1. If we trust in God that He will work out His plan despite our lack of understanding and desire of what we see, we shall get comfort from this Biblical and spiritual truth.

He knows about it.  He foreordains it as well. Ephesians 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will

Ps 33:10--The Lord bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

2.  God uses means/secondary causes to make things happen, but He is free to work "without, above, and against them at His pleasure."   Ch 5 providence of God

For ex. the story of Joseph and his brothers being sold into slavery in Egypt is a great illustration of all of this.  God sent Joseph according to Gen 50 :19-20 to save many people .  19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?

20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Through this Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, put into a pit, and put in prison in Egypt.  He got out by telling Pharoah his dreams , the interpretation that is. Then as Pharaoh's second in command, he was able to help his brothers and his father with food.  God had His hand on them.

3.  God takes care of His church the last point of ch. 5 tells us.

"As the providence of God doth, in general, reach to all creatures; so, 

after a most special manner, it taketh care of his church, and disposeth all 

things to the good thereof"

I Peter tells us to " cast all your care upon Him; for He cares for you."  5:7

It is easy to be downcast but knowing our God is with us and intercedes for us through the Spirit, we are made glad in these thoughts.

We are on the Ark and are being saved through the storms and trials of this life knowing that our destination is secure and our Pilot is our guide and is steering the ship of our lives.