When I woke up to the news that bombs were falling once again in the Middle East, I groaned, nearly weeping for millions who were now suffering under the pain of yet another war. “Lord, how can this be? Why do humans haul out weapons to settle disputes so readily? Have You taken leave of us, abandoning us to our own folly and self-will?”
My comments are not meant to be read either in support or condemnation of US policies. I’ll leave that to better minds who are, hopefully, more informed that I am. My musings focus on the question of God’s providence. What is His will? Can I be secure in my faith that His hand ultimately guides the affairs of this world and that He will keep me in His grace for this life and into the next?
Christians believe in the providential care of their Heavenly Father. The Bible teaches us that God is at work, often in ways that are unseen, that He is actively guiding and working in and through circumstances and history to fulfill His purposeful, loving, and sovereign will. Providence comes from a Latin word, providentia, which means foresight. We believe that God is "seeing to" the universe, that He is directing natural events to accomplish supernatural goals often through ordinary means not miracles to fulfill His promises.
When we look at life only in a moment it often does appear to be a chaotic mess, events that toss us about in random ways, without meaning or purpose. We all ask ourselves, ‘why is this happening?’ from time to time. Even the most faith filled Christian will find himself at least occasionally wondering if God truly reigns! BUT, when we step back and take in the sweep of history, when we are willing to wait patiently and prayerfully in turbulent times we will see God at work.
The story of Joseph illustrates providential care. The young teen is tragically sold by jealous brothers into Egyptian slavery. During the next two decades he seems to go from one awful injustice to another. But the path leads him to the fulfillment of God’s providence and amazingly his faithfulness results in his becoming Prime Minister of Egypt. In that place he is positioned to be the savior of his family, a key figure in Israel’s history. When his treacherous brothers finally stood before him, he tells them – “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.” (Genesis 50)
We are inspired by the promise of Romans 8 where we read – “We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. … What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Providence is very different from fate. Providence is guided, the work of God. Fate (you could say ‘luck’) is blind trust in the unseen, a wish that ‘everything will eventually work out.’ I secure my heart and mind in the loving care of a purposeful Father!
Christians understand God’s providence as being both general and specific. In the former we understand that the Creator formed the natural order and the universe to provide such things that we need for life – sunshine, rain, growing plants for food, etc. The latter invites us to live with faith in His promise to provide for us as we pray and live in obedience where the Spirit is able to guide, protect, and deliver us. We see this in the ways that we avoid tragedy or find just what we need in the moment that all may seem lost.
Living in the providential care of our God does not mean that we are without responsibility for our choices. There is a tension found in the Bible holding seemingly irreconcilable facts as being true. One is that we are free to choose our way, even to the point of rejecting God. The another teaches us that God knows our days before even one comes into existence and that His will is greater than our choices.
Proverbs 16:9 says “In their hearts human beings plan their lives. But the Lord decides where their steps will take them.” The intersection of Divine will and Human freedom is found in this description of Jesus’ path to the Cross. “This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.” (Acts 2.23) The plan for the salvation of humanity was God’s own, yet it resulted from the schemes of jealous and evil men!
What I conclude, dear friends, is that life may appear to be chaotic at this moment. It may seem that evil triumphs as terrible things occur as a result of the choices of people who ignore or reject God’s ways. BUT faith invites me to trust Him to work through it all; the good, the bad, the ugly – to bring about His purposes.
Let us humble
ourselves before Him.
Let us quiet our minds in meditation.
Let us admit to our finite abilities.
Let us secure ourselves in hope!
Here is a word from the Word. May it bring peace to our minds and purpose to our choices.
“Do not
fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong;
for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die
away.
Trust in
the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
Take delight in the Lord, and he will
give you the desires of your heart.
Commit
your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
your vindication like the noonday sun.
Be still
before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
when they carry out their wicked schemes.
Refrain
from anger and turn from wrath;
do not fret—it leads only to evil.
For those who are evil will be destroyed,
but those who hope in the Lord will
inherit the land.
A little while, and the wicked will be no more;
though you look for them, they will not be found.
But the meek will inherit the land
and enjoy peace and prosperity.”
(Psalm 37)
Lord, increase my faith! Amen.
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