A.If we pray according to the conditions set forth in the New Testament (keep God’s commandments - 1John 3:21-22, pray according to God’s will – 1John 5:3, pray with faith – Jas. 1:5-8), then the Bible assures us that God will answer our prayers.
B.The way that God answers our prayers is through His providence.Let us study the subject of providence so that we can understand how God works in our lives today.
II.WHAT IS PROVIDENCE?
A.Providence literally means “foresight,” but it is commonly used to mean care or preparation in advance as the result of foresight.
1.The Latin origin of the word “providence” reveals its literal meaning (pro meaning “before,” and videns meaning “to see”).
2.The concept of God’s providence is prominent throughout the Bible.
a.Every mention of God’s foreknowledge of events and insightful preparation for them is a reference to His providence.
b.A good example of such a reference is Acts 2:23, in which Peter stated that Jesus was “delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.”God foresaw that mankind needed a Savior, and so He provided Christ according to His eternal purpose (Eph. 3:11).
3.Evidence of God’s providence is all around us, for He exercises His providence every time He provides for us.
a.Every single provision of life is purposefully supplied by God.James wrote, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (Jas. 1:17).
b.Christ said that God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt. 5:45).Let it be emphasized that God causes the sun to rise and sends rain –these events just do not happen by chance.
c.It is tremendously important to our faith to be aware of the constant providential care of God all around us.The blessings from God we can see give evidence for the blessings we cannot see.
B.Let us understand the difference between God’s providence and miraculous intervention.
1.Miracles (signs, wonders, etc.) are events caused by God in suspension of natural laws.
a.Only the Author of nature can suspend His laws, for only He has authority to do so.
b.These rare occurrences were performed in Bible times to demonstrate the presence of God, His power, and His authority (see Heb. 2:4).
2.God’s providence occurs now through natural means. It is the result of God’s control over nature and the affairs of men.
III.EXAMPLES OF PROVIDENCE
A.Abraham believed in God’s providence when he was called upon to sacrifice his son Isaac.
1.When Isaac, who did not know that he was to be sacrificed, asked Abraham about the lamb for the offering, Abraham replied, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son” (Gen. 22:7-8).
2.When the angel of God prevented Abraham from sacrificing Isaac, Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket, which he then sacrificed to God.Notice Genesis 22:14 – “Abraham called the name of that place The LORD Will Provide, as it is said to this day, ‘In the mount of the LORD it will be provided.’”
3.Because Abraham believed that God’s providence would bring him through a seemingly impossible situation, he passed this test of his faith.
a.Because Abraham had demonstrated his great faith in God’s providence, the angel of God announced Abraham’s blessings in Genesis 22:15-18.
b.Hebrews 11:17-19 gives great insight into Abraham’s faith in God’s providence, for it tells us that Abraham assumed that God would provide a way to keep His promises by raising Isaac from the dead (a natural impossibility).
B.Joseph acknowledged God’s providence in his brothers’ evil deeds.
1.Notice what Joseph said in Genesis 45:7-8 when he was reunited with his brothers in Egypt – “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance.Now, therefore, it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh and lord of all his household and ruler over all the land of Egypt.”
2.After Jacob died, Joseph comforted his brothers about their sin against him by saying, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Gen. 50:20).
3.This is a good example of how God can use even evil persons to accomplish His good providence.
C.Mordecai recognized that God’s providence was at work in Esther’s position as queen.
1.When the Jews were in danger of destruction, Esther’s uncle Mordecai advised her in Esther 4:14 – “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
2.In the end, Mordecai was right, and Esther was able to deliver the Jews as a result of God providentially placing her in the position of queen (see Esth. 7-10).
IV.PROVIDENCE WORKING IN YOUR LIFE
A.The word of God admonishes us to be aware of God’s will and providence every day in James 4:13-16.
1.Notice verse 14 – “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”This is similar to Proverbs 27:1 – “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.”
2.The proper attitude toward providence is given in verse 15 – “Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.’”This attitude respects God’s right to give to us or take from us every day as He wills.
B.Notice a few verses of Proverbs 16 that show how God’s providence is active in our lives.
1.Consider verse 3 – “Commit your works to the LORD and your plans will be established.”This message is similar to James 4:13-16, and it indicates that we must respect God’s providence in our own plans.
2.Verse 7 says, “When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”God’s providence intercedes to provide peace for His faithful servants.
3.Verse 9 says, “The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.”We may make certain plans, but God’s providence may lead us another way (compare to Prov. 19:21; 20:24; Jer. 10:23).
C.Let us understand that the ultimate outcome of God’s providence is good, but the process does not always seem good to us in the present.
1.The existence of evil and suffering is a challenge to our faith, for we ask, “Why would God allow these things to happen?”However, we must trust that God’s providence will ultimately bring about His wise and good purposes (consider again Joseph’s situation).
2.Consider Proverbs 16:4 – “The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.”Whatever God’s providential purposes may be, let us trust that they are good, even when evil is allowed (perhaps to show God’s grace and mercy, to test our faith, etc.).
3.Remember that the Lord promised God’s providential care for us (Matt. 6:25-34), but He also warned us of the difficulties of being faithful to God (Matt. 5:10-12; 2Tim. 3:12; 1Pet. 3:13-17; 4:15-19).
4.Therefore, it is necessary that we must always remember the truth of Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (see vv. 31-39 for full perspective).
V.CONCLUSION
A.Let us understand that not everything that happens in this world is God’s will (otherwise there would be no sin), but everything is ultimately subject to God’s providence.
B.If our outlook on life has understanding and respect for God’s providence, then it will enhance our appreciation for every blessing and strengthen our resolve against every difficulty.
