WHAT IS PROVIDENCE?

ACTS 17:22–31

And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else

(Acts 17:25).

Because James has introduced us to the idea of God’s sovereign plan for history, we will spend several days considering more closely the doctrine of God’s providence. God superintends everything that happens, causing it to happen for His glory and for the good of His bride. We call this superintendence the providence of God.

The word providence comes from two Latin roots: pro, meaning “beforehand,” and video, meaning “see.” God sees everything beforehand. The God of the Bible is a God who sees everything that takes place in His universe. And because it is God who sees everything, His sight involves overseeing, that is, ruling and directing everything.

Under the influence of Christianity, Western Civilization was characterized by a belief in God’s providence. Until the 19th century there was an acute sense of God’s overarching government of the world. People assumed that God is all-powerful and directly involved in their daily lives.

Today, however, the cultural mentality is typified by the question, “Is there anybody up there who can and will help me?” Modern man is unsure if such an omnipotent being as God even exists. Even if there is some kind of Supreme Being, modern man does not believe that this Being is a Person. Further, even if this Being is personal, many do not believe He is personally concerned and involved with human life.

Modern man assumes that the universe is a “closed machine.” All cause and effect takes place inside the universe. If there is some kind of Supreme Being, all It did was start the universe rolling. Earlier cultures conceived of the universe as being directed by an “invisible hand” of God, who is ultimately responsible for everything.

The biblical notion that God sees everything is initially an uncomfortable one. We don’t want a God who sees what we do in secret. We rightly fear such a God. But the Bible tells us that God is a God of love. God loves those who come to Him. Thus, ultimately it is comforting to know that God sees everything that happens to us, even our darkest secrets, and still loves us.

CORAM DEO

1 Peter

How can the realization of God’s care help you to be completely honest before God? Identify two areas where you need to be more deeply honest with God. As you pray to Him today, ask Him to guide your thoughts on this matter, and commit these two areas to Him.

For further study: 1 Chron. 28:8–10 • Psalm 104

thursday

december