“Proverbs 16:33 – The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.??Romans 8:28-30 – 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. (Read More…)??James 1:17 – Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.??Ecclesiastes 9:11 – I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all. 12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. So not see it as a “chance” occurrence but as the providence of God,
?Much of what Ecclesiastes shares is from the perspective of a person who looks at life on earth without God, or life “under the sun.” From such a perspective—leaving God out of the picture—there seems to be good luck and bad luck.?1 Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
But how can that be if God is sovereign? If God is in control, wouldn’t His will always be done? The key lies in that God has a desired will and a permitted will. God’s desired will is what He wants or desires to have happen. It is, for instance, His desired will that all be saved (see 2 Peter 3:9). But we are told many will not be as they reject Him.But providence is not provided in a singular way—there are two ways God’s providence is experienced. Sometimes God actively manifests and directs His guidance over certain individuals or events. This is called Specific Providence. At other times God’s providence is passively manifested to all His creation through the natural laws He has established.
- In specific providence, In specific providence, God actively uses his designed laws of nature to accomplish a specific event or outcome for an individual, group, or nation of people. An example can be seen in the story of Ruth, “Then she left, and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers. And she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the family of Elimelech” (2:3).
Ruth “happened” to come to the field of Boaz. This shows the event from the standpoint of something unknown to Ruth, a chance occurrence, but this is a story of God’s Providence. It seems that God had a special purpose in bringing Ruth and Boaz together and incorporating her into the lineage of Christ. He accomplished this without going outside His natural laws but providentially directing His guidance on Ruth.
In general providence,
Jeremiah provides another example: “Before I formed thee in the womb I knew you; before thou comest forth out of the womb“you were born”, I sanctified thee; I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). God’s specific providence brought about Jeremiah as a prophet within the natural laws of conception and birth.
These examples used the forces of nature under God’s direction to accomplish a specific aim or need.
- This is called general providence.
In general providence, God allows His established laws of nature to continue at work, and God allows them to serve His creation without His direct or preferential involvement.
This is similar to what is sometimes called general grace. Grace has a general element that is bestowed on all (both believer and non-believer) as well as a specific (salvational) element that is bestowed only on those believers who accept Him. “…that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45)
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is always sovereign.
1) Sometimes He is actively involved: He directly causes it to happen as in examples like the Red Sea.
2) Sometimes, He is passive: God does not directly cause it but allows the law of nature He established to dictate events, as Jesus taught in the Tower of Siloam (see Luke 13). 3. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Romans 1:19 because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.