AP

Providence – A Pilgrim’s Journey of Discovery

“God moves in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform,                                                                          

He plants His footsteps in the sea,                                                         

And rides upon the storm.”                                                                 

(William Cowper, 1731-1800)

    At one time or another, someone says, “That’s providential”.    I’ve said that, usually in response to something that was seen as being heaven-sent, an intervention, gift or blessing from above.   We recognise the goodness of God, as our Great Provider, and the favourable nature of His providence – His good providence.   For many of us, perhaps most of us, that is the extent of how we understand divine providence.    Another comment often heard is, “….but God is still in control”.   Which usually means that God will eventually bring us out of some present situation, such as the ungodly beliefs and practices increasingly evident today.   So, this saying indicates our trust in His providence, and that is certainly good.

   However, as we read the Bible – the whole Bible – we find there is more to divine providence than those good things which we so often acknowledge.   There is also more certainty than just a vague hope for God’s future restoration. 

   As I grew in my personal understanding, reading the Bible, as well as some commentaries, a confession and catechism, I settled on the Westminster Shorter Catechism for my definition of the subject:   

“Qn.11 – What are God’s works of providence?  (Ans). God’s works of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful preservation and control of all his creatures, and all their actions”.   

However, they were really just words   There was more I had to learn, much more.

     My understanding began with the book of Job. Bible scholars say that Job is one of the earlier writings in the Scriptures, from around the time of the patriarchal period.   I found blessings in those ancient words, as I spent more time with Job.    I recall having read the book previously, and being disturbed by the opening passages.   It seemed confronting –  as though I was intruding into something private, behind the scenes as the curtain is pulled back.   It challenged credibility, so I was not comfortable reading it.   Well, that has all changed. 

    I recall a Christian woman with terminal cancer, in the area where we once lived.   Her condition was widely known among local believers, as was the fact that she appreciated the book of Job as being particularly helpful to her at that time.  She found comfort and understanding there, identifying with Job and his experience under the hand of God.   There must be many who have had a similar experience.

   Most Bible readers, reflecting on the book of Job, would recall things like Job’s terrible suffering and his painful endurance, the unhelpful comforters with their view that his suffering was deserved, and the final chastening from God as He declared His awesome wisdom and power – His sovereignty over all he had created.  Then, thankfully, that positive ending with Almighty God confirming Job’s righteousness, rebuking his friends, confronting and challenging Job, followed by Job’s final response that he has no more thought of his own righteousness and now sees God as greater than he had ever imagined.    All is restored to Job, and more, so  he is finally much blessed.   Happy ending, great story – right?   Yes, it certainly is, but that is not all.  

    You see, we can easily read this as being about Job’s suffering and his endurance, all to our benefit – but we should also read it as being about God and His sovereignty.     Of course, many will say it is both – and that is true, but the latter way has another benefit – one that was my personal discovery.

   The book of Job has been a great help in understanding God’s all-encompassing Providence.   It took my understanding of Providence from a fuzzy idea of definitions which I found by reading Bible commentaries, dictionaries, catechisms, and confessions, etc., to a more personal relationship with my Lord, the  Almighty God.    Yes, that does sound like holier-than-thou piety, but please let me explain how this has come about – and that was by reading another book.  

   In 2023, I read John Piper’s recent work, Providence (Crossway, 2020).  It was not a quick read.   At more than 750 pages this book may well become known as Piper’s Magnum Opus.  Three opening pages have 18 commendations from well-qualified biblical scholars, writers, pastors and theologians.  I was impressed by Piper’s thorough (seemingly exhaustive) use of Scripture in this, his work on God’s profound, all-encompassing (and purposeful) Providence.

   Early in the book, Piper states: “The focus of this book is on God’s sovereignty not simply as powerful but as purposeful.   Historically, the term providence has been used as shorthand for this more specific focus.”

   Two things from Piper’s book remain in my mind:

   One comes from a sermon on Providence by Charles Haddon Spurgeon where he explained the difference between Fate and Providence. The full statement says: “I believe that every particle of dust that dances in every sunbeam does not move an atom more or less than God wishes – (he continues on, and concludes) – the fall of leaves from a poplar is as fully ordained as the tumbling of an avalanche.”

   The second is the comment: “…the relentless witness of the Bible that God consistently acts for the sake of his own glory.”  Used in the opening words of a section that deals with human objection to the idea of God’s seeking His own exaltation – the praise of His glory.

   The first emphasises the all-encompassing nature of Providence, and the second opens up the perspective which I found so refreshing.   That fresh perspective – fresh for me, at least – is actually reading the Bible as it is written –  as God wrote it.   Reading the Bible as written by God about God and his purposeful works.   Some will say: “What is fresh about that?”   Well, it is fresh because it is different to what usually happens.   We tend to read it with our focus on what it means to us, and that is quite natural, after all.

   Now, as I reread so much in the Bible from God’s perspective, I discover that God’s profound sovereign purposeful providence does actually encompass everything!   Everything recorded in the Bible, and everything as it affects me – at every level – personally and intimately, my family and friends, my living space and situation, my contacts, daily routine and circumstances, surrounding locality, the wider locality – and so on,  in ever-widening circles.  All of my reality, as I see it, experience and live it.   Everything can be seen as purposefully from God.

   In retrospect, I believe this occurred over time – not suddenly – but it did commence with that book about Job.   Of course, this is all about one pilgrim’s journey of discovery, and, in this particular case, the important thing is not the journey but the destination.   That is the reason for most journeys – isn’t it?

   What now?   Having arrived at this point, what does it mean?   What is one to do with this new perspective on life?  Gems of knowledge are purposefully scattered throughout the Bible, and one of these comes in Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”   I wonder, how many sermons could one find in this verse?   The important question is, “What do we make of it – what do we do with it?”

   Early in my personal studies I learned to always keep together (1) God’s sovereignty and (2) human responsibility (Spurgeon’s two rails on a railway), and it has been a great help.  The classic Old Testament verse on this is Genesis 50:20, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”   The New Testament  equivalent is found in Peter’s sermon after the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost,  Acts 2:23, “Him (Jesus), being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death,”

   I have used this principle when explaining the co-existence of (1) God electing His people and (2) the free offer of the gospel.   One is God’s business, not ours, while the other is our responsibility.  We learn something of what we do not need to know, and what we do need to know.  That is one use of God’s profound and purposeful providence, but this fresh, more personal discovery has a different application for me.   My responsibility is to live for Christ (Gal.2:20), and make Him known (2 Tim.4:2; 1 Pet.3:15) and this is enhanced by knowing that God’s sovereign election means any and every person I meet could be one of God’s elect people, therefore one to whom I have the responsibility to be a witness (Mat.28:20).   So, I feebly do my part, trusting God for His.

   Now, my fresh awareness of God’s purposeful Providence in everything – everything I may personally comprehend – is like a solid backstop or over-arching protection – a final truth, an absolute.  There is great encouragement and comfort in just believing it.   What more can I say?    I  finish with a quote from my favourite OT prophet:

“Remember the former things of old,                                                       

For I am God, and there is no other;                                                          

I am God, and there is none like me,                                                 

Declaring the end from the beginning,                                                   

And from the ancient times things that are not yet done,                       

Saying, My counsel shall stand,                                                             

And I will do all my pleasure (my purpose)” (Isaiah 46:9,10).

– Neville Taylor