Is "Divine Providence" a Biblical Idea?
Share
Standing on trial today is divine providence. The case that is before you is designed to simply answer a question, really two questions. What is divine providence, and is it in the Bible?
Divine providence is all about God’s governance over the affairs of men and the destiny of humanity. He is carefully watching over and directing all things in the universe, ensuring that his will is accomplished in the earth. Merriam Webster’s dictionary defines it as such:
“God conceived as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny.”
In the long list of "Christianese" and Biblical jargon is the phrase "Divine Providence." We generally understand this to be God's plan for humanity -- his ability to reach down and intervene in human affairs. But is that really what it means? And more to the point - is this a Biblical concept, or something that humans created? Let's look at the facts.
We will build our case, present the evidence with the intention that by the time we are done you will see that divine providence is indeed a biblical concept. Let the trial begin.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Wenping Zheng
What Does Divine Providence Mean?
Divine providence deals with God’s plan in the earth and God’s plan in your life. On a personal level, we see that it has to do with fulfillment of your destiny. God has a specific plan or destiny for your life and he works and orders things in your life to bring that destiny to fruition.
We also see that within the word providence is the word provide. When God moves you along, he supplies provision to help you reach the destination he has planned for you. To understand it fully, God has a specific purpose for your life and you trust him to bring to pass what he has purposed for you.
Another way of thinking about divine providence is entrusting our lives into his care. Where we trust that his plan, though we may not always understand it, is the best plan for our lives. A verse in Scripture that reminds us of this is Romans 8:28:
“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.”
In this verse, we are the ones who love God and are called according to his purpose. Because of this we can trust that he is watching over our lives carefully to accomplish his plan and to work every situation in our lives for our good.
Pastor A.R. Bernard recently shared his experience in his battle with the coronavirus. He said at one point he was so sick he didn’t know if he was going to make it and he had to resign and trust in God’s providence. This is God’s plan and I am surrendering my life to it.
When you compare divine providence to regular providence here is the difference. According to Your Dictionary “regular” providence can mean:
1. A looking to, or preparation for, the future; provision
2. Skill or wisdom in management; prudence
Where they are similar is that they both involve carefully watching over something to help bring it to pass, to help plan for or achieve a desired end. Where they differ is simply who is the author of the plan.
Photo credit: ©Sparrowstock
Are There Bible Stories or Verses That Mention Divine Providence?
I mentioned at the outset that we are tackling two questions today, what is divine providence and is it in the Bible? Even though those two words don’t appear in Scripture together, (at least I haven’t found it yet, please let me know if you have), the concept is fairly evident all throughout Scripture.
One example of this is the life of Joseph. If you are unfamiliar with his story, here is the abbreviated version. He was sold by his brothers into slavery. He went to prison for a crime he didn’t commit. From prison, he was promoted to the palace and became the second highest in command in all of Egypt. You can read the full story starting in Genesis 37. When you get to the end of the story, (spoiler alert if you have never read it before) he is reconciled with his family and he made this statement:
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
Wrapped within this one verse of Scripture we see the full essence of God’s providence on display. God was carefully orchestrating and guiding Joseph’s destiny through his brother’s betrayal. Through the years he spent as a slave and a prisoner, God was working and guiding to bring Joseph to his destiny, so that through this one life he could save many.
I hope this sounds familiar, because this is exactly what Jesus did for us. This is probably the greatest example of divine providence. Jesus suffered through agony and torture, carrying the full weight of our sin, giving his life to save many.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Ben White
How Does God Provide for His People?
We said before that at the root of this word providence is provide. All throughout the pages of Scripture you see evidence of God providing for his people. However, the ways he provides today may be different. For example, instead of having manna and quail rain down from heaven, he may provide you with a job that allows you to support your family.
Regardless of the type of society you live in, God will provide. If you live in an agricultural or farming society, he can send rain. If you live in an ocean society, he can send fish. If you live in a capitalist society, he can provide jobs and opportunities.
It doesn’t matter the circumstances, God will provide for his people.
Is God in Control of EVERYthing?
I know many times when chaos erupts in society, a question that pops into our minds is this – Is God still in control?
There are two laws at work simultaneously in the earth: God’s divine providence and the reality of man’s free will. Even though God is sovereign and his purpose will be established in the earth, he has never taken away man’s free will to choose. Consider what God told Noah after the flood:
“The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: ‘Never again will I curse the ground because of humans, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease” (Genesis 8:21-22).
The evil condition of man’s heart does not negate God’s control over the earth. The evidence of evil in our society gives greater weight to the power of God’s divine providence because it often requires overcoming many of the realities and hurtful experiences we have in life. The reality of evil deeds does not weaken God’s providence, it actually strengthens it.
That’s what makes the story of Joseph so wonderful, that in spite of all the bad things that happened to him, God’s plan and destiny was still reached and accomplished in his life. Even the most arduous of circumstances can’t stop the fulfillment of God’s destiny for your life.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/valio84sl
How Can We Have Faith in God's Plan?
To understand why we can have faith, I want to turn your attention to two Scriptures:
“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
“But as the Scriptures say, ‘No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
Here is why you can trust God’s plan – because it is the best thing going. If you truly believe that God loves you, then you must believe that he has nothing but the best planned for you. God’s plan for you is not limited to the number of years we live on this earth. God’s divine providence involves you spending your eternity with him, where you see and experience the fullness of God’s presence and the fullness of his joy. This is the destiny that God has prepared for you and he will carefully watch over it until it comes to pass.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1:20-22).
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/beerphotographer
The Conclusion?
Well jury, I have my presented my case as to what divine providence is and whether it is in the Bible. I hope I have done a good job of helping you understand its meaning and its relevance. At the heart of the matter is how much God loves you. Because of his great love, his divine providence is something that can be embraced and trusted. He has planned nothing but the best for you. Remember he is the Alpha, which means he has the first word, and the Omega, which means he has the last word. As I close my case here is the last word on the subject:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’ He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).
This is the divine providence that God has stored up for you.
Photo credit: Unsplash/Rawpixel
