What Control Does God Exercise in Our Lives? A study in providence

What Control Does God Exercise in Our Lives?

A study in providence

Providence -

• Foresight or plan to accomplish a desired end,

• Has to do with God working in the affairs of men

Providential Misconceptions

1. Providence was limited to Israel

Amos 9:7-8

Are you not like the Cushites to me, O

people of Israel?” declares the Lord. “Did

I not bring up Israel from the land of

Egypt, and the Philistines from Caphtor

and the Syrians from Kir?

God “moved” the Philistines and the SyriansGod “moved” the Philistines and the Syrians

Jonah 4:11

And should not I pity Nineveh, that great

city, in which there are more than 120,000

persons who do not know their right hand

from their left, and also much cattle?”

God had compassion for 120,000 NinevitesGod had compassion for 120,000 Ninevites

Exodus 14:18

And the Egyptians shall know that I am the

Lord, when I have gotten glory over

Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

God was glorified in the EgyptiansGod was glorified in the Egyptians

Genesis 15:13-16

13 Then the Lord said to Abram, “Know for

certain that your offspring will be

sojourners in a land that is not theirs and

will be servants there, and they will be

afflicted for four hundred years. … 16 And

they shall come back here in the fourth

generation, for the iniquity of the

Amorites is not yet complete.

God wouldn’t take the Amorite’s land from themGod wouldn’t take the Amorite’s land from them



2. Providence was limited to miracles

Genesis 45:5-8

And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in

which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to

preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it

was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of

all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

Joseph to Egypt? NOT miraculous.Joseph to Egypt? NOT miraculous.

Romans 15:30-32

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to

strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf, 31 that I may be

delivered from the unbelievers in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be

acceptable to the saints, 32 so that by God's will I may come to you with joy and

be refreshed in your company.

Paul to Rome? NOT miraculous.Paul to Rome? NOT miraculous.



2. Providence was limited to miracles

3. Everything is providential !

Ecclesiastes 9:11

gain I saw that under the sun the race is not

to the swift, nor the battle to the strong,

nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the

intelligent, nor favor to those with

knowledge, but time and chance happen

to them all.

Time and chance overtake us all.Time and chance overtake us all.

The fact is, God IS in Control

1. The OT says to have faith. God controls it all

Ecclesiastes 8:16-9:1

When I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night do one's eyes see sleep, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work

that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out. Even though a

wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out. 1 But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God. Whether it is love or hate, man

does not know; both are before him.

We’re in the hands of God.We’re in the hands of God.

Ecclesiastes 7:13-14

Consider the work of God: who can make

straight what he has made crooked?14 In

the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the

day of adversity consider: God has made

the one as well as the other, so that man

may not find out anything that will be

after him.

We cannot change what God does.We cannot change what God does.

Ecclesiastes 3:11

11 He has made everything beautiful in its

time. Also, he has put eternity into man's

heart, yet so that he cannot find out what

God has done from the beginning to the

end.

We cannot know God’s workingWe cannot know God’s working

Ecclesiastes 3:15

That which is, already has been; that which

is to be, already has been; and God seeks

what has been driven away.

Even historic repetition is in God’s hand.Even historic repetition is in God’s hand.



2. Specifically the Messiah was prophesied to rule

Psalms 2:7-9

I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me,

“You are my Son; Today I have begotten

you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the

nations your heritage, and the ends of the

earth your possession. 9 You shall

break them with a rod of iron and dash

them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

Psalm 110:1-2

he Lord says to my Lord: Sit at my right

hand, until I make your enemies your

footstool.”2 The Lord sends forth from

Zion your mighty scepter. rule in the

midst of your enemies!

Isaiah 11:3-5ff

And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or

decide disputes by what his ears hear, 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the

earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his

lips he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.



2. Specifically the Messiah was prophesied to rule

3. The NT says Jesus Christ is in charge of it all

1 Peter 3:22

…who has gone into heaven and is at the

right hand of God, with angels,

authorities, and powers having been

subjected to him.

Revelation 1:5

…and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness,

the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of

kings on earth.To him who loves us and

has freed us from our sins by his blood

He is the Ruler of KingsHe is the Ruler of Kings

God has always used providential participation

In all the earth, among all people, and especially for

HIS people.

Hebrews 1:13-14

And to which of the angels has he ever

said,“Sit at my right hand until I make

your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent

out to serve for the sake of those who are

to inherit salvation?

He has legions of powerful servants.He has legions of powerful servants.

Hebrews 13:5-6

Keep your life free from love of money, and

be content with what you have, for he has

said, “I will never leave you nor forsake

you.” 6 So we can confidently say,“The

Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what

can man do to me?”

And we have the promise of help.And we have the promise of help.

With divine assurance

God still asks for faith

Hebrews 11:6And without faith it is

impossible to please him, for whoever

would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he

rewards those who seek him.

Will you be content with that?

Documents

What Control Does God Exercise in Our Lives? A study in providence