The Providence of God Part 3

  For the last couple of times together, we have been discussing the Providence of God. We have seen in this attributes of God; that He knows the end from the beginning, that there is purpose in all that He does, and He sees to it that certain things happen to bring about His will. With Abraham and Isaac, the sacrifice was averted from the son, as God saw to it that a ram would get in the thicket caught for a sacrifice, and the test of Abraham would prove his trust in God. Joseph would be sold into slavery to see to it that many people would be preserved, for the famine was so severe.  Isaiah 46:11, "Truly I have spoken, truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.". So let's look at our submission to this Providence of God.

    English Puritan Thomas Goodwin states, "If God works all things according to the counsel of His own will, you should not lean to your own will, nor to your own wisdom, give yourself fully unto God." I think immediately of Proverbs 3:5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." If we know of the sovereignty and goodness of God, then we must believe that He acts with wisdom, righteousness, love, and mercy in all that He does, even though it may be difficult to make sense of the tests and trials we go through, the dizzying effects it may have in our walk with Him, through the deep distresses of life. Lord, we do believe, help our unbelief. Lord, strengthen our faith, for without it we know we cannot please God.

   In Psalm 39:9, David states in his troubles, "I have become mute, I do not open my mouth. Because it is You who have done it." English Puritan Thomas Brooks states, "It is the great duty and concernment of gracious souls to be mute and silent under the greatest afflictions, the saddest providences, and sharpest trials that they meet with in this world." This was not to state that we have a stoic silence, a stiff upper lip, a despairing despondence. Rather he calls for a believing silence, an inner quietness, a constant confidence for us to hang onto knowing our good, majestic, and righteous God holds all things in His hands, that He does all things well. One of the hardest things to do in the midst of suffering and adversity is the waiting for God to act. English Puritan John Flavel said, "The Lord doth not compute and reckon His seasons of working by our arithmetic."

    We must wait on the Lord many times. The all-wise God knows what is best for us to fit us for Heaven. He guarantees us that we will make it (Phil.1:6). His promises which are all yes, and amen in Christ Jesus, will buoy us up in the storms of life. Jesus is not asleep in the boat that may look like it is sinking, but is in Heaven interceding for us (Heb.7:25, "Therefore He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."). In my 28 years in the GCC treasury department, one verse always traveled with me during the time as treasurer, I like Solomon's words in Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, "Consider the work of God, who is able to straighten what He has bent? In the day of prosperity, be happy, but in the day of adversity consider, God has made the one as well as the other." Next week Lord willing , we will finish our study on the Providence of God.

Elder Randy Slak