Is God In Control Of Even Accidents? Thoughts On The Providence Of God

The Bible teaches plainly, Old Testament and New alike, that God is not only the Creator of the world, but he also upholds it, directs it, rules over it and moves it to accomplish his will, according to his eternal decree in eternity past.  God "works all things according to the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11), which means that God is active in ALL things, making them work out according to his plan.  No creature's will can throw a wrench into his plans, for "he does all that he pleases" (Psalm 115:3), and "no purpose of yours can be thwarted (Job 42:2).  In fact, God does not apologize for his providence, but delights in his sovereign power, declaring through Isaiah:

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 ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ ...I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.  Isaiah 42:9-11, ESV

God is glorified in his providence! 

It is not just that God has power to turn things around and make them work out for the best, as if he were a cosmic maid going around and cleaning up our messes; Scripture makes it clear that God has purposed all that happens - has decreed it from eternity past, and now powerfully works to align all things with his word.

It is amazing to see the specific things Scripture attributes to the sovereign providence of God!  Even the roll of the dice - "chance" itself - is declared to be controlled by God's power, according to his everlasting decree (Proverbs 16:33)!  What about "accidents"?  If chance does not exist apart from God's control, can there even be such a thing as an accident?  Scripture attributes even 'accidental' deaths to the providence of God ("...God let him fall into his hand" Exodus 21:13).  Jesus himself believes in the sovereign providence of God, and taught that God controls even the death of birds!  He said that not even a sparrow can fall to the ground apart from the will of God (Matthew 10:29).

What about the weather?  God is shown to raise up the storm, and then calm it (Psalm 107:25, 29).  God is said to be in control of supplying his creation with food (Psalm 136:25).  Even the heart and mind of man is not off limits to the ruling King of the universe!  He turns the heart, even of earthly kings, "wherever he will" (Proverbs 21:1), and "it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).  Both to will and to work?  This means that God is able to cause us to "will" what he wants us to will, while we remain responsible!  Oh, the mysterious - yet glorious - providence of God!

This teaching was not given to us so that we would have endless debates about it, softening its meaning and finding ways to still elevate man.  It was also not given to us so that we could be self-righteous and prideful in our knowledge of Bible doctrine.  It was given to us so that we may glorify the God who powerfully works all things according to the counsel of his will, and "upholds the universe by the word of his power (Hebrews 1:3)!  So that we may know him and love him and rest in his sovereign power when we are in the midst of trials, knowing that a good God is in control.  Glorify the sovereign Lord!

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ...For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.   Romans 11:33, 36, ESV

Till the storms pass by

What can we do while we are in the storms of affliction, trouble and suffering?

Psalm 57 was written, we are told, by David "when he fled from Saul, IN THE CAVE" (introduction to the Psalm). Can you picture David hiding in the darkness of a cave, afraid for his life? Saul, jealous and filled with murderous rage toward David, is leading his armed men in pursuit. David is in the storm.

What thoughts would pass through your mind? What emotions? "Thanks a lot, God. I thought Samuel anointed me the next king of Israel?? Is the next king of Israel about to die in a cave?!"

David's heart belongs to the Lord. He is in the cave...praying.
(Jonah was in the fish...praying; Jesus was on the cross...praying.)
David cries, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by." (v1)

David clings to God in the storm! Storms usually pull us closer to God, or give unbelievers excuse to run from him.

Next, look where David's trust is anchored:
"I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me" (v2).
David is trusting in God's sovereign plan! Oh, what peace there is in trusting our sovereign God!

Finally, David's thoughts are not self-centered in this prayer. Remember, he's hiding in a cave with an army looking for him! What's on his heart as he cries out to God for help?
"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!" (vs5, 11).

Twice David takes up this exclamation of praise while the storm is raging in his life. He knows that there is something bigger than being saved from suffering. There is MORE than my needs being met. God's glory is priority number one!!!
Does your heart beat for God's glory to be seen? Does this consume you...even in times when it's not natural to think about it?

So we've learned some important lessons from the David's storm.
1. Pray.
2. Take refuge in God till the storm passes by.
3. Rest in God's sovereignty.
4. Praise God and yearn for his glory to be seen.

Are you hiding in the cave? Are you in the storm?
Here is help!

Does God Want Us To Suffer?

Some say that God would never have any of his children suffer. But if God doesn't want it, and it happens anyway...then who is this other god overpowering God's desires and making us suffer? This view elevates either Satan or Man above God. We must remember that God works all things according to the counsel of his will (Eph 1:11) and that he says "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose" (Isaiah 46:10). If suffering comes, it has surely been allowed by God. What do we make of this? Is God cruel? No! Rather, even suffering somehow has its place in the good and glorious plan of God.

The book of First Peter shows us many truths about Christian suffering. "Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good" (1 Peter 4:19). Peter gives us instructions for when we suffer 'according to God's will.' This phrase alone should fill us with strength and comfort. When suffering comes to the believer, Satan has not slipped a punch in on God and taken him by surprise. We can rest in our sovereign God.

Peter also reminds us of the glorious salvation God has worked in us. Then he says, 'In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6-7). What wonderful truths to help us in times of suffering! We see that:

• Our sufferings are for "a little while." They won't last forever. Even if they lasted the rest of our lives (as some do) we look ahead to an eternity of glory with our Savior! Compared to that, the sufferings of this present age are only "a little while."
• Our sufferings only come "if necessary." Praise God! They haven't come for nothing! An infinitely wise and loving God has deemed it necessary. He knows what it will take to conform us to the image of Christ, which is the goal (Romans 8:28-30).
• Our suffering has come to test the "genuineness of (our) faith." Progressive sanctification involves testing and trials. In them, our faith is purged from the junk that is in us. He is using suffering for our good! ("For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" [2 Cor 4:17, NKJV] - our suffering is WORKING FOR US!).
• Our suffering will result in "praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Hallelujah!

Let us trust our God when suffering comes, and let us endure with joy - eyes fixed on Jesus; who suffered for us to bring us to God.

"For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).

Bible Questions Answered! #2: The Origin of Faith

Origin of Faith
Q. I’m learning that Jesus is the author of our faith, and that faith itself comes from God. What about Scriptures where Jesus seems frustrated when he sees a lack of faith in people? What about in times of healing when Jesus would say something like “according to your faith;” things that make it seem like our amount of faith is up to our control? Is faith something we build by obedience in reading his word or something he builds as we read and obey?

The bigger picture surrounding this question is God’s sovereignty vs. man’s responsibility. Which is true? They seem to contradict each other. Is God in control or is man responsible? Yes. Both are taught in Scripture. An antinomy (an-TIN-uh-me) is 2 apparent opposites both taught as true. We know that the Bible teaches that ultimately God is completely in control and has decreed and allows all things that happen. But the same Bible teaches that man still makes choices that are real and is responsible for those choices. Sometimes the word of God will emphasize God’s perspective (He is behind the scenes ruling over everything), and in other places Scripture will emphasize man’s perspective (we don’t see God ruling, we see us making choices). Usually people will take all the Scriptures that emphasize one side or the other and say that’s all there is. Balance is so crucial! We can go to the extreme on either side. I would say that the balance, in this case, does seem to be tilted towards God’s sovereignty; but Scripture clearly teaches that we are responsible before God for our actions, choices, obedience and/or disobedience.

Now specifically concerning the issue of faith, we see that faith comes from God: not all have faith (2 Thess 3:2b); faith then comes (by hearing the word, Rom 10:17); faith is a gift from God (Eph 2:8-9); coming from the author & perfector of our faith, who is Jesus (Heb 12:2). We are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph 2) and cannot even see the kingdom of God until we are born again (John 3). So God must raise us up from the dead, give us new life and fill us with faith as his word penetrates us to the very core (Heb 4:12).

Hebrews 11 tells us that faith is a substance. It is an inward evidence; an assurance; a conviction (ESV). The verb is believing, but the noun is FAITH. Faith is SOMETHING. When we believe Christ, we possess eternal life inside of us by faith. We have the substance. This one true faith (“the” faith that was “once for all delivered to the saints” Jude 1:3) is ours from God. Glory to God!

At the same time, we are responsible before God for believing. We are commanded to believe! Everything God commands us to do, we are responsible to do. But here is the problem. We are NOT ABLE to do ANYTHING that God commands us to do…EVER (within ourselves).

Take the Law for example. God gave us the Ten Commandments. They are commandments, and yet we cannot obey them. “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 718b, ESV). And yet our inability does not get us off the hook. We ought to obey, but we are dead. So God could have judged us, but he gave us Jesus – who did what we could never do. He fulfilled the Law of God, and lives it out through us (Jeremiah 31:33). With God’s command (a command that we cannot obey in our own strength) comes the supernatural power to obey that command through faith in Jesus Christ. So, God gives us the power to do what we could not otherwise do. He is glorified, and we are forgiven!

Jesus commanded the man with the withered hand to stretch it out (Luke 6:10). This was the one thing the man could NOT do! But with the command came the power to obey and do the impossible. The man stretched it out and he was whole! He had not healed himself; Jesus did it!

We are commanded to have faith (John 10:38). Unbelief is a sin (Rom 11:20, Heb 3:19). But we do not believe until our eyes are opened. We need God’s help. So from God’s perspective, he gives us faith. He does through us what we cannot do ourselves. But from man’s perspective, we are required to have faith, and are guilty before God when we do not. Jesus was right to be frustrated at people’s unbelief (Mark 6:6). God hates sin, but has decreed that it exist (to show his glory by way of comparison). God could have decreed that sin not exist. But God chose to allow some things that do not please him (sin, sickness, suffering, the death of the wicked – Ezek 33:11, hell) to still exist. He decreed these things and allows these things because in his infinite wisdom he knows they will best show forth his glory. Therefore, God knows we cannot obey. But we are responsible to obey him. And it is right of him to judge us when we don’t. But in Christ we may obey him and escape judgment! Glory to God!