Divine Providence

God, the good Creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom upholds, directs, disposes, and governs all creatures and things¹ from the greatest even to the least² by his most wise and holy providence to the end for which they were created according to his infallible foreknowledge and the free and immutable counsel of his own will. This is all to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness, and mercy.³

In relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly⁴ so that there is not anything befalls any by chance or without his providence.⁵ Yet, by the same providence he orders them to happen according to the nature of second causes either necessarily, freely, or contingently.⁶

God in his ordinary providence makes use of means,⁷ yet he is free to work without,⁸ above, and against them⁹ at his pleasure.

The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God, so far demonstrate themselves in his providence that his sovereign plan extends even to the Fall of Man and all other sinful actions both of angels and men.¹⁰ This is not by a bare permission. Instead, God most wisely and powerfully limits and otherwise orders and governs¹¹ even sinful actions in a manifold administration to his most holy ends.¹² The sinfulness of these acts proceeds only from the creatures and not from God who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.¹³

The most wise, righteous, and gracious God often leaves his own children for a season to manifold temptations and the corruptions of their own hearts to chastise them for their former sins or to reveal to them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts that they may be humbled, to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support on God, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin and for other just and holy ends.¹⁴ Thus, whatever befalls any of his elect is by his appointment, for his glory and their good.¹⁵

At times God, as the righteous judge, blinds and hardens wicked and ungodly men for former sins.¹⁶ From them he withholds his grace, which might have enlightened their understanding and worked upon their hearts.¹⁷ Sometimes he also withdraws the gifts which they had¹⁸ and exposes them to objects which their corruption makes an occasion of sin.¹⁹ In addition, he gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,²⁰ by which it comes to pass that they harden themselves under those means which God uses for the softening of others.²¹

As the providence of God in general reaches to all creatures, so after a more special manner it takes care of his church and disposes all things for its good.²²

1. Hebrews 1:3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Job 38:11 And [the LORD] said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’? Isaiah 46:9–11 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,’ calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it. Psalm 135:6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. ↩︎
2. Matthew 10:29–31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. ↩︎
3. Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. ↩︎
4. Acts 2:22–23 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. ↩︎
5. Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. ↩︎
6. Genesis 8:22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease. ↩︎
7. Acts 27:31,44 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.”… And so it was that all were brought safely to land. Isaiah 55:10–11 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Hosea 1:7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen. ↩︎
8. Romans 4:19–21 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord. ↩︎
9. Daniel 3:27 And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. ↩︎
10. Romans 11:32–34 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 2 Samuel 24:1 Again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, “Go, number Israel and Judah.” 1 Chronicles 21:1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. ↩︎
11. 2 Kings 19:28 Because you have raged against me and your complacency has come into my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth, and I will turn you back on the way by which you came. Psalm 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. ↩︎
12. Genesis 1:20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” Isaiah 10:6–7, 12 Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few…When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. ↩︎
13. 1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. James 1:13–14, 17 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire…Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Psalm 50:21 These things you have done, and I have been silent; you thought that I was one like yourself. But now I rebuke you and lay the charge before you. ↩︎
14. 2 Chronicles 32:25–26, 31 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah…And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart. 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ↩︎
15. Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ↩︎
16. Romans 1:24–28 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. Romans 11:7–8 What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.” ↩︎
17. Deuteronomy 29:4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. ↩︎
18. Matthew 13:12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. ↩︎
19. Deuteronomy 2:30 But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day. 2 Kings 8:12–13 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” ↩︎
20. Psalm 81:11–12 But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels. 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 And with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ↩︎
21. Exodus 8:15, 32 But when Pharaoh saw that there was a respite, he hardened his heart and would not listen to them, as the Lord had said…But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and did not let the people go. Isaiah 6:9–10 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ 1 Peter 2:7–8 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” ↩︎
22. 1 Timothy 4:10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. Amos 9:8–9 Behold, the eyes of the Lord God are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the surface of the ground, except that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord. “For behold, I will command, and shake the house of Israel among all the nations as one shakes with a sieve, but no pebble shall fall to the earth.” Isaiah 43:3–5 For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, peoples in exchange for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you. Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Ephesians 3:10–11 Through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord. ↩︎