Thursday, January 26, 2017

God's Work of Providence


Psalm 65:9 “You visit the earth and water it, you greatly enrich it; the river of God is full of water; you provide their grain, for so You have prepared it.”

With all the rainfall in Southern California, after five years of drought, this Bible verse has a special meaning about God’s provision. The 65th Psalm speaks especially of God’s great work of “providence” as supplementing His ancient work of creation. The latter was completed in the six days of the creation week (Genesis 2:1-3). The work of providence, however, still goes on, perpetually reminding us of God’s care for His creatures. The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines the word “providence” as the care and superintendence which God exercises over His creatures. He that acknowledges a creation and denies a providence, involves himself in a palpable contradiction; for the same power which caused a thing to exist is necessary to continue its existence. Some persons admit a general providence, but deny a particular providence, not considering that a general providence consists of particulars. A belief in divine providence, is a source of great consolation to good men. By divine providence is often understood God himself.

Acts 14:17 “ Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”

One article explains that God’s providential concern, however, extends not only to men and women. “He causes the grass to grow for the cattle” (Psalm 104:14). “So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts … these wait all upon you; that you may give them their meat in due season” (vv. 25, 27). “Behold the fowls of the air: . . . your heavenly Father feeds them” (Matthew 6:26). He feeds them! He is merely their maker and provider; yet a single sparrow “shall not fall on the ground without your Father” (Matthew 10:29).


He even provides for the inert creation, “upholding all things by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). The omnipotent God of creation is thus the ever-sustaining and ever-caring God of providence. Still, some choose not to believe, even though “that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shown it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen … so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20). When you truly take a good, hard look around, we cannot deny God’s work of Providence. Jehovah Jireh - God, my Provider.

No comments: