I’ve heard precious few sermons on the doctrine of providence, yet God’s providence is active and moving in our lives every moment of every day. His providence is continuous and purposeful, always working to glorify Him.
The doctrine of providence is the belief that God is acting, governing, and directing all events to accomplish His will.
Nothing is happenstance.
One of the best displays of God’s providence from the Old Testament is seen in the story of Joseph in Genesis 37-47. Joseph was the eleventh son of Jacob and the firstborn to Rachel, Jacob’s favorite wife. It was no secret that Joseph was also the favorite child, confirmed by Jacob gifting him a handmade colorful robe. His preferential treatment drew the ire of his older brothers. To make matters worse, Joseph was a dreamer who interpreted his dreams as declarations of his future headship over his family. Life was anything but harmonious among the sons of Israel. Perhaps, then, it isn’t surprising to read about Jacob’s sons capitalizing on an opportunity to rid themselves of their pesky brother.
Some might say it was karma.
Scripture commits ten full chapters to this saga: At seventeen years old, Joseph’s brothers sold him to a traveling band of Ishmaelites who, in turn, sold him to an Egyptian official named Potiphar. Joseph gained Potiphar’s favor and earned the trust of the highest officials until Potiphar’s wife lied and accused him of assault, which landed him in prison. There, Joseph earned favor with the keeper and interpreted the dreams of prisoners. He remained imprisoned for two full years until he was summoned to interpret a complex dream of Pharaoh that no other wise man could explain. Joseph’s revelation of seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine not only earned him his freedom but also caused Pharaoh to appoint him second in command over all of Egypt. He was thirty years old.
During the seven years of plenty, Joseph had grain stored away in preparation for the seven years of famine. When the famine struck, it extended beyond the land of Egypt to the land of Canaan where Jacob and his family dwelled. Running low on food, Jacob heard about grain for sale in Egypt, so he sent his sons to purchase some. When the brothers arrived in Egypt, they unknowingly found themselves in front of their brother, Joseph, to buy grain for their family. Joseph recognized his brothers, and after testing them to see if they had changed their ways, he revealed his identity and rejoiced over their reunion.
Some might say the timing was serendipitous.
The events surrounding Joseph’s life were neither karma nor serendipitous. They were providential. Joseph, himself, proclaimed as much when he said, “God sent me before you to preserve life. It was not you who sent me here, but God.” (Gen. 45:5, 8).
Beautiful.
God’s providence is not random or an act of chance; rather, it is a methodical, purposeful, and often slow unfolding of events. We usually struggle to recognize it in the moment, but as time passes, we can often look back and see how only God could have perfectly arranged things.
On this Good Friday, as we reflect on the great sacrifice Jesus made, it’s good to remember that His death was also providential. Though the events of that day were chaotic, God never lost control of the situation. Jesus’ trials, beatings, and subsequent crucifixion were not incidents of a night that went haywire. Everything was orchestrated by God.
Some might say Jesus’ death was karma because he always challenged authority. Some might even find it serendipitous how the One who was called the Lamb of God was sacrificed during Passover week.
No.
God was sovereignly governing. Every detail was filled with meaning and had a purpose.
It wasn’t until Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, when His devoted followers received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, that they were able to see with clarity the purpose of the events that had taken place, and to truly understand who Jesus was–God’s Son. The purpose of all the stories Jesus told and the miracles He performed now made sense. Peter immediately stood up with the other disciples and testified to his new understanding. It took a few thousand years for God’s plan to be revealed, but the Servant-Savior the Scriptures foretold, who would redeem mankind from their sins, was now revealed. Their gospel accounts and letters testify to this knowledge.
God continues to govern. His providence is still active. We may never understand the events that occur in our lives, especially when they involve waiting, suffering, or hardship of any kind; however, the question we must ask is, will we subscribe the events to happenstance, karma, or serendipity? Or will we attribute them to a faithful God who is beautifully working “all things together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28)?