Living by FaithSample

The God of Providence

When Habakkuk complained, the LORD heard and condescended to reply. The God of Israel is no dumb god of the deists who passively watches the proceedings of the world. Rather His hand is at work setting the affairs of the world in due order. Our God is active all around in His providential dealings. 

God reminds Habakkuk of this reality of divine providence. God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise and powerful, preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions (Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 11). The kings of this world are all ordained by Him. The seasons are arranged by Him. Not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from the Father’s will. We only need the eyes to see this. Often we fail to see the big picture. God is orchestrating a cosmic plan and carrying it to His intended end. We merely see a tiny fragment of this. If the whole plan of God was unveiled to us, it would be so astounding that we would not believe it. 

When God came to us in Jesus, the world did not accept Him. It was too wondrous that the eternal God would take flesh and become man. It was too astounding that the Messiah of Israel would die a sinner’s death. It was unbelievable that a dead man would rise from the grave for the salvation of His people. For us today, this wondrous work of God is revealed. Will the God who did not spare us His own Son, but gave Him up for us, not graciously also with Him give us all things (Romans 8:32)? What then is there in this world to worry the child of God when God ensures that all things work together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)?