God's Providence

The Providence of God (Part Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's providence is evident in the life of Jacob, demonstrating that it is God who orders life. Jacob struggled to learn this lesson, often driven by fear rather than faith, and unable to supplant God's will for him. It required a profound wrestling with God for Jacob to finally understand that God's purpose prevails, as reflected in the name Israel, meaning God prevails. In Abraham's experience, God's providence is shown through a severe test of faith. God provided a challenging path for Abraham with the command to sacrifice Isaac, which appeared as a cruel curse to human understanding. Yet, in truth, it was providential, as God's plan unfolded through Abraham's trust and obedience. Abraham calculated and reasoned that God had both the power and the character to keep His promises, even to the point of resurrecting Isaac if necessary. God's intervention at the critical moment, saving Isaac's life, confirmed His faithful provision. God's providence also extends to all, as He watches over each individual, testing and guiding them to higher levels of understanding and wisdom. He never tests beyond what one can endure, ensuring that trials are balanced to the capacity of each person. His promise stands firm that He will not tempt beyond what can be borne, providing encouragement that He is closely involved in every life, working patiently as He did with Jacob until the lesson is learned. God's providence is not a distant force but an active, caring presence, engineering events over time for a purpose that continues to impact lives.

The Providence of God (Part Four)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's providence encompasses His foresight and the provision of what He provides, along with its perfect timing. He supplies essentials like food and clothing, as well as interventions such as altering weather, granting favor in others' eyes, and offering protection. Beyond material needs, He orchestrates events and circumstances to test, develop, and correct His children, preparing them for His Kingdom. We are called to trust in what He provides, whether it be a tangible item, a situation, or an event, as there is no alternative but to rely on Him. Anxiety over these provisions hinders us from fulfilling our responsibility to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, with the assurance that all necessary things will be added unto us. God's watchful care is evident in His historical provision for Israel, ensuring their safe exodus from Egypt without even a dog barking against them. His providence operates within His purpose, providing what aligns with His will rather than our desires, yet it is always sufficient. As David declared, God will always provide, and Paul affirmed that He supplies all needs through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our duty remains to trust in His provision. In the life of Jacob, God's providence is illustrated through the wrestling match that led to his name change to Israel, signifying that God rules and orders life. This event taught Jacob to submit to God's will, a lesson reinforced by the humbling injury to his hip and the constant reminder in his new name that God commands. Through this, God provided a transformative experience to correct Jacob's character, showing that submission to His way, not personal control or deceit, is the path to overcoming. Similarly, God's providence extended to the nation of Israel, as He used Jacob's experience to call them to repentance and submission. Through Hosea, He reminded them of their covenant and urged them to wait on Him for blessings rather than seeking control through deceitful means. Despite their history of provision since leaving Egypt, Israel's persistent sin and self-sufficiency led to warnings of privation and scattering, a humbling reminder of their dependence on Him. God's providence, woven through both Jacob's personal journey and the nation's history, consistently calls His people to submit to His rule and trust in His ordered plan for their lives.

The Providence of God (Part Three)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God's providence is a profound and active force in the lives of His people, encompassing both blessings and trials. He is intimately involved, ensuring that all events, whether perceived as good or bad, work toward His ultimate purpose. As seen in Romans 8:28, all things are orchestrated by Him, even the painful and difficult circumstances that might seem like curses. In the life of Jacob, God's providence is evident when He appeared at Bethel, promising to keep, guard, protect, provide, and preserve him in all places. This assurance underlines His commitment to His people, regardless of their human weaknesses or distractions. The story of Joseph further illustrates God's providence. Despite the apparent evil of being sold into slavery by his brothers, God engineered the entire situation for a greater good. This event, which seemed a curse, turned into a blessing as it saved many from starvation, brought reconciliation within Jacob's family, and advanced God's plan by positioning Israel in Egypt to grow into a great nation. This demonstrates how God's providence operates beyond human perception, turning trials into steps toward His overarching goals. God's providence is not merely foresight but includes active provision, as He sees in advance and supplies what is needed at the perfect time. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus teaches that anxiety over material needs should be replaced with trust in God's providential care. He oversees every detail, ensuring that what He provides aligns with His purpose, even if it differs from human expectations. This care is proactive; He watches over His children, not merely observing but intervening to bring about the best outcome. Moreover, God's providence does not negate human responsibility. While He foresees and provides, individuals must act with faith, as David did when praying fervently for his dying child, accepting God's will when the outcome was not as hoped. This balance of trust and action reflects the dynamic interplay of free moral agency and God's guiding hand, ensuring His will is accomplished. In Jacob's wrestling match with God, His providence is shown in the transformation of Jacob's name to Israel, signifying that God commands and orders life. Despite Jacob's contentious nature and attempts to control his circumstances, God's will prevailed, teaching him that no human strength or manipulation can override His purpose. This event underscores that God's providence shapes lives, often through struggle, to align with His divine plan. Ultimately, God's providence reveals Him as the prime mover of all events. He is not a distant creator but an involved parent, moved by the affairs of His children, ensuring that His purpose is fulfilled. Whether through blessings or perceived curses, His hand is at work, guiding history and individual lives toward the completion of His will, as affirmed in Philippians 1:6, where He promises to finish what He has begun.

God's Providence

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