The word "providence" comes from the Latin providentia (Gk. pronoia [provnoia]) and means essentially foresight or making provision beforehand. On the human plane, it may be used positively, as when Tertullus praised Felix by saying, "Your foresight has brought about reforms in this nation" ( Acts 24:2 ), or negatively, as when Paul admonishes us to "make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires" ( Rom 13:14, RSV ). When applied to God, the idea takes on a vastly larger dimension because God not only looks ahead and attempts to make provision for his goals, but infallibly accomplishes what he sets out to do. And because it is God's governance that is in view, it encompasses everything in the universe, from the creation of the world to its consummation, inclusive of every aspect of human existence and destiny. Providence, then, is the sovereign, divine superintendence of all things, guiding them toward their divinely predetermined end in a way that is consistent with their created nature, all to the glory and praise of God. ( Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)
Through divine providence, God accomplishes His will. To ensure that His purposes are fulfilled, God governs and works through the natural order of things. The laws of nature are nothing more than God’s work in the universe. The laws of nature have no inherent power; rather, they are the principles that God sets in place to govern how things normally work. Humans have free will, but God is sovereign. How those two truths relate to each other is hard for us to understand, but we see examples of both truths in Scripture. Saul of Tarsus was wilfully persecuting the church, but according to Divine Providence, He became a strong pillar of God. Acts 26:14 “And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
An example of divine providence in Scripture is found in the story of Joseph. God allowed Joseph’s brothers to kidnap Joseph and sell him as a slave in Egypt. Joseph ended up in Egypt, where he was made the prime minister. Joseph used his position to sustain the people, including the Israelites, who would have died. How did God get Joseph to Egypt? He providentially allowed his brothers the freedom to sin. God’s divine providence is directly acknowledged in Genesis 50:15–21.
Divine providence is taught in Romans 8:28: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” “All things” means “all things.” God is never out of control. The doctrine of divine providence is the belief that God exercises a sovereign, guiding and purposeful control over the universe and all that is, was and will be. Thus, God is in full control, and His control is not random but purposeful. It coexists with human choice and action, ultimately leading to a greater good and fulfilling the purpose of our Creator. We can thus conclude that God in eternity past, in the counsel of His own will, ordained everything that will happen; Thus, God accomplishes His will.
Dr Ashwin Drummond
laddertoheaven.co.in