God's Word For You is a free Bible Study site committed to bringing you studies firmly grounded in the Bible – the Word of God. Holding a reformed, conservative, evangelical perspective this site affirms that God has provided in Jesus Christ his eternal Son, a way of salvation in which we can live in his presence guilt free, acquitted and at peace.

 
 

STUDY 9: GOD’S GOODNESS: HIS PROVIDENCE

© Rosemary Bardsley 2023

There is extended material on God’s providence in this study and this one.
 

By God’s ‘providence’ we mean his continuing hands-on care of the world he created: that just as he created all things, so also he sustains all things. If he were to withdraw his sovereign providence everything that exists would disintegrate; it would become nothing. It would cease to exist. We would cease to exist.

Here in this truth of God’s providence there are connections with many of the aspects of God’s goodness that we have looked at so far, and connections with aspects of his goodness that we are yet to study. For example:

God’s providence is part of the one-of-a-kind of God he is.

He is not the absent, hands-off god of the Deists, letting the world look after itself and run its course.

He is not the non-existent god of the atheists, unable to do anything because he doesn’t exist.

He is not the immoveable god of the fatalists, who has predetermined every single thing.

He is not the fearful spirit gods of the animists, capricious and utterly untrustworthy.

He is not part of or one with nature, like the ‘gods’ of monism, pantheism or panentheism.

He is not one of two equal powers, or one of many gods, like the gods of dualism or polytheism.

Rather, the God of the Bible, who alone is God, and who is distinct from creation, is the God who remains involved with and in sovereign control of the world he created.

Similarly, God’s providence goes hand in hand with the truth that God is the creator of all: There is nothing outside of his control. ‘Outside his control’ simply doesn’t exist. It is a non-concept. There is nothing beyond his sovereignty.

In the same way, God’s providence also depends on the sovereignty that is part of his essential nature: If he is not sovereign, if he is not omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient, then he has neither the authority, nor the power, not the presence, nor the knowledge to sustain and provide for the on-going existence of anything he has made. He has no authority to sustain the natural laws that he embedded in the universe. But his nature is such that he is able to sustain and to provide for the world and everything in it.

And when we look at the biblical teaching about our human rebellion against God in Genesis 3, his on-going providence and sustenance beyond Genesis 3 gives strong testimony to his goodness towards us. There we turned our backs on him, and continue up to the present to embrace ‘god’ concepts that reduce and deny him, but he in his grace and goodness still gives us everything we need for life and survival. He still sustains the world and permits us to live on it. Those things which we so often take for granted, we have only because of his good providence.

Then we come to realise that God’s providence is an expression of his amazing love, working hand-in-hand with his eternal purpose, put in place before time began, to save us through the death of his Son ... that he has kept the world, and us, going; he keeps us alive, and continues to sustain the world, with this purpose: so that we have the opportunity to turn to him in repentance and faith and be saved. [We will look more at this in a later study.]

 

A. GOD’S HANDS ON THE NATURAL WORLD

Bible study: Read these passages and answer the questions:
Job 38 and 39. What aspects of the natural world does God mention his involvement with?

 

Psalm 104:10 – 30. What does the Psalm writer say God does?

 

Isaiah 40:26. Who sustains the stars?

Matthew 6:26 – 30.What does God do for the birds and flowers?

Acts 17:28: On whom is human life dependent every moment?

Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3 – who sustains and holds everything together?

In the above passages, and there are more like them, we see the goodness of God. God did not create the world only to abandon it. God did not create us to be independent. We need him not only for our origin, but also for our physical existence at every given moment. We are not here on earth alone: God is here with us. God is here active for us. God is here, holding the universe together. God is here, holding us together. Only God’s hand, only God’s word, stands between us and nothingness.

[This is true even for those who deny it, even for those who reject him, even for those who make him the target of their anger and mockery. Even for those who question his goodness.]

Discussion questions:
Think deeply about Matthew 5:45. What does this verse teach about the goodness and grace of God?

 

Read one of the Gospel narratives about the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Consider what people did to him. Yet he continued to give them life, to sustain their lives. How does this amazing providence impact your concept of his goodness and his grace?

 

 

B. GOD’S INTERFERENCE WITH THE LAWS OF NATURE

What we call ‘the laws of nature’ are laws that God has embedded into the physical creation. We speak, for example, of ‘the law of gravity’, and we all know that there is such a thing, for we see it action all the time. There are laws governing the macro universe out there, and there are laws governing the operation of the microscopic world within our cells. All of these laws are in God’s hands, and he has the authority and ability to interfere and intervene in the operation of all of them, if he so wills.

Bible study: How did God interfere with the laws of nature in these verses?
Genesis 21:1 & 2; Romans 4:19 – 21

Exodus 8:16 – 19

Exodus 9:2 – 7

Exodus 14:13, 21 – 22

Joshua 10:12 – 14

Mark 4:39

Mark 6:30 – 44

John 11:38 – 44

Discussion questions:
How does this hand-on, interference of God in the natural world help you to trust in his goodness?

 

How do these actions of God confirm Psalm 115:3 ‘Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him’?

 

C. GOD’S HAND ON THE NATIONS

Even the nations are not outside the boundary of God’s sovereign control and interference. Although they may think they are powerful and autonomous, God interferes with the nations, God has his hand on the nations, just as he has his hand on the natural world.

While to us the nations may seem at times extremely threatening, even holding the future of the world in their hands, to God the nations and their power are insignificant. He can bring them, and their leaders, down in a moment. He can use them as his instruments in his purposes and his judgement.

Bible study. What do these verses teach about God’s involvement with and use of the nations?
Genesis 11:5 – 11

Deuteronomy 2:30

Judges 2:10 – 23

 

Psalm 2:1 – 4

Psalm 22:28

Isaiah 5:25 – 30

Isaiah 10:5 – 12

Isaiah 40:15 – 17

Jeremiah 25:12 – 14

Acts 17:24 – 26

 

D. GOD’S HAND ON US AS INDIVIDUALS

Just as God’s hand is on the natural world, the laws of nature and the nations, he is also intimately involved in our individual lives. We do not always recognize this. Sometimes, looking back we can see how God’s hand was upon us. But God assures us that he is looking after us, that he has our back. Nothing is hid from him. Nothing happens to us outside of his control. Nothing happens that he cannot and does not work for our good. Such is his goodness towards us, and such is his power active for us.

Bible study: What do these verses say about God’s good hand upon us?
Genesis 45:4 – 8; 50:19, 20

 

Psalm 1:6

Psalm 23

Psalm 113:5 – 9

Jeremiah 1:5

Daniel 3:24 – 29

Romans 8:28

Romans 8:37 – 39

2Corinthians 12:7 – 10

Galatians 1:15, 16

Discussion questions:
Which of the above texts is most helpful in helping you understand God’s hand upon you for good? Explain why.

 

In these texts, what areas of our human lives are under the good hand of God?

 

REVIEW
God continues to be intimately involved with the world and with us. He is not remote. He is not uncaring. He cares very, very deeply. When he sees our suffering he grieves deeply. When he sees our inhumanity to each other, he grieves deeply. The Bible reports that he moves nature and he moves nations, for the good of his people. Most of what he does on our behalf we do not see, but he assures us that he is there looking out for us. We will never know the many things that he is doing for us all the time – even things that annoy us, like red traffic lights, for example, are there because of God’s goodness towards us. [See the next study.]

Review question:
During the next 24 hours, open your eyes, and make a list of every evidence of God’s hands-on, present goodness – whether in nature or in the nations or in your personal life. You might find it in unexpected places.