What the Bible Teaches about the Providence of God
He’s in control of everything from the watermelon crop in south Texas to the price of gas in Omaha. Good economies and bad economies are under His control—along with everything else inside and outside the universe.
So let’s go back to the giant uncertainties we face—the frightening meltdown of the economy and the ongoing breakdown of our beloved nation. Is our great God in control of all of these things? Yes. Will He take care of us and our families regardless of what occurs? Yes. And how do we know that? Because of his promises—and He is the God who cannot lie. Therefore, His promises are certain. And we have hope as we face the future.
The providence of God simply means that God will provide; He will give you what you need when you need it. He will sustain you and keep you going. Ron Mehl used to say that God worked the night shift. What he meant by that was that grocery stores restock every twenty-four hours, and that restock takes place during the night shift. If you walk into a grocery store at two in the morning, it looks like mass chaos. Boxes litter the aisles, and employees run here and there, working feverishly to put product on the shelves. All of this goes on when 98 percent of the neighborhood is asleep. So even while you’re sleeping, someone is working to restock the store so that whatever you need in the morning will be here. Maybe at 9:30 p.m. aisle 12 was out of raisins. But at 7:00 the next morning the shelves on aisle 12 will be loaded with raisin boxes, all in neat order in a fully synchronized display. The raisins are ready and waiting before you ever need them.
God works the night shift and the day shift. He never sleeps. His eye is constantly upon you. He knows everything about you. He knows your worries, your pressures, and how much money (to the penny) that you will need to survive until the moment you die. And He will provide that money at exactly the right time.
Let me give you a verse that will Advil your anxiety.
Psalm 103:19 (NASB) states that . . .
The Lord has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
Now who sits on a throne? A king sits on a throne. God is King over everything—no exceptions. This great God is King who sits in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all. What is sovereignty? Sovereignty is control. Control of what?
Everything.
He’s in control of everything—even evil. He’s never the author of evil because His character is holy—absolutely pure and flawless. But He controls evil and uses evil for His purposes—for the good of His people and the glory of His name. I know that’s a stretch to think about, but the Bible strongly declares that He is in control of all things—including evil. Solomon put it like this:
The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil (Prov. 16:4 NASB).
How can God do that and still be good? I don’t know, and I can’t explain it. I can’t begin to understand how that works, and neither can you. But that is what the Bible teaches. Psalm 119:68 says that the Lord is good and does good. So this good and great God is the King of the entire world and all of the universes. He spoke them all into existence. He created them, and He owns them. And catch this---He keeps them going. He sustains everything within His creation and keeps it all together. Hebrews 1:3 (NASB) states that the Lord Jesus continuously “upholds all things by the word of His power.” That means He keeps it all going---including you and your family, regardless of the strength of the economy.
He is your King and He is your Banker. His providence will keep you provisioned and sustained.
that is what the Bible teaches. Psalm 119:68 says that the Lord is good and does good. So this good and great God is the King of the entire world and all of the universes. He spoke them all into existence. He created them, and He owns them. And catch this—He keeps them going. He sustains everything within His creation and keeps it all together. Hebrews 1:3 (NASB) states that the Lord Jesus continuously “upholds all things by the word of His power.” That means He keeps it all going—including you and your family, regardless of the strength of the economy.
He is your King and He is your Banker. His providence will keep you provisioned and sustained.
Steve Farrar is the author of many books, including the best-sellers Point Man, Finishing Strong, and Battle Ready: Be Strong and of Good Courage in These Troubled Times.
