The Lord Will Provide

Movement #1: Introduction

AMG Bible Illustrations (Christ the Provider)

Once a great king visited a town to lay the foundation stone of a new hospital. Thousands of school children greeted him and sang for him. Soon after the king passed a group of children, a teacher saw a little girl crying. She asked, “Why are you crying? Did you not see the king?” The little girl sobbed out, “Yes, teacher, but the king did not see me.”

The young girl in this story recognized an incredible point. It is not good enough to see God, but the question is whether God truly sees us? This is the question that comes to mind when I think about God’s providence. I am completely convinced God can do whatsoever He desires. I am not skeptical of His power. Neither am I truly concerned with if God can do a thing. The question is always will God do the thing we wish Him to do.

Isn’t this what the father in Mark 9:24 was expressing? The father brought his son to the disciples, because he believed something could be done. However, the failure of the disciples led the father to question, not the possibility of his son’s deliverance, but the reality of it actually happening.

When we are faced with these kind of disappointments it causes us to question the providence of God. In a way we are asking, as the young girl in our story, “God do you see me?” I know you do, but the real question is do you see me enough to do something…to act? Is there a such thing as providence? Does God really show up and provide the things that are needed for His people? Does he see me enough to provide?

The term providence means to give what is needed or desired, especially support, food and sustenance. A deity's interaction with the world and people, often involving divine care, direction, or intervention (Factbook). Providence is God’s divine transfer into your life. The idea of God providing for His people is not foreign to mankind. In fact, the idea is present in nearly every ancient, pagan religion.

Mesopotamians believed the gods assembled each year to determine the next year’s fate for each person and each event (Lexham Bible Dictionary).

Egyptians believed the gods controlled nature and events. Rituals were performed to entice gods to provide the desired outcome (Lexham Bible Dictionary).

In Greek religion, Zeus and other gods of the pantheon were often depicted as providing for human beings and even the entire world (AYBD).

Plato believed that the divine being(s) care for both the small and great, and because all humans belong to the gods, they provide care to us all (AYBD).

The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Providence

Plato then proceeds to argue against what was later the Epicurean doctrine that the gods exist but exercise no care over human affairs (899D–905D), and in the process he produces all the arguments that would later be used to support the doctrine of divine providence. This is therefore a text of fundamental importance. Plato asserts that the divinity cares for things both small and great (901B) and that we are all the possessions of the gods (902B), in which they therefore have a proprietorial interest, but that we cannot expect our personal convenience always to be served by divine providence since we are only parts of a larger whole and Providence looks to the whole (903Bff.).

Only the Epicureans held a view that the gods created and escaped back into the sky, never to be concerned with the things that happen in the earth. Yet, they were in the minority.

The point is the Judeo-Christian view differs very little from pagan gods which we surmise was simply superstition. But if what we consider to be a distinction between the Judeo-Christian idea of providence differs from the other worldviews, we conclude that there is some unique factor in the way the Judeo-Christian’s God distributes His providence.

As recognized by Philo, the Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, the Hebrew God is personal. This is a distinguishing factor that separates the Judeo-Christian God from the ancient pagan gods. For, in the ancient religions, providence was distributed in a general way. Philo believed that providence comes from the personal God.

Movement #2: Abraham Finds God to Be Provider

Today, we read from Genesis 22:14. This passage is found in the context of Abraham’s testing. That is, God qualified Abraham through an experience. We have recently discussed the life of Job. And now, I am compelled to compare the life of the two characters—Abraham and Job. They both endured scrutiny, which proved their character. However, Abraham clearly demonstrated a response of faith when being tested.

There are three things you cannot do when faith is present:

He did not complain

He did not question

He did hesitate

God responded to Abraham’s obedience in a favorable way by providing a lamb. Ironically, Abraham knew God would provide the offering (Genesis 22:8). The number one thing faith produces is confidence. You will know you have faith when you have the confidence to do whatever you you believe God for.

Abraham’s faith created so much confidence that he did not hesitate, question, or complain against God’s bold demand. As a result, Abraham was able to declare his confidence on two separate occasions:

Genesis 22:5

Genesis 22:7-8

Abraham knew something about the providence of God. He knew that a person who lives in confident faith will see the hand of God in their life. However, one may ask did Abraham’s faith come from his knowledge of God’s eternal plan? That is, did Abraham view his right to live in confidence as a matter of general providence or personal providence? Does the Bible teach that we can personally petition God for providence and He will answer as we have requested?

Movement #3: Personal Providence

Everything we read within Scripture may suggest the Platonic view of general providence. Surely, the proper reading of the Bible will lead one to conclude that all providence is related to God’s will to use Israel for the coming of the Messiah. So, for instance, in Exodus 16:11-14, Israel was provided for because of the role they play in God’s eternal plan for creation. In short, one may argue God’s providence is attached to His divine will and plan. So, if the one requesting providence is not asking with the ultimate plan in mind, then their providence is not given.

However, the greatest proof of God’s personal providence is His general providence. Indeed, the coming of Jesus Christ is proof that God personally provides for individuals who place their trust in Him. We could prove this in several ways. However, the best way to demonstrate this point is by recognizing the biblical narrative itself. While some may suggest that the narrative view of Scripture avoids the personal relationship that God shares with each of us, I shall use it to justify the notion that God shares a personal relationship with modern men.

First,

John 3:16 (CSB)

16 For God loved [to regard with affection, have loyalty towards, to care for] the world [kosmos: the decorated arrangement; the thing God set in order] in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Most people have interpreted this verse to mean, God has loved human beings…that He gave His Son. However, the world kosmos is not synonymous with man. Rather, God loved and cared for His creation, which He determined was good from the very beginning. This means, creation is inherently good, though it faces the threat of death. Understand, God loved what He designed so much that He gave His Son for it. That is, God gave His Son out of His loyalty to the arranged universe, the system, which though estranged from God, yet, still valuable for God’s purpose.

Second, there was a kingdom planned for all of us, and if a kingdom has been prepared, there was an plan established to give us authority here on earth (see Matthew 25:31-40). As a result, the kingdom demonstrates a series of tangible and providential blessings for God’s kingdom children and stewards.

Matthew 14:13–21 (CSB)

13 When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns.

14 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

15 When evening came, the disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

17 “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to him.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said.

19 Then he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20 Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.

21 Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

The Providence of a nameless woman.

1 Kings 17:8–16 CSB

Then the word of the Lord came to him: “Get up, go to Zarephath that belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman who is a widow to provide for you there.” So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering wood. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup and let me drink.” As she went to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.” But she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I don’t have anything baked—only a handful of flour in the jar and a bit of oil in the jug. Just now, I am gathering a couple of sticks in order to go prepare it for myself and my son so we can eat it and die.” Then Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid; go and do as you have said. But first make me a small loaf from it and bring it out to me. Afterward, you may make some for yourself and your son, for this is what the Lord God of Israel says, ‘The flour jar will not become empty and the oil jug will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the surface of the land.’ ” So she proceeded to do according to the word of Elijah. Then the woman, Elijah, and her household ate for many days. The flour jar did not become empty, and the oil jug did not run dry, according to the word of the Lord he had spoken through Elijah.