A Study of the Doctrine of Providence Pt 18 Problems of Providence

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God’s providence is supreme, and therefore sovereign … He is the sole arbiter of events and destines … So that it is as clear that God rules alone as that he rules at all, that he rules everywhere as that he rules anywhere; that he governs all agents, all causes, all events, as that he governs any of them. To surrender in whole or in part his control of the universe would be to admit that he was not God. —William S. Plumer
Where does sin fit in?
If God is working in and through the free acts of men, directing all events in order to accomplish his will, where does sin fit into the picture?
Does it fit anywhere, or is sin outside the realm of God’s providential control?
What part does Satan play on the stage of providence?
How does God providentially maneuver through all this murky terrain of free will, sinful impulse, human wickedness, and Satan’s prompting without becoming sullied Himself?

What Does the Bible Say?

One of the best contexts from which to address the problem of God’s providence is the Book of Job. When “bad” things happen, is it God or man or Satan?

Who’s Responsible for This?

Who is responsible for what happened to Job? God or Satan?
Job 1:11 ESV
11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.”
Whose hand is being described in v. 11? God’s hand
Job 1:12 ESV
12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.

A Closer Look at a Key Verse

Job 2:3 is a crucial verse to understanding the book of Job, and to understanding our problem of providence.
Let’s dissect the terms of the text that are central to our problem.
Job 2:3 (ESV)
3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you INCITED me against him to destroy him without reason.”
"Incited” (סות)- means “to allure, entice, incite, provoke.” It is used 18x’s in the OT in different senses.
Only once does anyone ever do this to God.
Job 2:3 (ESV)
although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
Only here, in Job 2:3, is God the object of this verb. By God’s own admission, Satan incited/provoked/motivated/persuaded Him against Job to swallow him up undeservedly.
God Himself admits that He has been “moved” by Satan to do this to Job. To do what?
Job 2:3 (ESV)
you incited me against him to DESTROY him without reason.”
“Destroy” (בַלְּע֥)- is a graphic word that literally means “to swallow up” or “to gulp down.”
God admits that what He did to Job was not unlike the earth swallowing up houses or the fish swallowing up Jonah.
Why did God say He was moved to do this? To what end? For what cause?
Job 2:3 (ESV)
you incited me against him to destroy him WITHOUT REASON.”
“Without Reason” (חִנָּֽם)- can mean either “without compensation” or “without cause, undeservedly.”
Most instructive is this Messianic reference:
Psalm 69:4 ESV
4 More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore?
This prophetic reference to Messiah’s suffering focuses on the single event of history that puts all our suffering, even Job’s, into proper perspective!
Was there any other suffering that was more undeserved than that of the spotless, holy, harmless Lamb of God?
How should Jesus’ suffering cause us to gauge our own suffering?
We must always gauge our attitude toward our own suffering not by the experiences of other by by the experiences of Christ!

Back to the Question

Who did all this to Job? God or Satan? The answer is YES.
Job 1:11–12 ESV
11 But stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and he will curse you to your face.” 12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
God placed Job in Satan’s hand or power.
Then who is responsible for all this? God.
Job 2:3 ESV
3 And the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason.”
Job 42:11 ESV
11 Then came to him all his brothers and sisters and all who had known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him. And each of them gave him a piece of money and a ring of gold.
This is the answer Scripture gives us. And it is the answer that Job and his friends never doubted throughout the entire book. Why do we?
When we say that God only “permitted” everything that happened to Job, we must remember who started it all in the first place?
God spoke first, not Satan. God first brought up Job’s name and character, not Satan. Knowing exactly what would happen and how it would end, God not only permitted Job’s circumstances but also initiated the whole process of Job’s suffering.

Principles of Providence

1. God is NOT responsible for my (or anyone else’s) wrong actions or choices.

Free will exists and is corrupted by man’s fallen sinful nature! There is such a thing as human responsibility.

2. God IS, by His own admission, responsible for what happens to me, even when it involves sinful actions and choices of others.

The “free acts of men” in our definition of providence. That is providence. Remember Joseph, remember Job, remember Jesus.

3. God is the ultimate cause of every moral right (for no moral right can originate from fallen man) but the cause of no moral wrong (for no moral wrong can originate from an unchangeably holy God).

Yet He sovereignly controls and orchestrates both to accomplish His purposes. How does He do this?
Genesis 6:5 ESV
5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Genesis 8:21 ESV
21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Before and after the flood- intention of man’s heart is evil! Only evil continually!
It’s like God opens the lid on this bottomless pit of human depravity just so far- filtering what escapes. Allowing only that which accomplishes His will, and restraining the lion’s share that does not.
Given the depth of man’s depravity, the wonder is not that God permits harm and difficulty and even devastation to befall us; the wonder is that He prevents and restrains so much!

But Why?

What is the one question that Job kept asking over and over again in the midst of his suffering?
Job 31:35–37 ESV
35 Oh, that I had one to hear me! (Here is my signature! Let the Almighty answer me!) Oh, that I had the indictment written by my adversary! 36 Surely I would carry it on my shoulder; I would bind it on me as a crown; 37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.
Explain what Job is saying- charging against God. Why are you doing this to me God? I don’t deserve it!
What answer did God never give Job?
What answer did God give Job?
Job 38:1–3 ESV
1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.
God demands an answer from Job!
Job 38:4–6 ESV
4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone,
These kinds of questions go on for four full chapters. God relentlessly asks Job question after question after question!
Job 38:8 ESV
8 “Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb,
Job 38:12 ESV
12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,
Job 38:16 ESV
16 “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?
Job 38:17–18 ESV
17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.
God goes on relentlessly asking Job questions- about light and darkness, about the number of his days, about snow and hail, about wind and rain, about constellations and clouds, about thunder and lightning. Then God goes on for an entire chapter about the wisdom and creativity and power necessary to create and sustain the animal kingdom.
God is asking Job two very important questions in this passage.
Job who are you? Who are you Job? Did you lay the foundation of the earth? Did you determine its boundaries? Or its foundations?
Job Who am I? I am the one there in the beginning before the foundations of the earth. I am the one who determined its measurements and sunk its bases. I laid the cornerstone of the world.
Job 40:1–2 ESV
1 And the Lord said to Job: 2 “Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it.”
Job then tries to respond...
Job 40:3–5 ESV
3 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
And God is having none of it!
Job 40:6–9 ESV
6 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 7 “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 8 Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? 9 Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his?
Job 40:10–14 ESV
10 “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. 11 Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. 12 Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. 13 Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. 14 Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you.
Who are you Job? And more importantly Who am I?
Then God goes into a discussion about Behemoth and Leviathan. And the point? Job if you cannot even control two of the creatures in the world, what makes you think you are in a position to judge the one who providentially rules over all things?
Job 42:1–2 ESV
1 Then Job answered the Lord and said: 2 “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:3–6 ESV
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4 ‘Hear, and I will speak; I will question you, and you make it known to me.’ 5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; 6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”
Job has come almost full circle in his answers to God.
Hesitation
Job 9:14 ESV
14 How then can I answer him, choosing my words with him?
Confidence
Job 13:22 ESV
22 Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, and you reply to me.
Boldness
Job 31:37 ESV
37 I would give him an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him.
Now to humble inability
Job 40:4–5 ESV
4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. 5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but I will proceed no further.”
Eccles 3.7 says there is a time to keep silent and a time to speak. This is definitely a time to keep silent. Job has nothing to say, and that is a good thing. In saying nothing Job is revealing that his heart is on the way to genuine contrition deeply felt.
Romans 3:19 ESV
19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
When God’s Word gets a hold of your heart and the HS convicts you about your wrong heart. When you are fortunate enough to get an accurate glimpse of yourself in God’s mirror and you see your heart for what it really is- one is left speechless. That is what I really look like, oh…
And that is a good thing. Believer, if you are sitting here today and God has caused your mouth to be stopped take courage. Do not leave here depressed. Do not leave here thinking that God is so upset or disappointed with you that you must live out the rest of your days in misery for what you have done. Instead, leave here awed by the grace of your Lord.
The question is not why? It’s who? Who am I? And Who is God?
God is the only one who can do all these things. The very idea of trying to comprehend the amount of wisdom and power necessary to order the universe itself is staggering! Yet God in all of His wisdom and strength can and did. And on top of that the ordering of the world was just a glimpse of God’s power and wisdom- for His power and wisdom are infinite.
How dare we question a God who is this wise and this powerful.
The God who is wise and powerful enough to create has to be wise and powerful enough to manage my life too.
How could I possibly do a better job at managing my own life than God?
The question is not why, it’s who? Who created the earth, and the sea, and the dawn? God did.
The only appropriate response to our sovereign and wise God is submission—not blind, servile submission but trusting, loving submission because He has earned our trust and love by a thousand mercies.
“Job needs to learn that the issue is not ethical, the question is not why, and the need is not understanding. The issue is spiritual, the question is who, and the need is trust.” —Layton Talbort

A Look in the Mirror

1. Is it correct to view God as doing “bad” things (i.e., not moral evil but undesirable experiences) to us?

We need to adopt God’s thoughts on the matter. We must think God’s thoughts after Him. It is not that God “did” this to Job. Rather, He entrusted this experience to Job, just as God entrusted to Joseph the terribly trying circumstances that he experienced.
We have been given by God the stories of Job and Joseph. We might not know the outcome of the circumstances that God has placed in our lives. But, we have seen God providentially work through the lives of Job and Joseph and we know that we can trust Him completely!
James 5:11 ESV
11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
John 11:5–6 ESV
5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
Think about these verse! Because Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus- therefore, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he STAYED TWO DAYS LONGER!
Jesus’ delay, and the suffering it caused, was in fact a manifestation of His love for them. It was for their ultimate good and His own glory!
Just imagine how Mary and Martha would have felt in the midst of the trial?
John 11:21 ESV
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:32 ESV
32 Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
God why did you let this happen? How could you be late? God is never, NEVER, late!
“I adore and kiss the providence of my Lord, who knoweth well what is mot expedient for me, and for you, and for your children.” —Samuel Rutherford
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace:
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face. —William Cowper

2. Was it “bad” for God to take away everything Job had “without cause”? Was it right?

What foundational truth about God must we bear in mind?
God is incapable of sin.
Was it unfair for God to take away all that Job had?
What was the cause of Job’s suffering? Providence.
What was the cause of Job’s prosperity?
Yes, God allowed Job to suffer even though he had not done anything to deserve it. But neither had Job done anything to deserve the giving of those blessings in the first place. Nor have we!
Job 1:21 ESV
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job 2:10 ESV
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women would speak. Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.
So what is the key to reacting with the right spirit when suffering comes our way? Cultivate a right sense of humility for all of God’s continuous, undeserved goodness while things are going well. Nothing good we have is deserved in the first place, and anything God does with it is always right.

3. What is the biblical measure of suffering that helps us put all our difficulties, no matter how severe, into proper perspective?

Christ suffered under the providential hand of God infinitely more than we could ever endure. If you want to put your sufferings into perspective go to the cross!
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