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God’s general providence

God sustains the created order

Ge 8:22 A promise given by God to all peoples.

See also Ne 9:6; Is 40:26; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3

All life is dependent on God

1 Timothy 6:13 ESV

I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession,

See also 1 Sa 1:27; Job 1:21; Ps 127:3; Ec 3:2; Ec 9:9; Eze 24:16; Da 5:26; Mt 4:4; Mt 10:29

God controls the elements

Psalm 147:8 ESV

He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills.

See also Job 37:1–13; Ps 29:3–9; Ps 135:6–7; Mt 5:45; Ac 17:25–28

God provides for the created world

Psalm 145:15–16 ESV

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

See also Job 38:39–41; Ps 104:27–28; Ps 136:25; Ps 147:9; Lk 12:6–7; Ac 14:17; 1 Ti 6:17

God’s providence through miraculous means

Job 5:9–10 God’s regular activity in providing for human beings is regarded as being miraculous in just the same way as special demonstrations of his power.

See also Ex 16:11–14; Nu 16:28–35; Jdg 15:18–19; 1 Ki 17:5–6; 2 Ki 4:42–44

God’s providence in human history

God’s control of human intentions

Habakkuk 1:12 ESV

Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.

See also 1 Ki 22:19–20; 2 Ki 19:27–28; Is 10:15; Hab 1:6

God’s providential actions on behalf of individuals

Romans 8:28 ESV

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

See also Job 1:12; Job 2:6; Ps 107:12–14; Ps 107:24–29; Ps 107:33–38; Is 38:17

God’s saving purposes fulfilled through providence

Genesis 50:20 ESV

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

See also Ge 22:13; Ge 45:5–8; 2 Ch 36:22–23; Ezr 6:14; Is 44:28–45:1; Ac 2:23; Ac 4:27–28; Ga 4:4–5

God’s providence prepares for the completion of his ultimate purpose

God is forming a people for himself

Revelation 21:3 ESV

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

See also Ex 6:7; Je 31:33; 2 Co 6:16; Eph 2:14–16; 1 Pe 1:3–5; Re 7:9

God will bring all things under Jesus Christ’s authority

Ephesians 1:9–10 ESV

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

See also Is 45:22–23; Is 66:23; 1 Co 15:24–26; Php 2:10–11; Col 1:20; Re 11:15

God will complete his purpose for creation

Romans 8:20–21 ESV

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

See also Is 65:17; Is 66:22; 2 Pe 3:13; Re 21:1

God directs all things for his glory

Romans 11:36 ESV

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

See also Ps 46:10; Ro 9:23; Ro 11:36; Eph 1:4–6; Eph 1:11–12