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Recently, one of our college students, Jenny, e mailed us about her ministry team. She said, "I am so pumped!" Brett Favre after he throws a touchdown raises his arms, then pumps his fist. He's pumped. When we see the providence of God we ought to be so pumped!
Providence. I love that word, that truth! The providence of God leaves me pumped. Let me explain why.
The prophet Ezekiel, while in Babylonian captivity, wrote in Ezekiel chapter one of wheels perpendicular constantly moving and covered with eyes always moving. Those wheels illustrate God's constant working in the world, His power and glory, His presence in all places, His purpose for man, His providence.
The world was full of terror and change, but God was still sovereign. Is the world still full of terror? Is life full of changes? Is God still in control? Even when things appear hopeless we need to recognize the providence of God.
God knew His plan for Jeremiah even before he was born.
Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
God told Jeremiah,
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Where was Jeremiah when Ezekiel wrote chapters 1-24, the chapters dealing with the coming destruction of Jerusalem? We read in Jeremiah 32 that Jeremiah sat in prison. Some wonderful plan! The year 587 B.C., one year before Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Jeremiah sat in prison (37:21). King Zedekiah didn't like Jeremiah's messages. Apparently, Jeremiah experienced what many preachers of the gospel all too frequently faced-- rejection and animosity.
Perhaps the imprisonment of the prophet was God's way of protecting Jeremiah from his enemies and providing food for him during the terrible siege. Could that be providence at work?
God's Word came to Jeremiah while he sat in jail telling him to do a most illogical thing: Buy a piece of the fallen battlefield! God told Jeremiah that his cousin Hanamel was coming with a deceptive offer to sell property in their hometown of Anathoth. Jeremiah probably should have refused the offer. After all, the field was already in the hands of the Babylonians, Jeremiah was in prison, and the future of the nation was non-existent. Of what use would a field be to Jeremiah? He wasn't going to live long enough to use it. He would be a laughingstock!
What was Jeremiah's response?
Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! (Jeremiah was pumped!) behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
Why was Jeremiah so moved? He saw what God saw before.
Jeremiah 32:15 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. A remnant would return!!
Jeremiah 32:17-19
17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
He remembered that Jehovah God was creator great in power with authority–stretched out arm.
He remember that nothing is to hard for Him. God is great in counsel, mighty in work. God's eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men. Because God is all powerful and all wise and all knowing, He can and will work His plan.
Learn to recognize the providence of God!!
Your faith will grow. Your confidence will rise. Your joy will be renewed.
He leadeth me! O blessed thought! O words with heav'nly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.
Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur nor repine; content, whatever lot I see, since 'tis my God that leadeth me!
Chorus: He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by His own hand He leadeth me; His faithful foll'wer I would be, for by His hand He leadeth me.(1)
God leads! Why? God sees before!
What is providence?
Pro Before Video See
Recognizing God's leading through what God sees before.
Thumb through your Bible. Better yet, develop a study.
Study the providence of God throughout the Scripture!
Abraham called God Jehovah Jireh– God will provide.
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
Joseph experienced first hand through the disappointments and setbacks of life God's perfect plan of providence.
Genesis 50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
You meant it for evil, God meant it for good....
Sometimes God's providence is difficult!
C.S. Lewis: "We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be."
Moses life demonstrates God's providence. Who would have thought that Pharaoh's daughter would be the one to rescue the young child? God even used Moses stupidity to prepare for His perfect plan. Read Exodus 7-11. Who hardened Pharoah's heart?
William S. Plumer said this:
God's providence is powerful.... It is so powerful that it even brings good out of evil; making bad men and fallen angels to serve God's designs, while they intend no such thing; giving the greatest efficiency to causes apparently the most contemptible; and infallibly securing the very best ends. ... All conspiracies and combinations against providence are vain.... He who rejects the mystery of providence must ever be in perplexity.
Numerous evidences of the providence of God will leap off the page as you read through Numbers and Deuteronomy, Joshua and Judges.
Ruth just happened onto the field of Boaz? I don't think so! The steps of a good man (and woman) are ordered by the Lord.
The book of Esther illustrates providence. Mordecai declared the providence of God in Esther 4:14, "For such a time as this." God had a plan! Providence!
In the New Testament Paul experienced the providence of God through a conflict.
Paul in Acts 15 ran into a contention with his best friend and ministry partner, Barnabas. Why?
Providence. God would double the impact of their ministry by going separate ways. Now we can see that. At the time, I'm sure, neither Paul nor Barnabas could have seen it.
Later we find Paul in Roman prison witnessing to the guard, who providentially were able to spread the gospel throughout Europe and the known world.
Paul was able to write:
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
When we play the game called Monopoly we run into those "Chance" cards. Those cards always present an element of uncertainty. What's going to come about by "chance?"
However, in the Christian life, nothing happens by chance.
Each believer participates in God's providential plan...
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Learn to recognize the providence of God.
Learn to appreciate the providence of God. (Get Pumped with God's providence!)
Study the providence of God in the Bible! Keep a list of God's providential leading in your life.
Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty.
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, Bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more.
Feed me till I want no more. (William Williams)
(1) Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1995. Be decisive. An Old testament study. (Je 32:1). Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.
(1) Osbeck, K. W. 1990. Amazing grace : 366 inspiring hymn stories for daily devotions. Includes indexes. (Page 22). Kregel Publications: Grand Rapids, Mich. |
