God's Providence in Human Choices and Outcomes
God's Providence in Human Choices and Outcomes
The concept of God's providence is deeply rooted in biblical teachings, encompassing God's foresight, preservation, and governance of all things through secondary causes [1]. This doctrine asserts that God's providence extends to the natural world, the brute creation, and human affairs, influencing the outcomes of events and the choices made by individuals.
The biblical basis for this concept is evident in various passages. For instance, Proverbs 16:33 states, "A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord" [3]. This verse highlights the idea that even seemingly random events are under God's control. Similarly, Proverbs 21:1 notes that "the king's heart is a stream of water that the Lord directs wherever he pleases," illustrating God's sovereignty over human decisions [1].
Theological traditions have grappled with understanding the relationship between God's providence and human choices. The Nonconformist/Puritan tradition, represented by Matthew Henry, emphasizes that God's providence directs events that appear casual or fortuitous to humans. Henry comments on Proverbs 16:33, stating that "nothing comes to pass by chance, nor is an event determined by a blind fortune, but every thing by the will and counsel of God" [5].
In the Baptist/Reformed tradition, John Gill's commentary on Ephesians 1:5 underscores that predestination includes both election and reprobation, and extends to all affairs and occurrences in the world. Gill notes that "providence, or the dispensations of providence, are no other than the execution of divine predestination" [6]. This perspective highlights the intricate connection between God's sovereignty and human outcomes.
The doctrine of providence also intersects with the concept of God's decrees. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, God's decrees are "his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be" [4]. This understanding emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's providence, encompassing all aspects of existence.
The interplay between God's providence and human choices is complex. While human decisions are influenced by various factors, the biblical account suggests that God's providence plays a significant role in shaping outcomes. As Romans 11:29 states, "God's selection and his mercies may not be changed" [2]. This verse underscores the idea that God's purposes are not thwarted by human choices.
Sources
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Providence — Literally means foresight, but is generally used to denote God's preserving and governing all things by means of second causes (Ps. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God's providence extends to the natural world (Ps. 104:14; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Ps. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26; 10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chr. 16:31; Ps. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21; 4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Ps. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Ps. 33:14, 15; ”
- Romans “Romans 11:29 (BBE) — Because God's selection and his mercies may not be changed.”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 16:33 (BBE) — A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Decrees of God — "The decrees of God are his eternal, unchangeable, holy, wise, and sovereign purpose, comprehending at once all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions, successions, and relations, and determining their certain futurition. The several contents of this one eternal purpose are, because of the limitation of our faculties, necessarily conceived of by us in partial aspects, and in logical relations, and are therefore styled Decrees." The decree being the act of an infinite, absolute, eternal, unchangeable, and sovereign Person, compre”
- Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:33: Note, 1. The divine Providence orders and directs those things which to us are perfectly casual and fortuitous. Nothing comes to pass by chance, nor is an event determined by a blind fortune, but every thing by the will and counsel of God. What man has neither eye nor hand in God is intimately concerned in. 2. When solemn appeals are made to Providence by the casting of lots, for the deciding of that matter of moment which could not otherwise be at all, or not so well, decided, God must be eyed in it, by prayer, that it may be disposed aright (Give a perfect lo”
- Ephesians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ephesians 1:5: Having predestinated us,.... Predestination, taken in a large sense, includes both election and reprobation, and even reaches to all affairs and occurrences in the world; to the persons, lives, and circumstances of men; to all mercies, temporal or spiritual; and to all afflictions, whether in love or in wrath: and indeed providence, or the dispensations of providence, are no other than the execution of divine predestination; but here it is the same with election, and is concerned with the same persons, and has regard to a special blessing, the elect are appointed to”