God’s Providence, Part 3

It’s time for Claudia’s final post on God’s providence. Hasn’t it been encouraging and instructive? I pray that as you read her article today, you will continue meditating on the truth that God is in control. Of the big and little, important and minute. And most of all, He is working His will in and through each one of us.

I was 21 when I was finally eligible to vote in a presidential election. I felt awfully grown up as I marked, folded, and stuck my paper ballot in the box.

My guy lost. In a landslide. I’ve voted for losers (so to speak) many times since, but I still show up and do the grown-up thing: vote. Sometimes it’s hard to take the campaign carnival seriously, but I try, because I know that even if it’s for the least worst choice, my vote matters. It’s my little bit of say-so in a sinking society.

Whether my side wins or loses (especially in the losing), I remind myself that in every election, God casts the deciding vote. Nobody can move into an office at City Hall, a desk in the Senate, or into the White House without God’s permission. From property assessor to president, our authorities are put in place by His providence.

Human government was God’s idea, so He gets to make the rules. And He manipulates the players as He chooses.

He makes nations great, and destroys them; He enlarges nations, and guides them. (Job 12:23)

God decides who leads the nations and when they take charge.

The Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses. (Dan. 4:25)

For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the judge: He puts down one, and sets up another. (Psa. 75:6-7)

For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (Rom. 13:1)

God directs the direction of governments. His providence “is the hand of God is in the glove of human events. . . . the unseen rudder on the ship of state” (J. Vernon McGee).

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

(Prov. 21:1)

But what about wicked rulers? There are such creatures, and they make decisions that damage and destroy. If God’s in charge, why does He let them get away with it? Our God always accomplishes what He pleases. Often he restrains evil. Sometimes He lets it continue for a while. And He is powerful enough to bring good even from the worst men can do.

An Egyptian ruler enslaved and unjustly imprisoned Joseph. Years later, Joseph’s wise leadership saved multitudes, including his own family, from starvation. When another Pharoah ordered the murder of baby boys, God floated Moses into the arms of a princess and on into the palace, where that baby grew up to be the emancipator of Israel. Pilate the politician broke laws, compromised his principles, and violated his conscience. He did what was expedient, not what was right, because he feared people rather than God. (Sound familiar?) But God used his treacherous choices to bring about Jesus’ crucifixion.

Those wicked rulers played the role of cruel despots, but actually were simply actors in God’s drama of preservation, deliverance, and salvation. That’s the way God’s providence works.

Think about that when you panic over the bad behavior of your elected officials. Think about that when

contentious conversations and negative news rattle through your head and steal your sleep. Think about that when you feel anxious, helpless, and vulnerable. There is a God in heaven working out His plan for your good.

So are we supposed to just occupy a pew and passively watch our national foundations crumble? Do we stay aloof because we believe God is working all things together for our good? Of course not.

We pray, as we’re commanded, “for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence” (1 Tim. 2:2). We stand up and speak up, as long as we’re speaking the truth in love. We sprinkle preserving salt wherever we go and shine our lights into dark corners.

And we do what Daniel did: live with integrity in a pagan land. As a responsible citizen and loyal subject of a heathen ruler, Daniel was compliant until the day the king’s command contradicted the law of God. That’s the line he wouldn’t cross—and it led him to the threshold of a lions’ den.

God delivered Daniel. He may not deliver us. We may be martyrs who die on the hill of faith. But don’t stake yourself to die on an anthill of political opinion. Not every issue is a Biblical one. Not every ordinance you dislike is one that contradicts God’s Word. Until you absolutely must choose to obey God rather than man (and we each decide that for ourselves where that line is), here’s His will for you.

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. (Rom. 13:1)

Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work. (Titus 3:1)

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors. (1 Pet. 2:13-14)

We’re subject to them, but they’re subject to God. As God’s ministers, His servants (Rom. 13:6), they will give account for how they used their power over us. Some of them will have a lot to answer for.

In our democratic republic, our leaders also answer to us. So stand up and speak up in defense of Biblical precepts (not your own preferences). And always, always do the grown-up thing: vote.