Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Almighty Providence



“Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.” –Genesis 45:5

            “For as much as it has pleased our Almighty Father in his all wise providence to take out of the world the soul of the departed….”  Providence.  It is not a word that makes the prideful feel warm and fuzzy inside, nor is it a concept that can be rationalized by intellectual persons.  Providence is a call to submission, to faith, to acceptance that there is a higher design.  That there is a wiser being, a great power.  It’s not scriptural, the committal statements, but the sentiments are echoed and reinforced throughout the Word of God.  The sentiments that every human being on this Earth lives under the providence of God.  The question is not if we are under his providence, rather, do we accept it?  Do we accept the will of God in our life? 
           
The examples in scripture of those who accepted the providence of God in their life is numerous, as is examples of those who did not.  King Saul is a good example of both.  He began as a humble, contrite man who accepted that the providence of God called him from the least of the tribes to rule God’s people.  However, pride took root in his heart and he later rejected God’s will in his life, and sought to fulfill his own.  Moses, he was a man born into horror, I am sure the people of Israel doubted God, given their circumstances: poverty, slavery, and the irrational genocide of every new born male baby.  Moses was brought into this, but saved by providence, and found himself in Pharaoh’s household.  However, he left the pleasure of Egypt and chose to suffer affliction with the people of God.  He followed the will of God for his life, rather than his own.  Then there’s Joseph.  If ever there was a man who had liberty to question the will of God in his life it would be Joseph.  Sold into slavery by his own blood kin, promoted, then falsely accused and imprisoned, only to be exalted to Pharaoh’s right hand.  In all of the ups and downs of his life he never doubted or questioned the will of God in his life, but accepted it whole heartily.  He believed that God had providence, and he accepted that providence.  This is evident in the statement to his unrighteous brothers: “Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.”  Looking back, he was able to see the hand of God all through his life; he could see it because he was trusting in it, believing in it, and following the will of God.  Peace, clarity, and contentment does not come through force, but through yielding; yielding and accepting the will of God in your life.  Whether it is good or bad, God’s providence is ultimately the best thing for you and faith in that fundamental truth is critical for life and life eternal.
           

When its high tide, the sky is blue, sun shining; it is easy to praise God.  It is easy to rejoice, and to accept the will of God in our life.  However, when things are tough, when there is turmoil and unrest; doubting and stress, then it is not so easy.  We as people have a hard time with yielding and accepting the will of God towards us when it is contrary to our will.  We have a difficult time believing in his providence when it contradicts our own design.  This is somewhat understandable, especially in terrible tragedy.  However, there is no way through the difficult times, unless we first accept and yield to his providence.  Unless we “trust in the Lord with all our heart.”  In doing so, someday, one day, we will be able to reach the other side of the storm and look back to see that the providence of God is perfect, and his will for us enlightenedThat he is a good and Almighty Father to his children.  

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