Unexpected Events and God's Will in Providence
The concept of divine providence asserts that God actively preserves and governs all things, even those events that appear to human observers as unexpected or coincidental [1]. This governance extends to the natural world, animal life, the affairs of nations, and the lives of individuals [1].
Biblical texts frequently illustrate God's providential care. Psalm 145:9 states that God is good to all and has compassion on all he has made, while Psalm 36:6 notes that God preserves both man and beast [3]. Jesus himself taught that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the Father's will, and that the very hairs of one's head are numbered, indicating a meticulous level of divine oversight [1, 3]. The book of Proverbs explicitly states, "A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord" (Proverbs 16:33 BBE) [2]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist commentator, elaborates on this, explaining that divine Providence directs even those things that seem "perfectly casual and fortuitous" to humans. one tradition argues that nothing occurs by chance or blind fortune, but everything by God's will and counsel [7].
This understanding of providence means that what humans perceive as "chance" or "coincidence" is, in God's plan, a specific arrangement [4]. For instance, the parable of the Good Samaritan mentions a priest coming down the road "by coincidence" (Luke 10:31). However, Easton's Bible Dictionary clarifies that this was not random but part of God's plan, a "conjunction of two things... previously constituted a pair in the providence of God" [4]. Similarly, Josephus, in Antiquities of the Jews, reflects on how divine providence ensured the escape of Jehoshaphat and the death of Ahab, demonstrating God's distinction between them despite Ahab's attempt to manipulate events [6].
God's providence is not limited to general oversight but includes specific actions such as preserving, providing for, protecting, delivering, and leading his people [3]. For example, God's providence was at work when a messenger arrived to inform Saul of a Philistine invasion, diverting him from capturing David (1 Samuel 23:27) [9]. Adam Clarke, a Methodist commentator, highlights this as an instance where God had "already prepared the invasion" and kept Saul unaware of David's proximity, demonstrating precise timing in divine intervention [9]. Another example is seen in the calling of Gideon, where the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, endowing him with wisdom and energy for his task, and the miracle of the fleece provided assurance of his divine call (Judges 6:34) [11].
Even in situations of apparent human agency or decision-making, God's providence is at work. Proverbs 16:9 states, "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." This suggests that while individuals make plans, God ultimately guides the outcome [3]. The book of Daniel provides a powerful illustration of God's sovereignty over human rulers, stating that God "removes kings and sets up kings" (Daniel 2:21) and that "the Most High rules the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom he will" (Daniel 4:25) [1]. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar's idol, God's providence inclined the king to bring them before him rather than execute them immediately, allowing their testimony to be heard [10].
The concept of predestination is closely related to providence, referring to God's eternal purpose, particularly concerning salvation [5]. This doctrine asserts that God's "determinate purpose" governs all events, though it is acknowledged as a difficult and mysterious aspect of God's nature [5]. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that even Solomon, despite his wisdom, found it difficult to fully comprehend the reasons behind God's various providences, underscoring the depth and inscrutability of divine workings [8].
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; ”
- Proverbs “Proverbs 16:33 (BBE) — A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Providence of God, The — Is his care over his works -- Ps 145:9. Is exercised in Preserving his creatures. -- Ne 9:6; Ps 36:6; Mt 10:29. Providing for his creatures. -- Ps 104:27,28; 136:25; 147:9; Mt 6:26. The special preservation of saints. -- Ps 37:28; 91:11; Mt 10:30. Prospering saints. -- Ge 24:48,56. Protecting saints. -- Ps 91:4; 140:7. Delivering saints. -- Ps 91:3; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 31:5. Leading saints. -- De 8:2,15; Isa 63:12. Bringing His words to pass. -- Nu 26:65; Jos 21:45; Lu 21:32,33. Ordering the ways of men. -- Pr 16:9; 19”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Chance — (Luke 10:31). "It was not by chance that the priest came down by that road at that time, but by a specific arrangement and in exact fulfilment of a plan; not the plan of the priest, nor the plan of the wounded traveller, but the plan of God. By coincidence (Gr. sungkuria) the priest came down, that is, by the conjunction of two things, in fact, which were previously constituted a pair in the providence of God. In the result they fell together according to the omniscient Designer's plan. This is the true theory of the divine government." Compare the meeting o”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Predestination — This word is properly used only with reference to God's plan or purpose of salvation. The Greek word rendered "predestinate" is found only in these six passages, Acts 4:28; Rom. 8:29, 30; 1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 1:5, 11; and in all of them it has the same meaning. They teach that the eternal, sovereign, immutable, and unconditional decree or "determinate purpose" of God governs all events. This doctrine of predestination or election is beset with many difficulties. It belongs to the "secret things" of God. But if we take the revealed word of God as our guid”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, CHAPTER 15, section 19: that although Ahab hoped Jehoshaphat would be mistaken for him, and run the only risk of being slain in the battle, yet he was entirely disappointed, while still the escape of the good man Jehoshaphat, and the slaughter of the bad man Ahab, demonstrated the great distinction that Divine providence made betwixt them.] 44 (return) [ We have here a very wise reflection of Josephus about Divine Providence, and what is derived from it, prophecy, and the inevitable certainty of its accomplishment; and that when wicked men think they ”
- 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”
- Ecclesiastes (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Ecclesiastes 9:1: For all this I considered in mine heart,.... What goes before, in the latter end of the preceding chapter, concerning the various providences of God, the difficulty of finding out the reasons of them, and the fruitlessness of attempting it; and also what follows, the work of Providence: Solomon gave his mind unto, attended it with great application, and strictly considered and examined it, in order to find it out, but could not; and if he could not, no other man could. And he had a good intention in all; his views were, even to declare all this; for the end of ”
- 1 Samuel (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Samuel 23:27: There came a messenger - See the providence of God exerted for the salvation of David's life! David and his men are almost surrounded by Saul and his army, and on the point of being taken, when a messenger arrives and informs Saul that the Philistines had invaded the land! But behold the workings of Providence! God had already prepared the invasion of the land by the Philistines, and kept Saul ignorant how much David was in his power; but as his advanced guards and scouts must have discovered him in a very short time, the messenger arrives just at the point of ti”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 3:13: bring--Instead of commanding their immediate execution, as in the case of the Magi (Dan 2:12), Providence inclined him to command the recusants to be brought before him, so that their noble "testimony" for God might be given before the world powers "against them" (Mat 10:18), to the edification of the Church in all ages.”
- Judges (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Judges 6:34: the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon--Called in this sudden emergency into the public service of his country, he was supernaturally endowed with wisdom and energy commensurate with the magnitude of the danger and the difficulties of his position. His summons to war was enthusiastically obeyed by all the neighboring tribes. On the eve of a perilous enterprise, he sought to fortify his mind with a fresh assurance of a divine call to the responsible office. The miracle of the fleece was a very remarkable one--especially, considering the copious dews th”