Providence is Personal

Over the last couple months we have been airing our “Providence” series, where Alistair considered the life of Joseph. As Alistair mentioned, our comprehension of Joseph and his story is often constrained by the techni-colored coat, a few jealous brothers and the persistent adulteress, Potiphar’s wife.

However, when we dig deeper into the story of Joseph we realize that (like every Bible “story”) it occurred in real time and within a real context. While we can see God’s providential hand throughout Joseph’s individual life, we can also see how the life of Joseph fits into God’s providential and sovereign plan for all of creation. The story of Joseph is just one part of God’s plan to redeem a people for himself and to provide salvation for them.

At one point, Joseph tells his brothers, “What you meant for evil, God intended for good.” This thesis of Joseph’s life is the thesis of God and His story of redemption. Ultimately, the story of Joseph is the story of God: a God who works all things out for our spiritual good and His glory. God’s providence was not constrained by one life, namely Joseph’s. On the contrary, even as Joseph lay dying, we see God still at work and still forming a people for himself.

As Alistair mentioned, the details of Joseph’s life foreshadow Christ. When we fast forward we see one even greater than Joseph who when he was malnourished and alone, was tempted beyond the point any of us have ever been tempted; yet this man resisted. When we fast forward we see a King, not on an earthly throne, but on a heavenly throne with ALL authority given to him. When we fast forward we see one who suffered severely beyond what any of us will ever suffer and one who was deeply betrayed. Yet all of the temptation, suffering and betrayal Christ underwent were part of God’s providential plan.

Jesus Christ laid down his life and suffered, so that we might have life in Him. He did this so that we might have a Savior who can sympathize with our weaknesses, while remaining triumphant over them.

As we think about God’s providence in our own life, we must first go to the cross where Jesus paid it all and rose victorious over sin. When we begin to view our trials, temptation, loss, pain, hurt, heartache and suffering in light of Christ’s work on the cross, we realize that if we are Christians, our mistakes have been nailed to the cross, our sufferings will one day come to an end and all wrong will be made right.

Our personal circumstances, how deeply painful they maybe, are not out of the reach of God. He has a plan and a purpose for every trial, temptation, mistake, success, transition, heartache, joy, hurt, etc. that we face. While we may not know God’s purpose in the midst of such circumstances, we can rest assured on His promises.

He has promised in scripture that:

1. He is faithful
2. He loves us
3. He is on the throne with complete control and power
4. He will complete what He has started
5. We will be like Christ.

We are not guaranteed all the answers to life. Joseph did not have all the answers. Often times, once a stage of life has passed, God graciously gives us a retrospective glimpse into what He was doing. But He is not obligated to do so. However, if we profess to be followers of Christ, we are obligated to trust and obey Him. That’s what Joseph did and that’s what the incarnated Christ did.

Joseph trusted God to be who He said He was, and He wholeheartedly obeyed His commands, even to the point of prison. Jesus Christ trusted God the Father by living a life of full obedience and perfection, even to the point of death on a cross.

Purchase "Providence", 2 volume CD set »