“You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20).
After the death of Jacob, Joseph’s brothers became afraid that Joseph would now wreak vengeance on them for what they had done to him years before. Joseph reassured them that all had been forgiven, and pointed out to them that in the providence of God, their evil acts had been turned for a good purpose.
The book of Genesis shows us that man’s sin does not thwart God’s purposes. God created this world with a positive destiny and fully intends to bring that destiny to pass. God is able to redeem humanity and work in such a way that positive results come even from evil actions. The fall of Adam did not change His purpose, nor was He thwarted by the universal wickedness of humanity before the Flood.
The doctrine of divine providence comes from the Latin pro video and means that God literally oversees everything. This means more than that God foresees all things and knows everything before it happens. It means that God sees everything in order to superintend everything. Everything in space and time is fully before the view and administration of God.
The fact that God sees everything we do is an uncomfortable truth. We want God to notice us when we are in distress, but we do not want Him watching when we sin. In the Bible, however, the doctrine of providence focuses on the fact that God sees everything for the purpose of working all things for our good.
God’s government of history cannot be resisted or overthrown. Men may rebel against God, as Psalm 2 points out, but God simply laughs at them. No matter how much evil they plan, the rulers of the Sons of Adam cannot bring them to pass against the King whom God has established.
Men intend many things for evil, but God works all things together for good. Joseph’s brothers sought to eliminate him, but without realizing it they were moving God’s plan of redemption along. Satan thought he had defeated God when he had Jesus crucified, but He that sits in the heavens laughed: Satan had merely sealed his own doom. The same is true when Satan attacks the kingdom and its citizens today.
Providence is an easily discerned “hindsight” doctrine. Recount by prayer and praise God’s faithful providential care over you as you reflect upon His ordering of your life’s affairs.
