Providence is God’s control of and care for His Creation (1). Because He is good, His providence is good, and life is good. When bad things happen, we may benefit by trusting Him more or by coming to know Him. By faith and through peace and joy in our hearts, we will come to understand that even the hard things He allows are ultimately for our good.
Concerning providence, Hebrews 1:3 says,”[He] upholds all things by the word of His power. A few translations say “powerful word”, but this is a poor translation and an interpretation. “Word of His power” is an unusual phrase in English. It could be rendered wordful power or word’s power. The emphasis is on power, pointing to His being rather than what He does, like speak. This idea agrees with Colossians 1:17 which says, “in Him all things hold together.” His very person holds the universe together, which He brings about by His Word (“For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9).
As to His acts by which He cares for and controls, they are “holy, wise, and powerful”. Holy works are totally separate, above, and righteous, and therefore inscrutable compared to our acts and reasonings. His acts are wise in that they apply His infinite knowledge in ways that are always to His glory and the benefit of His people. These acts are all powerful, and therefore never diminished or thwarted. Everyone says they want to be on the winning team. The perfection and excellence of His acts means that He always wins and anyone under His protection, even when the short-term pitfalls seem to say otherwise.
In question #16, I like how the answer twice points to how faith is involved in obedience. Adam and Eve could not fully understand death since they had never seen it. They had to trust God that it was bad and that eating would bring a bad result. Secondly, “the child-like dependence on God for all things” is a trust that God knows best and will provides for all of our needs. Salvation has always been by grace through faith. Jesus adds the payment for sins and power to overcome sin that Adam and Eve or anyone else could not provide. That Adam and Eve could not be perfect demonstrates that we all need God in Jesus to save our souls. I am glad He saved mine.
Q15: What are God’s works of providence?
A: God’s works of providence are the holy, wise, and powerful acts by which he preserves and governs all his creatures, and all their actions.
Q16: What special act of providence did God exercise towards man when he was first created?
A: When God had created man, he made a covenant with him that he should live and enjoy all the benefits of creation, but that he would die if he forsook the obedience that comes from faith. God commanded him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and thus forsake his child-like dependence upon God for all things.
- “preserves and governs”, as the catechism answer says
CreatorWorship 