God decrees concerning the universe were made in eternity past. There was never a time when He did not know that the universe would be and how it would be. But it was in the "fullness of time," that God began to execute his decrees. Yes, as we mentioned before, unlike earthly kings, the God executes His own decrees. Only He can do so. In fact, at the beginning, only He existed to do so! Thus the apostle Paul reminds us that it is God himself "who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will… to the praise of His own glory" (Eph 1:11, 14).

God’s decrees are carried out in two phases. The first work is creation, which involves make all things of nothing in the space of 6 days. We will comment more about creation when we look at the next question. The second work, which really begun the moment the first objects in this universe came into existence, is providence. The word "providence" comes from the Latin word providential, which means "foresight or forethought." We will say more about providence when we come to WLC 18; but for now we should note that providence does not refer to foreknowledge, but to God’s preservation and ordering of all things and motions in the universe from the moment of their existence.

Nevertheless, God’s creation and providence are in accordance to His "infallible foreknowledge." That is to say: God knew exactly what He would do, and He did exactly what He decreed to do so that there is absolutely nothing which happens in this world that happens outside his foreknowledge. Or in other words, nothing surprises God. There is no such thing as chance or true accidents in God’s world. "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD" says Solomon (Prov 16:33). In fact, God knows all things that will happen because He decreed all things that will happen!

Therefore, our catechism rightly states that God’s creation and providence are also in accordance to the "free and immutable counsel of His own will." That is to say, nothing influences God in His decisions and works, and nothing can change His decisions or how He carries out His decrees. In other words, God does not change his mind! Not even prayer changes God’s mind, for even our prayers are known and decreed by Him (Ps 139:4)!

Nevertheless, we must pray, for prayer, as we shall see is one of the secondary means which God has ordained to use in the outworking of his providence.

But does that doctrine not destroy free will, in that if God has determined all things, then all men will of necessity choose what God has determined they would choose. Well, no, we must insist that necessity does not mean compulsion. Man is responsible because he chooses according to the inclinations of His own heart. He is not compelled to choose in any way, though the fallen man and angels will choose evil because of a fallen nature, whereas a regenerate man will may choose to do good, and a glorified man or an elect angel will always choose good. Nevertheless, however man chooses, the purpose of God will be carried out: "There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand" (Prov 19:21).