The WESTMINSTER LARGER Catechism
Q 18.
What are God's works of providence?A. God's works of providence are His most holy,1 wise,2 and powerful preserving3 and governing4 all His creatures; ordering them, and all their actions,5 to His own glory.6
Proofs
1
Ps 145:17, 2 Ps 104:24; Isa 28:29, 3 Heb 1:3, 4 Ps 103:19, 5 Mt 10:29-31; Gen 45:7,Comments
The word ‘providence’ come from the Latin providentia which means "foresight or forethought." But it does not speak of God’s foreknowledge as the etymology of the term may suggest. Rather, is speaks about God bringing to pass all things in creation that he had determined by decree to bring to pass. That is to say, the work of creation answers to God’s eternal decree to bring into existence (out of nothing) all things in this universe. Providence, on the other hand, answers to God’s eternal decree by which He did "unchangeably foreordained whatsoever comes to pass in time" (WLC 12).
The Holy Scripture teaches us about God sovereign providence from various angles.
Firstly, it affirms that all things in this universe continue to exist (or have being) because they are upheld by God in Christ, "by the word of His power" (Heb 1:3).
Secondly, it affirms that all things live and move by God’s power: "For in him [i.e. God] we live, and move, and have our being" (Acts 17:28a).
Thirdly, it declare that "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose" (Rom 8:28). Obviously for all things to work for the good of those who love God, God must be in sovereign control over all things that happen in this world no matter how insignificant it may appear in our sight.
Fourthly, God’s work of providence at the micro level is illustrated in numerous ways. For example, we are taught that not a sparrow will fall to the ground without the heavenly Father’s ‘permission’ (Mt 10:29); and, in fact, not one of our hairs can grow or drop without His bringing it to pass, for even our hair are all numbered (Mt 10:30). Nothing happens by chance. Even such as appears to be random in our perception are purposefully brought about by God’s providence, for as Solomon declares: "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD" (Prov 16:33).
Fifthly and finally, the Scripture also illustrate God’s providence at a macro level. For example, we are told that the patriarch Joseph was delivered into Egypt through the wicked acts of his brothers, in order that he might be instrumental in saving alive the fledging church under-age during a great famine that God was going to bring about (Gen 45:7). Indeed, even the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ was by God’s providence, for we are told that He was "delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23).
Of course, as we have noted earlier, though the acts are ordained by God and brought to pass by His power, God cannot be regarded as the author of sin, as the actions are sinful only because they are taken by morally responsible free agents making choices according to their inclinations. Thus the Scripture asserts and our Catechism affirms that God providence is holy and wise. The Psalmist says: "The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works" (Ps 145:17). And likewise the prophet Isaiah declares that "the LORD of hosts,… is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (Is 28:29).