The Providence of God and 9/11: Personal and National Remembrance

yThe Providence of God and 9/11

Introduction

"Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?" (Amos 3:6). Shocking and sobering words from scripture on this day. People will squabble over how God accomplishes his will, the means or agents involved, or even use terms such as "secondary causation."  In the end God is Sovereign and is working out his perfect will for the nations. How does this effect me personally? At what level do I still exercise human responsibility? Nearly seventeen years ago my life changed.  I think this can be safely said of nearly every person, family, and country on the globe. I went from being a young seminary student recently married a few months earlier and training for local church ministry to a short time later becoming an Army Chaplain preparing for deployment. I find it helpful on a day like this to remind myself as one of God's children: He has everything under His control. Please consider the following verses as an overview of God's providence.  This basic outline appears in Not By Chance by Layton Talbert on pages 18-21. I've poured through this book and even taught through it in a local church.  It is a valuable tool in encouraging believers to trust in the sovereign God of creation. I ask you as you read through these scriptural passages to be comforted.  God has everything under control.  This is how he has revealed himself on the pages of scripture.

So before you read what follows, consider the following applications (only a sampling of many):

• God was in control and had a purpose for that flat tire
• God was in control and has a purpose for governmental leaders at every level
• God was in control and has a purpose for every war our country has been involved
• God was is control and has a purpose for your job, church, friends, neighbors, etc...
• God was in control and has a purpose for the one who was church disciplined
• God was in control and has a purpose for the false teacher and wayward child

If this is too much then read the Westminster Confession of Faith (Chapter 5, On Providence) or if your of a baptist persuasion like me then read the London Baptist Confession (Chapter 5, On Providence).  I think you'll find them nearly identical regardless of your denominational flavor. But I'd prefer you comfort your heart and mind with the direct verses of scripture.

God CAN Do Anything He Says.

• "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son." (Gen 18:14)
• "And the LORD said to Moses, Is the LORD's hand shortened? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not." (Num 11:23)
• "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted" (Job 42:2)
• "The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all" (Psa 103:19)
• Other verses teaching this doctrinal and practical truth (Dan 4:17; Jer 32:17, 27; Lk 1:37; and Eph 1:11).

God WILL Do Everything He Pleases.

• "Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases" (Psa 115:3)
• "Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." (Ps 135:6)

God CANNOT Be Thwarted in What He Purposes.

• "Behold, he taketh away, who can hinder him? who will say unto him, What does thou?" (Job 9:12)
• "If he cut off, and shut up, or gather together, then who can hinder him? (Job 11:10)
• "Behold, be breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. (Job 12:14)
• "There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD." (Prov 21:30)
• "Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?" (Eccl 7:13)
• Other verses teaching this truth: (Job 42:2; Isa 14:27, 43:13; Lam 3:37)

God WILL NOT Be Thwarted in What He Pleases.

• Verses teaching this truth (Isa 46:9-10; Dan 4:35; Rev 3:7)

God Rules Providentially over "Good" AND "Bad."

• See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. (Deut 32:39)
• The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. (1 Sam 2:6)
• The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. (1 Sam 2:7)
• What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? (Job 2:10)
• Other verses teaching this helpful truth (Eccl 7:14; Isa 35:6-7; Lam 3:38; Amos 3:6)

A Righteous Response to the Sovereign Providence of God.

• But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips. (Job 2:10)
• I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee....I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but not mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:2, 5-6).
• Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim 1:17)

Consider some other helpful titles on this issue

J.I. Packer. Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God. Foreward by Mark Dever (IVP Books, 2012).

John Piper and Justin Taylor. Suffering and the Sovereignty of God. (Crossway, 2006).

D. A. Carson. How Long O Lord? Reflections on Suffering and Evil. (2nd Ed) (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006).

Randy Alcorn. If God is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil. (Multnomah, 2009).

Read. Study. Take comfort in God's Word. Comments encouraged.