What is providence?
This is the Bible’s teaching that God continues to maintain and direct the universe which He created.
So the doctrines of creation and providence are closely connected.
Yes, precisely.
Do some Christians tear these apart?
There are no Christians who do this, but the deists certainly did so. They agreed that God created the world, but they denied that He takes any interest in it now.
What are the different parts of God’s providence?
This has usually been divided up into three parts, preservation, government, and concurrence.
What is preservation?
This is the idea that God, having created the world, now holds it in existence. “O LORD, You preserve man and beast.” (Psalm 36:6)
What is government?
This is the idea that God orchestrates every single event in the universe such that they all work together to achieve His purpose. God has a goal, and all history is directed towards that divine end.
What is concurrence?
This is the idea that behind and beneath every single event in this universe God is acting.
Why is it so important to believe that God causes and directs every event in this universe?
Because if God does not cause it, then He does not control it.
Where does the Bible teach this doctrine?
As is usual, the Bible teaches this truth by a story.
What story teaches us about God’s providence over His creation?
The story of Esther.
How does this story teach us about God’s providence?
First, it is remarkable that the word “God” does not once appear in this entire story, and yet the action of God directing and controlling all the events in it is so obvious.