Lesson 10 — God's Plan for the Needs of Man

1. 1 GOD'S PLAN FOR THE NEEDS OF MAN

PROVIDENCE: GOD’S PLAN FOR THE NEEDS OF MAN

The old theories that it is the will of God for man to be poverty stricken, helpless, defeated, crushed, and sorrowful; to suffer pain, sickness, and disease; and to live from hand to mouth in order to keep himself humble and godly is disproven by many Scriptures, as we shall see in this lesson. The following study of the Bible doctrine of providence will reveal that the truth is just the opposite of these demon-inspired doctrines which state that God does not care anything about the needs of man here and now. If there is any one doctrine that is misunderstood it is this one, and for that reason we shall be as clear as possible and cover as much ground in this lesson as space will permit.

The word “providence” means “foresight and forethought,” “the care of God over His creatures,” “divine superintendence,” or “direction for and over His creation.” Foresight and forethought on the part of anybody imply a future end, a goal, and a definite plan in attaining that end. All rational beings act with forethought and foresight. Therefore, providence is an attribute all such beings have by nature. All rational beings and all animals exercise care and make provision for their own offspring. How much more is it true of the infinite God to make provision for and exercise infinite care over all His creation.

Although all rational beings exercise providence according to their powers, the Word reaches its full significance only when it is applied to the infinite God. The providence of God is the care and government He exercises over all things He has created, in order that they may accomplish the ends for which they were created. It is the infinite care God takes of His universe, from the numbering of each hair on every head and the falling of each sparrow to the unfailing upholding of all the vast universes by His own power. It is the inherent nature of God which he exerts without intermission over all the works of His hands. It is the continual creation of God manifested in visible actions in the preservation and government of all things. It is that eternal power which is at work precluding all fortune, luck, and fortuitous accidents.

Providence may be considered as universal in reference to all things; special in reference to moral beings; and particular in reference to converted beings. Providence is the most comprehensive word in the language of theology. It is the background and the foundation of various doctrines of divine truth. It penetrates and fills the whole realm of relations between the creation and the Creator. It connects the unseen with the seen, the visible with the invisible, the creation with redemption, and personal salvation with the end of all things.

Providence, therefore, is that agency of God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit, by which through holy angels, redeemed men, and even demons and unsaved men, He makes all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, and by which He makes all events of the physical and moral universe fulfill the original purpose for which it was created.

As creation explains the existence of the universe, and as preservation explains the continuance of the universe forever, so providence explains the working out of the purpose of God in all things according to the eternal purpose. It is a positive agency in the working out of all events of the past and future to the desired end of God in all things. Providence is the actual control and care of God in the working out of the eternal plan for man. Since God’s plan is all-comprehensive, the providence of God must also be all-comprehensive, embracing within it all the details, small or great, of the events of life and working to the ultimate purpose of God in all things.

II. The Fivefold Sphere of Divine Providence

1. 1 THE MATERIAL UNIVERSE

   Certain Scriptures plainly state that God’s “kingdom ruleth over all” Psalms 103:19; that He “worketh all things after the counsel of his will” Ephesians 1:11; that He “doeth great things . . . which we cannot comprehend. For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain . . . the whirlwind . . . the cold . . . the fair weather . . . and the lightnings” Job 37:5–38; that “Whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places” Psalms 135:6-7; that He “maketh his sun to rise . . . and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” Matthew 5:45; and that He rules the sun, moon and stars, and all the Earth Job 37:6-24Job 38:4-40Psalms 19:1-6Psalms 68:9-13Psalms 104:10-30Psalms 107:1-43Psalms 136:4-9Jeremiah 10:13Jeremiah 31:35Acts 14:17.

1. 1 THE VEGETABLE AND PLANT WORLD

   God “causeth the grass to grow” Psalms 104:14. He clothes “the grass of the field” and the flowers Matthew 6:28-30; and causes the Earth to bring forth all kinds of vegetables, grains and fruits for the good of man and beast Genesis 1:29Genesis 2:16-17Leviticus 26:4-10Psalms 65:9-13Psalms 67:6Psalms 104:10-30.

1. 1 THE ANIMAL WORLD

   God’s providence is over the animal creation and it provides food for the birds, fish, and all animals Job 38:41Psalms 104:10-30Psalms 136:25Psalms 145:15-16Psalms 147:8-13Matthew 6:26-30. We are told that not one sparrow falls to the ground without God knowing it Matthew 10:29.

1. 1 THE RATIONAL WORLD OF SPIRIT-BEINGS

   The Scripture reveals many facts concerning spirit-beings including how God cares for the holy ones and punishes the rebels. (See Lesson Six for a study of spirit-beings and their relationship to God.)

1. 1 THE RATIONAL WORLD OF FLESH-BEINGS, MAN. The Bible reveals that God’s providence covers all nations, even to the individual life: “He changeth times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom to the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: he revealeth the deep and secret things; he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him . . . There is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known what shall come to pass . . . the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will . . . and He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” Daniel 2:21-30Daniel 4:17, 25.

The smallest detail of man’s life is known by God, and He helps those who will follow His plan for their lives Jeremiah 1:5Galatians 1:15-161 Samuel 16:1. The very hairs of the head are all numbered, and the sparrows are counted Matthew 10:29-31; so if this is true, certainly every child of God can trust the Heavenly Father with his present needs here and now and with the life that is to come.

The Bible records many instances of God’s providence in the lives of nations and individuals. His dealings with men extend to the acts and thoughts. He has prevented men from sinning when they would listen. He has permitted rebellious men to commit evil. He has worked out problems in the lives of those that served Him. He has protected them, and helped them in ways too numerous to mention. One reading of the Bible will reveal these facts to man; so if one wants the best from God, let him get on God’s side and quit cooperating with the devil and evil forces that try to hinder the will of God in all men.

The Scriptures are literally full of God’s dealings with men and of great promises concerning every known need for the human life here and now as well as for the life that is to come. Space will not permit quoting all the Scriptures for the needs of man, but we shall take space for a few facts to prove to you that God loves you and He has made provision for your every need.

III. God’s Free and Abundant Promises for the Needs of Man

Our purpose is to disprove the false and nonsensical theories in many modern churches that it is God’s will for His children to suffer disease, sickness, poverty, and lack every good thing in life so as to keep them humble and continue saved to the end.

All the promises of God reveal that He has provided for man here and now despite the curse. Every man can enjoy to the full all the benefits of these promises if he will but surrender his life to God and get the genuine new birth and live a godly life in this present world according to the gospel of Christ. Many of these things are even for the unsaved so as to prove to them that God provides for all creation in spite of their rebellion. The purpose of such goodness to the unsaved man is to lead him to repentance Romans 2:4 and preserve him until he either repents or rejects God for the last time and is cut off from all eternal hope in Hell. If many of these things are for the unsaved, certainly all of them are for the saved, so why should Christians worry about which ones are for which class? Do the wise thing—get right with God and stay right with Him so there will be no need to question what God desires for you to have and how He wants you to be blessed in this life. This fact will be forever settled.

God created man that he might be prosperous, healthy, successful, happy, wise, and blessed with all the good things that he could wish for in this life. He created all things and gave them all to man to use for his own good and pleasure. If it were sinful for man to have these things, God would not have promised them for man to enjoy. The sin of man was not in being prosperous, healthy, and happy, but it was in eating of the forbidden fruit. The world of abundance here and now proves that God wants man to have an abundance of all good things that are here. God made enough for all and every person can have all they want if they will follow certain laws to get what they need. What parent would not desire and will for all his children to have the best things of life and that in abundance? Is God less loving and good than man? Jesus said, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:7-11. Certainly God will give every child of His what he wants.

The people that backslide when prosperous, healthy, and happy would backslide anyway, so if a few do backslide when God blesses them with prosperity, let us not lose faith in the abundant love and providence of God. We must all learn to live Christian lives under all conditions of life. Some people backslide over food, clothes and other things of life that we all must have. Shall we quit eating? Shall we go naked? Shall we quit doing every good thing in life that men backslide over? Shall we conclude that such things are not the will of God just because a few people backslide? Then do not argue this way about prosperity, health, and the abundant blessings of life that God wants all His children to enjoy. Stay saved and use prosperity wisely to help others and God will bless you in greater abundance.

It is the trick of the devil to propagate false and slanderous ideas about God and His infinite Fatherhood in order to turn thousands of sane men away from such a God. If one will read the Bible he can see for himself that many of these false ideas of modern teachers are entirely unscriptural. The Scripture abundantly promises everything to man that is good and legitimate and that would be for his best enjoyment. Note the following plain Scriptures teaching that it is God’s will for man to be blessed and have many things that the average church member has been led to believe are not for the child of God:

1. 1 PROSPERITY: “Be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law . . . turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest . . . thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success” Joshua 1:5-9; “The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory” 1 Samuel 2:7-8; “And keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways . . . that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself” 1 Kings 2:3-4; “Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all” (1 Chron. 29:12); “The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him: but his power and his wrath is against them that forsake him” Ezra 8:22; “If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures” Job 36:11; “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper Psalms 1:1-3.

In Deuteronomy alone, according to the Fenton translation, the word “prosper” is used many times in place of “well with thee,” as in the King James Version Deuteronomy 5:16, 29Deuteronomy 6:3, 18Deuteronomy 12:28Deuteronomy 19:13. In Deut. 30:15 this translation reads, “I put before you today life, and prosperity, and sin, and death.” Thus prosperity is promised if men will quit the sin business. It is true sinners sometimes prosper, but they generally get rich through wrong dealings with their fellow men (Ps. 73).

Those who teach that the Christians should be poor, sickly, and suffering all their days would naturally argue that these passages are in the Old Testament and refer to those under the Law of Moses, but we reply, we are under a better covenant and have greater and better promises in the New Testament; so if these things were promised under the Old Covenant, they are for us in a greater way under the New Covenant. In 2 Cor. 3:6-15 Paul argues that the glory and blessings of the Old Covenant were not as great as those under the New Covenant; so if men could get prosperity under the Old, then it is certain they can get it under the New Covenant. In Hebrews Paul argues that the New Covenant is a “better testament . . . established upon better promises” Hebrews 7:22Hebrews 8:6 and that the law was a “shadow of good things to come” Hebrews 10:1; so if a mere shadow produced prosperity, how much more will the realities of the New Covenant do the same?

Apart from this argument there are plain promises in the New Testament concerning prosperity: “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” Mark 11:22-24; “Ask, and it shall be given you . . . For every one that asketh receiveth . . . If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children; how much more shall your Father, which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew 7:7-11; “For after all these things [good things of life] do the Gentiles seek: for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” Matthew 6:31-33; “He that soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully . . . God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8; “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19; “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” John 15:7, 16; “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 Jn. 2).

What could be more clear? How could God express His highest will any other way? Why should we limit God and His bountifulness to us just because we fear we may backslide? Why not make up our minds that we will watch any danger of riches and prosperity and act sensibly with what God blesses us with? Why not use it for God’s glory and the good of others and there will be no limitation concerning blessings?

1. 1 HEALING AND HEALTH

   There are scores of promises in both Testaments concerning the healing and health of God’s people: “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee” Exodus 15:26; “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty . . . Surely he shall deliver thee from the noisome pestilence . . . Thou shalt not be afraid of the pestilence that walketh in darkness . . . A thousand shall Fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee . . . There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling . . . With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation” (Ps. 91); “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” Psalms 103:3-5; “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” Isaiah 53:4-5; “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily” Isaiah 58:8.

The same truth of healing and health is found in the New Testament: “He cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities and bare our sickness” Matthew 8:16-17; “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” James 5:14-16; “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were [on Calvary] healed” 1 Peter 2:24; “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 Jn. 2).

Christ came “to destroy the works of the devil” 1 John 3:9 and to deliver “all that were oppressed by the devil” Acts 10:38. He came to do this not only for three years during His ministry, but forever. He commissioned the disciples to carry on His work that He began both to do and to teach Matthew 28:19-20Mark 16:15-20John 14:12-15Acts 1:1-2, 8. Early believers did carry on this work until they lost the faith James 5:14-16 Present Christians are to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints 2 Corinthians 10:4-6Ephesians 6:10-18.

There are many scores of Scriptures teaching healing and health for believers which we shall deal with in full in Lesson Fourteen, but these passages just quoted will suffice until then. No man with any faith in God and His Word can deny the fact that healing and health are both in the Bible; so do not be deceived by false teachings of men that teach to the contrary. If you want healing then believe the above quoted passages, and do not deny such a truth. Cooperate with God against the devil and do as God says and you will be healed.

1. 1 WANTS AND NEEDS

   All wants and needs are provided by God in the promises of the gospel through Christ. The common theory is that only the bare necessities will be met by God and that they are hard to get, but the Bible teaches that all man’s wants are abundantly provided for and that such supplies are easy to get by faith: “All things are possible to him that believeth” Mark 9:23; “Have faith in God; For verily l say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, what things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” Mark 11:22-24; “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father, and whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it . . . If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you . . . I have chosen you, and ordained you . . . that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, He may give it to you John 14:12-15John 15:7, 16John 16:23-26; “Whatsoever we ask, we receive of him” 1 John 3:21-221 John 5:14-15.

These passages are so plain in themselves that they need no interpretation. All that is needed is faith and practice. If we believe the Bible, then it is settled that we believe that we can get whatever we ask in the name of Jesus. If we do not believe it, there is no need to try to get anything that we ask. That is how simple the whole program is. If we ask and believe, we receive. If we ask and do not believe, or if we do not ask because we do not believe, we do not receive.

God’s plan for the needs of man becomes very clear when we accept at face value the many simple promises of Scripture. There are no limitations in the provision made. All limitations come from man’s unbelief and not from the plan itself. Because there are no limitations in the plan of God to get what we want as well as what we need, and because God gives “to all men liberally, and upbraideth not,” let us have faith, nothing wavering, as required in Jas. 1:5-8; Heb. 11:6; Mk. 11:22-24, and get what we want.

The doctrine of no want on the part of God’s people was taught in the Old Testament. David said, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want” Psalms 23:1-6. Again he said, “O fear the Lord, ye saints: for there is no want to them that fear him . . . they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing . . . Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart” Psalms 34:9-10Psalms 37:3-6. Again we are told, no good thing will he withhold from him that walketh uprightly” Psalms 84:11.

1. 1 BESIDES PROSPERITY, HEALING, HEALTH, AND ANYTHING THAT ONE SCANTS IN GENERAL, GOD HAS SPECIFIED MANY SCORES OF BENEFITS THAT MEN CAN HAVE IN THIS LIFE AND THE LIFE TO COME SUCH AS:

(1) Salvation from sin Matthew 1:21Ephesians 1:7Ephesians 2:8-91 John 1:7-9.

(2) The baptism in the Holy Ghost Matthew 3:11John 1:33Acts 1:4-5Acts 2:38-39.

(3) The kingdom of Heaven Matthew 5:3Matthew 13:43Matthew 25:34.

(4) Comfort Matthew 5:4John 14:16, 26.

(5) The Earth as an inheritance Matthew 5:5Psalms 37:9, 29.

(6) Filling of righteousness Matthew 5:61 John 2:291 John 3:7-101 John 5:1-4, 18.

(7) Mercy from God Matthew 5:7Romans 12:1Ephesians 2:41 Peter 1:3.

(8) Heart purity Matthew 5:8John 15:31 Peter 1:22-23.

(9) Sonship Matthew 5:9John 1:12Romans 8:14-16Galatians 3:26-28.

(10) Great reward in Heaven Matthew 5:11-12Romans 8:17-181 Peter 1:3-4.

(11) Answers to all prayers Matthew 6:4-6, 18Matthew 7:7-11Matthew 18:18-20Mark 11:22-24John 14:12-15John 15:7, 16John 16:23-261 John 3:21-221 John 5:14-15.

(12) Abundant provision for life here and now Matthew 6:25-33Mark 11:22-24John 14:12-15John 15:7, 16John 16:23-262 Corinthians 9:8-11Philippians 4:19.

(13) Infinite Fatherhood of God Matthew 6:33Matthew 7:7-11Matthew 10:29-32Romans 8:32.

(14) Eternal life John 3:16, 36John 5:24John 17:3Galatians 6:7-8.

(15) Reward for the smallest work done for others Matthew 10:39-42Matthew 16:27.

(16) Rest to the soul Matthew 11:28-30Romans 5:1-11Romans 8:1-13.

(17) Power with God to do all things: nothing shall be impossible to you Matthew 17:19-21Matthew 18:18-20Matthew 21:21-22Mark 9:23Mark 11:22-24Luke 24:49Acts 1:8.

(18) The presence of God Matthew 18:18-20Matthew 28:19-20.

(19) Miraculous signs and wonders Mark 16:15-20John 14:12-15Acts 1:8.

(20) Power over all the power of the devil Luke 10:19Luke 24:49Mark 16:15-20John 14:12-15John 15:7, 16John 16:23-26Acts 1:82 Corinthians 10:4-5Ephesians 6:10-18.

(21) Wisdom above all adversaries Luke 21:15James 1:5-8.

(22) Complete spiritual satisfaction Matthew 5:6John 4:13-14John 6:35-63.

(23) Resurrection of the body to immortality and eternal life John 5:28-29John 6:39-541 Corinthians 15:51-58Philippians 3:20-211 Thessalonians 4:13-17.

(24) Complete knowledge of the truth beyond all doubt John 7:16-17John 8:31-32John 14:16-17, 26John 15:26-27John 16:7-152 Timothy 2:152 Timothy 3:16-17.

(25) Rivers of living waters flowing out of the innermost being John 7:37-39Acts 2:1-11, 38Acts 5:32Ephesians 5:18Matthew 5:6.

(26) Freedom from darkness into complete light John 8:12, 31Acts 26:181 John 1:7-92 Corinthians 3:18Ephesians 4:17-21Ephesians 5:8-16.

(27) Complete freedom from bondage of sin, false doctrines, and demon powers John 8:31-32Romans 8:1-16Galatians 5:1-26.

(28) Security in (not out of) Christ John 8:31-32John 10:27-29John 15:1-7Romans 8:1-13Colossians 1:23Colossians 2:6-71 Thessalonians 3:8Hebrews 3:6, 12Hebrews 6:11-22Hebrews 10:23-39.

(29) Honor from God John 12:26John 14:12-15John 15:7, 16John 16:23-26.

(30) An eternal home in the New Jerusalem John 14:1-3Hebrews 13:14Revelation 3:12.

(31) Power to do the works of Christ (Jn. 14:12-15; Lk. 24:49; Acts 1:8; Mk. 16:15-20;

1 Cor. 12:4-11; 2 Cor. 10:4-5).

(32) Healing and sound health John 14:12-15John 15:7, 16John 16:23-26Mark 9:23Mark 11:22-24Romans 8:11Matthew 8:16-171 Peter 2:24Hebrews 11:6.

(33) The gifts of the Spirit 1 Corinthians 1:71 Corinthians 12:4-11, 311 Corinthians 14:1Romans 12:4-8.

(34) The fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-24.

(35) Power to exercise unlimited authority in this life in all the fullness of God according to the gospel (Lk. 24:49; Jn. 14:12-15; 15:7, 16; Mk. 9:23; 11:22-24; 16:15-20; Mt. 17:20; 21:21-22; Acts 1:8; 2:38-39, 43; 3:6; 4:10-16, 29-33; 5:1-16; 6:3-8; 8:5-20; 9:17-18, 32-43; 11:21; 13:6-12; 14:3, 8-20, 27; 15:4, 12; 16:16-34; 19:1-20; 20:9-12; 28:1-10; Rom. 1:11; 15:18-19, 29; 1 Cor. 1:7, 18-24; 2:1-5; 4:19-21; 5:1-5; 9:18; 12:1-11, 28-31; 13:1-3; 14:1-40; 16:10; 2 Cor. 3:6-18; 4:7; 5:20; 6:7; 8:7; 10:3-11; 12:9, 12; 13:4, 10; Gal. 3:3-5, 14; Eph. 1:19-20; 6:10-18; Phil. 4:9; Col. 1:11; 2:10; 1 Thess. 1:5; 2:13; 2 Thess. 1:11; 2:17; 1 Tim. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:6-8, 14; 2:21; 3:5; Titus 2:14; Heb. 2:3-4; 6:1-2; Jas. 2:18; 5-14-16; 2 Pet. 2:4; 3 Jn. 2; Jude 3, 20-24).

According to all the promises cited above and the many other Scriptures it can be seen that no believer is limited in getting for himself and others the provision for everything he needs in this life and in the life to come. The reason we have given so many Scriptures to prove each point is that we want you to realize that God has made provision for you in every way and to show you that there are hundreds of Scriptures to prove our claims. The only thing that will hinder you from getting what you want is your unbelief. There is no excuse for unbelief in view of the abundant promises given in these Scriptures and in view of the fact that early believers, not only the apostles but many ordinary believers, experienced and enjoyed these blessings. (See the passages in the last point, above.)

If early believers actually experienced and enjoyed these blessings, why cannot modern believers? Does not God still love us? Does He not have the power today? Do we not need these benefits? Are the promises still the same? Has God changed His program? Has He withdrawn His promises? Has He ceased to make provision for men today as He made in days gone by? Is He a respecter of persons? Where in Scripture does it say that these things are not for us today? Where does it say that God has changed His mind and has done away with His provision for all men who will dare believe?

There is not one hint in the Bible that God has done away with the blessings of the early believers. This is a theory of modern unbelieving men who would rather manufacture doctrines of unbelief to excuse their own weakness and lack of power than to face the plain facts and put forth some effort to meet the conditions that will enable them to attain to these benefits.

A man would have to be a rank unbeliever and a determined rebel against God and His Word to deny that man can get what he wants from God. If you want to take the side of those that reject God and His Word, then don’t complain because you are not getting all the good things in life to enjoy. Don’t complain because God never seems to answer your prayers. Don’t complain if God’s Word is not being fulfilled in you. God will not help you when you refuse help. He will not force you to be blessed against your will. You are a free moral agent, and God respects the sovereignty of your free choice. He expects you to use common intelligence and cooperate with Him instead of His enemies if you want the benefits for which Christ died and for which He has abundantly promised to those that will love and obey Him.

IV. Proof of Divine Providence

1. The Scriptures as we have seen above prove that divine providence is at work in all things and that it has been working in every age in the affairs of men. It was providence that originally brought all things into existence Isaiah 45:18Colossians 1:15-19; that provided redemption for the Fall Genesis 3:15Ephesians 1:1-11; that preserved the race at the flood Genesis 6:8–8; that dealt with men in each dispensation and gave them another chance to make good in every age; that called and used men in every age to carry out the divine plan; that revealed to men the eternal purpose as recorded in Scripture; that recorded the many promises of God’s provision for the life here and hereafter; that caused to be recorded the hundreds of concrete instances of God’s providential care over His people and the preservations of all His creation, that caused to be revealed the providential order of things in the universe, and that sent Christ to redeem all things back to God.

2. The continued preservation of all things from the Creation of man proves that God’s providence is working out all things after the counsel of His own will.

3. God’s love in creating and redeeming all things proves His desire to preserve creation and finally reconcile it to Himself. Parental affection moves parents to preserve their own offspring. The maker of anything naturally desires to preserve what he has made, and the fact that God is no exception guarantees God’s providence over all His works.

4. The divine perfection necessitates the divine will to preserve and govern all things for the best good of every being and of the universe. It is because of this divine attribute and because of the selfishness of some in the universe that there is a war on between them and God. God is obligated to preserve creation and finally rid it of all rebellion for the best good of all.

5. The prevalence of order in all things proves the divine providence. One can see fixed and eternal laws governing everything in creation, evidencing an all-wise ruler and preserver of all things.

6. History records and abounds with unlimited proof of the providence of God in all things. What has happened is not the result of living in a chance world. There always has been and always will be a supernatural power guiding the affairs and destinies of all creation according to a fixed plan.

7. Religion proves a divine providence, for men in all ages have found God through the exercise of religious faculties according to the revealed will of God in the Bible.

8. Common intelligence in all rational beings proves to them that there is a divine providence. There are many manifestations and evidences that prove this. It cannot be denied by sane men, for they experience it in many ways.

We can discover the purpose and final end of providence in many Scriptures. The purpose is to create a race of beings who should find their highest degree of happiness by being in the highest degree holy and who should, in proportion as they attain their highest holiness and happiness, thereby glorify their Creator. There are unconscious, unthinking and unmoral forms of creation, but the purpose and meaning of the universe cannot be found in these. These purposes can only be found in the highest, most rational, and most moral part of creation. The lower forms of life exist for the higher, and the material and animal for the moral and spiritual. God’s final end, then, is the highest development of character in free moral agents so that they can glorify Him in the highest degree and consecrate themselves to the highest and best good of their own being as well as of the universe Genesis 1:26-28Isaiah 43:7Isaiah 45:18Ephesians 1:12Colossians 1:15-22Revelation 4:9-11Revelation 5:11-14Revelation 7:10-12.

The following passages reveal that providence is working toward the final end and that there is a special providence for saints that is not enjoyed by sinners Psalms 34:7-10Psalms 37:1-12, 23Proverbs 3:6Matthew 6:33Romans 8:28. Saints so often take sickness, accidents, financial loss, and other adversities as manifestations of providence, but the fact is that these things are never the direct will of God and are never caused directly by God. They are caused by the evil forces that more or less control the world social order in this period of rebellion against God on the Earth.

The only glory God gets out of these things caused by the devil is in the deliverance of God’s people from the satanic forces that cause them. God’s will is that saints should take a stand against these evils and cooperate with Him to work out all these things for His glory. Thus God develops faith and patience in His people and gets the opportunity to demonstrate His power over His enemies. Saints must realize that they are now on enemy territory in a rebellious world. They must also realize that if rebels had no power to take any action in their realm that would affect God’s people for their hurt, then God could never take vengeance on them or defeat their common enemy and work out all things for their good and His glory. It is only when saints quit blaming God for everything that happens and instead have faith in Him for their deliverance, that God will be pleased with them. It is only when they recognize the works of Satan that they can take a stand against him and defeat him through the help of God.

As we have seen in Lesson Six, the devil and evil spirit-forces dominate the present social system with the exception of the children of God in the world. Satan is referred to as the prince of this world. God rules among men only in the sense of overruling the evil forces to carry out His plan on Earth in every age and with the ultimate purpose of ridding the Earth of all rebellion. Naturally, under such circumstances a number of events can happen on Earth that God does not directly prevent. He could prevent certain events, but His plan is to permit certain happenings on Earth in the training of His people who aspire to become the rulers over all things in the end.

To say that God directly willed the sin and fall of man—for Cain to slay Abel, for Enos to begin idolatry, for men to become wicked, for Noah to get drunk and the race to rebel in every dispensation until He had to bring judgment—is saying too much. To teach that God directly wills and is the cause of civil wars, strifes, sicknesses, diseases, accidents, curses, and calamities to come upon men is to be unscriptural to say the least. To blame God as being the cause of the millions of evil things that have happened to men through the ages is putting the blame on the wrong person.

God is absolutely holy and just in all His dealings. All of His acts are for the betterment of the race and for the good of each individual concerned. He has a plan for each person in life, and He tries to get each person to follow the highest will of God, but if some do not, and they get into trouble, then He is not to blame. Sin, stubbornness, and rebellion among free moral agents, and the conditions that sin has caused, plus the direct and untiring efforts of millions of evil spirits among men to get them to step aside from God’s highest will for their life, cause certain events that are beyond the control of God.

The Bible reveals hundreds of instances showing that men have deviated from truth and have transgressed some detail of God’s will and have broken some law. These transgressions have caused certain troubles to come to the individual, but not once does it reveal that God was directly to blame for any evil that came upon even one person. God has allowed Satan to test men in order to purify and refine them and to teach certain lessons in their training for the future life, but God has always delivered these men when the test was ended. God has always been the deliverer of His people in any trouble, regardless of the cause of the trouble. God is not the kind of person to deliberately bring afflictions upon His people just to have a chance to deliver them. God, however, takes pleasure in delivering His people from the hand of the enemy.

In other words, divine providence is not the cause of these troubles in life, but it is the deliverer from all these troubles. Providence works everything out for the best to all concerned. Only an infinite God could cause the fall of man, personal troubles, accidents, etc., to work for the good of the persons involved and for the glory of Himself. Providence so works out everything for God’s glory and for the good of men until all believers can conscientiously say, “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28-30.

We can truthfully say that providence does this in spite of the accident, the sin, the rebellion, or the trouble, not because of it. We have seen and will yet more fully see that sickness is not caused by God, but by the devil. It is God’s will to heal every sickness for His glory. He has made provision on Calvary for this purpose and has provided all means of healing for the sick one; so if one does not appropriate the benefits of Calvary and get healed, the failure is not God’s fault. The Bible is very clear that Christ “took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses” on the cross Matthew 8:16-171 Peter 2:24Isaiah 53:4-6, and all one must do to be healed is to have the same simple faith in healing in the atonement as one has for forgiveness in the atonement. Healing would come as simply and as quickly as forgiveness if the same simple faith would be exercised in sickness as with sins. Paul told the Corinthians that for failure to appropriate healing through the broken body and shed blood of Christ, “many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” That is, many have died when they should still have been alive 1 Corinthians 11:25-34. If God’s will were done on Earth as it is in Heaven, we would not have sin or sickness.

The same is true of accidents, financial losses, and other troubles among men. God desires to help man, and it is His highest will for man to prosper and be blessed with all good things of life, and in the final restitution of all things when Satan and all evil forces will be destroyed and Earth rid of all rebellion, there will not be any of these troubles. This demonstrates the highest will of God. It is only now by the permissive will of God that these things continue until the time of the final removal of them in the New Earth. God wants man now to learn that sin and rebellion does not pay, so that when all things are restored as before the Fall, man will not sin any more.

Individually, every man can get freedom from want, sickness, and many other effects of the Fall. Just what man can have is plainly revealed in the promises and the partial list of the benefits of the providence of God in Point III, above. Also the way to appropriate these benefits is made clear in these Scriptures. It can then be seen that God’s Universal Plan for Creation is that of abundant peace, love, goodness, faith, salvation, health, prosperity, and happiness here and now and of eternal life and untold blessings in the life to come.

Thus it is God’s desire that no man live in sin. To enable man to be forgiven and redeemed from the power, dominion, and life of sin He sent a Savior. His will is that no man should be sick. To accomplish this will He sent a Healer to deliver man from all his diseases and the oppression of the devil. His will is that every man should prosper in material things. To accomplish this purpose He created an abundance for all and gave man wisdom as to how to get his share of wealth without committing sin to get it. There are certain laws of prosperity which we shall note in future lessons, that if any man will follow them he can be prosperous. His will is that no man should have an accident. To accomplish this intention He gave man intelligence to prevent accidents, and if all would follow God’s way we would not have them. He has made special provision for His own people to be helped out of such troubles. He sends His angels to minister to them that shall be heirs of salvation Hebrews 1:14. He has promised protection to them from trouble, to help in time of trouble Psalms 34:7Psalms 91:1-12Romans 8:28.

Providence will make these benefits a reality in the lives of all, if all men will submit to the whole will of God and consecrate themselves to the highest good of being and of the universe. Men who seek special providence and desire to be special recipients of providence have certain conditions to meet as plainly laid down in Scripture, as we shall see in connection with the provisions promised. If man wants salvation from sin let him give up the sin business and consecrate his life wholly to God and receive the divine new birth in his life. Let him continue in righteousness and true holiness as he is saved Ephesians 4:22-24Galatians 5:242 Corinthians 5:17Colossians 2:6-71 John 1:7. If one wants healing let him appropriate the healing virtue of Calvary by faith in the atonement and God will supernaturally heal him. If one wants prosperity let him faithfully carry out the laws governing the divine supply. If he wants protection let him commit himself and all his ways to God and trust God daily, and He shall bring it to pass. How to attain to all known needs of life will be fully discussed in Lesson Twelve.

A father in his family is the sovereign and does as he pleases within certain limits. God also acts within definite limits. He made man a free moral agent. As a matter of power God might predetermine certain volitions that would necessitate certain acts of man, but then He would be forcing man to act like a mere machine without freedom of action of his own accord. The question is therefore not what God can do, but what God does do in carrying out His own plan which was made to deal with free moral agents instead of machines. God must of necessity limit Himself in His actions in dealing with finite creatures.

Scripture, reason, and experience unite in teaching that man is morally free, that he is a free agent, and that he is not a mere machine to be acted upon by some other free moral agent. God’s providential government is based upon the fact that He has to deal with free wills and rational beings like Himself. It consists in an intelligent revelation to man of his free moral agency and also of an administration by God in the affairs of men that would discourage sin and encourage holiness and conformity to the best state of being. God’s providence must work upon two kinds of wills: submissive wills and rebellious wills.

The child of God willingly submits to the whole will of God and receives many special manifestations of providence. This does not destroy his free moral agency in any sense. It merely gives him the super guidance that the fallen race should have. This kind of will has divinely produced thoughts and feelings, hence, divinely produced volitions. When such a free will chooses God and commits his life to Him and seeks for God to order his steps and choose for Him what is best, that act in itself involves the highest form and the very essence of moral freedom and moral agency.

In the human realm, a perplexed child does not lose free agency when he asks a wise and all-loving Father to decide a matter for him and to guide him in attaining a certain end. God will not, under the divinely appointed laws of moral government and free moral agency, work in and through the sinner and the moral rebel “to will and to do of his good pleasure” Philippians 2:132 Timothy 2:21. The sinner’s will is bent on evil and opposed to God’s divine will and His will does not work with, but against, a sinful, rebellious will. If this working of God against the sinful will of man would determine its volitions, that would destroy free moral agency. God’s providence then is only effectual through submissive, compliant wills.

Providence even works with men who are not entirely subject to God, for there are different degrees of opposition. Many testify of the acts of providence before the will was surrendered. Much of the training in “chosen vessels” was brought about by unconscious preparation. This was true of “Cyrus” Isaiah 45:1, 4; “Jeremiah” Jeremiah 1:5; “Pharaoh” Romans 9:17; and “Paul” Galatians 1:15-16. Before every man’s conversion the Holy Spirit seeks every possible way to guide him to a higher plane of life—to a life that is prepared and planned by God for him Romans 2:4.

The free will of man is the only barrier that will ever stand in the way of his best interests. Divine providence, then, is limited and conditioned by a sinful free will. The only way God could prevent free moral agents from sin, accidents, rebellions, and other free acts of the will was by not creating them. For God to place one free will under irresistible divine restraint and compulsion would destroy free moral agency. If this were done, then not only all sin, but all virtue and holiness as attributes of the free will would be destroyed; for only such beings as can put forth free and holy volitions can put forth sinful volitions. The sinful and fallen race needs providence to guide them back to God and to develop holy character and the highest moral service for the good of being and of the universe.

Many happenings that befall God’s children occur through the sins of others, the rebellion of men against God, the conditions caused by reaping what is sown, or by some demon power causing them to act contrary to the will of God. That good men suffer at the hands of evil men is a well-known fact. That Satan causes many of God’s people to suffer is plainly stated in many Scriptures, as we have seen in Lesson Six. God may or may not prevent certain disasters that befall His people. His decision depends upon the time, place, and conditions of the times in which the people live.

Sometimes this is the only way God can work out His plan in certain individuals or classes of people. Sometimes God has overruled the workings of evil men against His children so that they were not destroyed. This was true of Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Paul, Peter, and others. On the other hand God has permitted certain ones to be destroyed so as to further his purpose. This is true of Abel, Jesus, Stephen, James, and others. The child of God must say with Paul if ever he is faced with like circumstances “Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” It was necessary that Christ should die for the sins of the world. Such was necessary in the working out of the divine plan. In the war on saints as in the early Church or in certain other periods of time, the cause of God was advanced much faster and the power of God was made more manifest by such war than if things had gone smoothly for the cause of God. Jesus taught that “except a grain of wheat Fall into the ground and die it abideth alone, but if it dies it bringeth forth much fruit” John 12:24. Again, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church” has been a true saying in many periods of history.

The purpose and final end of providence is to get all men to see their own need of guidance and care from an all-wise infinite Heavenly Father and to consecrate themselves to the same end to which God is consecrated—the highest good of being and of the universe. It is by God’s longsuffering, His patience, mercy and goodness even to stubborn rebels that many free moral agents are becoming broken and willing to depend upon God and His infinite goodness and power to take them safely to the desired haven in the life to come. They are becoming willing to trust God as the only one who cares and provides for their every need in this life. They are learning by obedient and voluntary surrender to the will of God in all things that their lives are being enriched and blessed with those things that are worthy of their own creative makeup. They are learning that the highest glory of the creature is to live for the good of all concerned and to worship and serve God in true humility and harmony.

VI. Interpreting Divine Providence

To what extent should we interpret providence in view of the studies stated above? Experience and observation warn us against haste and over-confidence in our interpretations of happenings in life. Some people pride themselves on being able to interpret daily events in the light of God’s dealings with others, but the same people are generally perplexed when adversities of life come to them. If certain ills come to bad men they are quick to assert that it is the judgment of God. If the same things happen to a good man they are quick to lay all blame on the devil. If some man’s business burns, such is interpreted as God’s judgment because of ill-gotten gains provided he makes no show of piety, but if he is pious it is blamed on the devil.

Often human interpretations fail; so it would be wise of every man not to interpret events that happen in the lives of others, but to concentrate upon knowing the will of God and recognizing God’s dealings with himself. After all, we do not know the life of any one person outside of ourselves, and sometimes it is a problem to understand ourselves. Since we have committed our lives to God we must conclude that only those things will happen to us that are the best for us. If it is an event of some work of the devil in life—some sickness, pain, failure, or some other tribulation that the Bible definitely reveals as not being the will of God for us to endure—then we must recognize it as an attack of the devil and resist him by faith and get the victory over it by cooperation with God, who will give the victory.

Not one of God’s children should have to suffer the things which Christ died to take from him in this life. No one has to give in to any work of the devil that the promises of God cover. Let this one thing be settled once and forever—every one can get exactly what God has promised if he will believe the promise and recognize the source of the opposition and the source of the help in getting the fulfillment of the Word of God in the individual life.

Everything God has promised a believer must maintain that it is for him, and he is going to have it by the grace of God, and in answer to prayer and faith. One must resist with the whole heart any and all opposition that is met in attaining to these benefits. All opposition is from the devil, and believers are told not to give place to the devil Ephesians 4:27, and to put on the whole armor of God in order to overcome the devil Ephesians 6:10-182 Corinthians 10:4-5.

Demon powers constantly make war on the saints to get them to accept false ideas about God, to get them to take sickness, pain, and things that are contrary to God’s will as the very will of God. They work under the guise of being messengers of God to get saints to accept their own work as the work of God. Saints by the multiplied thousands are deceived into believing they have to take sickness, pain, financial loss and all kinds of trouble as from God. They take such happenings as the chastening of God, while in reality they are vicious attacks of demons.

We conclude, therefore, that there is a divine providence supplying the needs of all creation, but that the believers who surrender to God and conform to the Bible have a special providence in their lives. They should get all of the good things in life that sinners get plus an abundance of what sinners cannot hope to receive until they surrender to God and conform to His will. No child of God should be without the same material benefits, health and happiness that sinners enjoy. They should have all of these things if they belong to God, for they are in the right position with Him to receive them. Every Christian should be ashamed of himself and repent of his unbelief and lack of trust in God for these blessings. He should draw near to God and let God work out all these advantages in his life.