Before You Scroll Through X or Fox News: Understanding God's Providence When Sin and Evil Enter the Picture

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When we speak about the providence of God, the question concerning sin and evil also enters the picture: “Do these also come by the hand of God?” 

• We must speak carefully and reverently here. 
• God created all things good, but all things are not good any more.
• Some of God’s good creation has lost their excellence at the fall of Satan and of man. 

This evil in and around us makes the life of God’s children difficult. 

• Do we believe that this is also in God’s control? 
• Or does Satan have free reign to do as he pleases? 

Here, too, we profess the providence of God. 

• There is no creature, neither Satan nor man, who can act in a manner outside of God’s control. 
• God did not create sin and evil, but He certainly controls them both. 

God hardens the heart of whomever He wills, and He softens the heart of whomever He wills (cf. Romans 9). 

• This becomes clear in the case of Pharaoh. 
• Pharaoh was completely in God’s power. 
• He could do only that which God allowed him to do. 
• God did not cause him to sin, yet God certainly controlled that sin.

God can, and often does, put a bridle on sin. 

• God prevents both Satan and evil men from having free reign in their work of destruction.

Why does God permit sin if He is able to stop it? 

• God permits it because He is able to use it for the fulfillment of His purpose and counsel. 

Do you remember the story of Joseph? 

• Remember how his brothers sold him as a slave? 
• His brothers wanted to destroy him. 
• No doubt Joseph asked the Lord when he was carted off, “Why have You allowed this to happen, LORD?” 
• He must have wondered why God did not intervene to prevent this horrible sin. 

Yet in Genesis 50:20, we read what Joseph says to his brothers: 

• “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” 
• God used the sin of Joseph’s brothers for the good of Jacob’s family. 
• God used a bad situation for his good. 

This does not give those who do wrong an excuse, since it turns out good anyway. 

• No, God will judge them for the wrong that they have done.

The providence of God must be believed also in those times when it seems that the ungodliness of man reigns freely. 

• How many people asked during World War 1 where God was in the concentration camps, where thousands of innocent Jews were killed. 
• Many people said that they could not believe in a God of providence after seeing or hearing about such events. 
• Yet even in these terrible situations (and in others like it, such as wars, earthquakes, epidemics etc.) God reigns supreme.

God allows these things to happen. Why? 

• Perhaps it is to bring judgment upon the ungodly. 
• Perhaps it is to test the faith of God’s people. 
• The exact reasons cannot be known. 

Yet this we know, that God will use even the evil that occurs, to promote His purpose and plans. 

• In all situations of life God is governing and guiding history to the consummation of the ages, 
• the day of Christ’s return.

To be continued...

Adapted Excerpt From

Only By True Faith

A. Van Delden