“(God) who works all things according to the counsel of his will” Ephesians 1:11
The understanding and belief in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty in His providential outworking in all things, consistent with His holy and just character, and for His honor and glory, has serious practical implications in the life of a Christian. In particular, the Christian’s comfort and peace of mind in the midst of adverse circumstances is dramatically impacted. If it is believed that God steps aside, or worse yet, is helpless against adverse and evil influences and circumstances, then one is left with a sense of helplessness. Worry, fear, unbelief and grumbling are often the result. Further, the misunderstanding of this doctrine gives rise to all sorts of false teaching regarding the will of God for a person’s life, often leading to discouragement for Christians who allegedly haven’t exercised enough faith, or met some other “condition” for blessing. And most seriously of all, it detracts from the Christian’s chief end, which is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The puritan John Owen expressed the importance of this doctrine when he wrote, “Amidst all our afflictions and temptations, under whose pressure we should else faint and despair, it is no small comfort, to be assured that we do nor can suffer but what His hand and counsel guides unto us, what is open and naked before His eyes, whose end and issue He knoweth long before; which is a strong motive to patience, a sure anchor of hope, a firm ground of consolation.”
The Scriptures are filled with references to God’s predetermination of all events, and His absolute rule over all things. The Apostle Paul stated this very clearly when he wrote concerning God, “Who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). This statement clearly addresses not only all that God has made, but also the continued sustaining and governing of His creation. Jesus Himself confirmed this understanding when He stated concerning His Father, “My Father has been working until now” (John 5:17). Since God rested from His works of creation, this present work can only be His continued rule over all that He brought into existence.
Concerning this free exercise of God’s will in His providential rule, we read, “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). That God’s will cannot be thwarted is confirmed in, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel -- that will stand,” and, “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 19:21; 21:30).
God is not bound or limited in any way by space or time regarding this providential rule, because “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). Nor is any facet of life, good or evil, excluded from His active, ongoing rule and disposing of all things. Isaiah wrote, “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7).
God’s providential rule is not confined to only what we might term as the major or extraordinary events, but encompasses every feature of life, even the minutest details. In fact, it is this sweeping view of God’s dominion in His providence which evoked great praise from the Psalmist when he wrote, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry… He sends out His command to earth; His word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow” (Psalm 147:7-9; 15-18).
Similarly, God’s providential rule is not confined to the outward, but extends fully into the very minds and hearts of men. We read that, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes,” and “The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men… He fashions their hearts individually” (Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 33:13,15).
Another important aspect of God’s providence is that He deals in a different manner with His own than He does with unbelievers. David bears witness to this truth when in his flight from Saul, he wrote, “I will cry out to God Most High, to God Who performs all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). John Calvin noted that with believers, God brings His purposes to pass by molding and shaping their hearts which were once stone, such that their affections are inclined to obedience. This of course is accomplished through His Word, the varied circumstances of life and ultimately by the marvelous, divine, and secret labor of the Holy Spirit, renewing the mind and mysteriously stirring up the desires. This secret work is apparent in the case of Nehemiah who spoke of, “What My God had put into my heart to do at Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:12) when he returned to Jerusalem to supervise the rebuilding of the wall.
With unbelievers, it is important to note that God is good in His dealings with them. He provides them the comforts of families, food, shelter, and the delights of this world. Jesus Himself points us to the Father Who “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). However, as Calvin wrote, God “constrains them, in spite of themselves, to serve His providence”; this in spite of their desires and efforts to resist His will. God’s full sovereignty over His rebellious creatures is such that, “The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom” (Proverbs 16:3). This absolute rule of God includes Satan, who in spite of all his vigorous efforts to destroy the long ago promised Seed (Genesis 3:15) who would crush his head, was entirely thwarted. In fact, in the exercise of His predetermined purposes, God used Satan’s evil and murderous designs against Christ as the very means of destroying the devil’s works, and of bringing in the ultimate good to God’s people which is their salvation such that, “by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).
And so, God’s children are objects of His favor and blessing, although still subject to fatherly discipline and chastening. Therefore, God’s sovereign providence in their lives is of a different nature than the rest of fallen mankind. They are not immune from the afflictions and difficulties of life, but even their sufferings have been sanctified for them for good through the sufferings of Christ on their behalf so that, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Clearly, the overwhelming record of Scripture is that God sovereignly ordains and brings to pass absolutely everything! Every event is providentially orchestrated exactly according to God’s purposes and timing, whether it be good or evil, great or small. And God’s providential rule is accomplished such that it is perfectly consistent with His holy, just and righteous character. Matthew Henry wrote, “The rise and fall of princes, the issues of war, and all the great affairs of state, which are the subject of the consultations of wise and great men, are no more above God’s direction than the meanest concerns of the poorest cottages are below His notice.”
It is this great truth which is a great source of comfort for the true believer, no matter what is occurring in their life, good or bad. That is to say, that the one who is “in Christ” by faith can be at peace in all circumstances because he is at peace with God. This belief in and understanding of God’s absolute sovereignty is the antidote to every attack by the enemy on the believer’s faith. For Christians to embrace these truths and lean upon them is to grow in faith and patience, and to give God all the glory in all things.
And indeed, to God be the glory,
The understanding and belief in the doctrine of God’s sovereignty in His providential outworking in all things, consistent with His holy and just character, and for His honor and glory, has serious practical implications in the life of a Christian. In particular, the Christian’s comfort and peace of mind in the midst of adverse circumstances is dramatically impacted. If it is believed that God steps aside, or worse yet, is helpless against adverse and evil influences and circumstances, then one is left with a sense of helplessness. Worry, fear, unbelief and grumbling are often the result. Further, the misunderstanding of this doctrine gives rise to all sorts of false teaching regarding the will of God for a person’s life, often leading to discouragement for Christians who allegedly haven’t exercised enough faith, or met some other “condition” for blessing. And most seriously of all, it detracts from the Christian’s chief end, which is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.
The puritan John Owen expressed the importance of this doctrine when he wrote, “Amidst all our afflictions and temptations, under whose pressure we should else faint and despair, it is no small comfort, to be assured that we do nor can suffer but what His hand and counsel guides unto us, what is open and naked before His eyes, whose end and issue He knoweth long before; which is a strong motive to patience, a sure anchor of hope, a firm ground of consolation.”
The Scriptures are filled with references to God’s predetermination of all events, and His absolute rule over all things. The Apostle Paul stated this very clearly when he wrote concerning God, “Who works all things according to the counsel of His will” (Ephesians 1:11). This statement clearly addresses not only all that God has made, but also the continued sustaining and governing of His creation. Jesus Himself confirmed this understanding when He stated concerning His Father, “My Father has been working until now” (John 5:17). Since God rested from His works of creation, this present work can only be His continued rule over all that He brought into existence.
Concerning this free exercise of God’s will in His providential rule, we read, “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases” (Psalm 115:3). That God’s will cannot be thwarted is confirmed in, “There are many plans in a man’s heart, nevertheless the Lord’s counsel -- that will stand,” and, “There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 19:21; 21:30).
God is not bound or limited in any way by space or time regarding this providential rule, because “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Proverbs 15:3). Nor is any facet of life, good or evil, excluded from His active, ongoing rule and disposing of all things. Isaiah wrote, “That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting that there is none besides Me. I am the Lord and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7).
God’s providential rule is not confined to only what we might term as the major or extraordinary events, but encompasses every feature of life, even the minutest details. In fact, it is this sweeping view of God’s dominion in His providence which evoked great praise from the Psalmist when he wrote, “Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises on the harp to our God, Who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow on the mountains. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens that cry… He sends out His command to earth; His word runs swiftly. He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow” (Psalm 147:7-9; 15-18).
Similarly, God’s providential rule is not confined to the outward, but extends fully into the very minds and hearts of men. We read that, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes,” and “The Lord looks from heaven; He sees all the sons of men… He fashions their hearts individually” (Proverbs 21:1; Psalm 33:13,15).
Another important aspect of God’s providence is that He deals in a different manner with His own than He does with unbelievers. David bears witness to this truth when in his flight from Saul, he wrote, “I will cry out to God Most High, to God Who performs all things for me” (Psalm 57:2). John Calvin noted that with believers, God brings His purposes to pass by molding and shaping their hearts which were once stone, such that their affections are inclined to obedience. This of course is accomplished through His Word, the varied circumstances of life and ultimately by the marvelous, divine, and secret labor of the Holy Spirit, renewing the mind and mysteriously stirring up the desires. This secret work is apparent in the case of Nehemiah who spoke of, “What My God had put into my heart to do at Jerusalem” (Nehemiah 2:12) when he returned to Jerusalem to supervise the rebuilding of the wall.
With unbelievers, it is important to note that God is good in His dealings with them. He provides them the comforts of families, food, shelter, and the delights of this world. Jesus Himself points us to the Father Who “makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). However, as Calvin wrote, God “constrains them, in spite of themselves, to serve His providence”; this in spite of their desires and efforts to resist His will. God’s full sovereignty over His rebellious creatures is such that, “The Lord has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom” (Proverbs 16:3). This absolute rule of God includes Satan, who in spite of all his vigorous efforts to destroy the long ago promised Seed (Genesis 3:15) who would crush his head, was entirely thwarted. In fact, in the exercise of His predetermined purposes, God used Satan’s evil and murderous designs against Christ as the very means of destroying the devil’s works, and of bringing in the ultimate good to God’s people which is their salvation such that, “by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:14).
And so, God’s children are objects of His favor and blessing, although still subject to fatherly discipline and chastening. Therefore, God’s sovereign providence in their lives is of a different nature than the rest of fallen mankind. They are not immune from the afflictions and difficulties of life, but even their sufferings have been sanctified for them for good through the sufferings of Christ on their behalf so that, “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
Clearly, the overwhelming record of Scripture is that God sovereignly ordains and brings to pass absolutely everything! Every event is providentially orchestrated exactly according to God’s purposes and timing, whether it be good or evil, great or small. And God’s providential rule is accomplished such that it is perfectly consistent with His holy, just and righteous character. Matthew Henry wrote, “The rise and fall of princes, the issues of war, and all the great affairs of state, which are the subject of the consultations of wise and great men, are no more above God’s direction than the meanest concerns of the poorest cottages are below His notice.”
It is this great truth which is a great source of comfort for the true believer, no matter what is occurring in their life, good or bad. That is to say, that the one who is “in Christ” by faith can be at peace in all circumstances because he is at peace with God. This belief in and understanding of God’s absolute sovereignty is the antidote to every attack by the enemy on the believer’s faith. For Christians to embrace these truths and lean upon them is to grow in faith and patience, and to give God all the glory in all things.
And indeed, to God be the glory,