"So you believe that God controls everything, right down to the last detail?"

"Yes. To the falling of sparrows. To the number of hairs on our heads. Nothing happens apart from the Father."

"God causes everything directly?"

"No, of course not. That would be a form of pantheism. If God does everything directly, there is no such thing as secondary agents —individuals other than God. I said that God controls everything. Nothing, including the smallest detail, is outside His control."

"Does the Bible teach this?"

"Yes. Inescapably."

I took my Bible out. "All right. Where?"

"Is it safe to say you already believe that God providentially governs things like the physical world, and the animal kingdom? As in Amos 4:7, where the Lord causes rain to fall on one city, and not on another? Or in Matthew 6, where it teaches that the Father feeds the birds?"

"Right. There is no problem there. I am primarily concerned about His providential control over the free actions of men. Can God see to it that someone does just what God wants him to, and at the same time not violate the integrity of that person’s free will?"

"Certainly. This is one of those subjects that has too many verses to go over in one session. I'll have to give you another list to study later. But there are a few passages worth addressing now."

"Shoot."

"Proverbs 2 1: 1. The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes."

"Boy," I said, "if anyone has free will a king should."

"A king does," Martin said. "Don't fall into the trap of thinking that these are truths which exclude one another. The Bible teaches that the king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. It also teaches us that kings, like all men, are responsible for what they do. A good example of God doing this to a king is found in Ezra 6:22."

"Are there other passages like this?"

"Sure. This is not a control that is limited to kings. Turn to Proverbs 16:9. A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps."

"Look at that," I said.

"Notice how the Lord controls what happens without violating the will of the creature. If a man plans to sin, God is not the author of it. Nevertheless, He is the perfect controller of it. The Lord directs the man's steps."

"I like that. Perfect control."

"When Judas went to betray the Lord, and when Pilate capitulated to the crowds, the Father was not wringing His hands in hopeless dismay. Angels were not running around heaven yelling, 'Plan B!'"

I laughed. "But those men were certainly sinning."

"Yes, they were. It was the most heinous crime our race has ever committed. And yet it was under God's perfect control."

"Right. We talked about that last week." I turned back to Acts 4:27-28 and read aloud. For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. I looked up.

Martin leaned forward. "It was the will of God that Jesus die the way He did — for the salvation of sinners. But it was also the will of Pilate, and the will of the Jews, who were all fully blameworthy for what they did. Nevertheless, it was the hand and purpose of God that determined beforehand what was to be done."

"So it seems clear. God providentially controls everything. And He does so without violating the responsibility of His creatures. "

"Yes. And, for theists, the only consistent alternative to this is some form of deism. God is considered by deists as the Creator of the universe, but now He is merely a spectator, if that. "

"But the Bible teaches that God is near.... He is involved in everything that happens."

"Yes, that's right. And some Christians affirm this consistently, and others affirm it inconsistently. But all who acknowledge the Bible affirm it."

Texts on Providence

Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Isaiah 46:9,10
Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure. . . .'

Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

1 Kings 22:28,34
Then Micaiah said, 'If you ever return in peace, the Lord has not spoken by me.' And he said, 'Take heed, all you people!'. . . Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor.

Mark 14:3 0
And Jesus said to him, 'Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times.'

Luke 22:22
And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!

Job 14:5
Since his days are determined, the number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass.

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

Isaiah 45:7
I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.

Amos 3:6
If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?

Click here to visit the Canon Press Web site.