DAY 1: Genesis 1:1

Why did God create the heavens and the earth? Did He merely do it so that we might enjoy it and be thankful? That is true, that we should enjoy the creation and should be thankful that God has allowed us to be a part of it, but there is so much more to the creation than that.

The Bible tells us that it is through the creation that God displays many of His attributes. Again, when we talk about decrees, we are speaking of God’s purposes and plans. One of the purposes for God’s creation was to show that He is a God of order. He is not some force of evolution who makes one little thing, then becomes creative with that one thing and turns it into something else and then it transforms into something else over a period of time. God knew and designed His creation long before it became a physical reality. The Bible gives it in simple terms. He spoke (vss. 3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26) and it was so. He did not take out His compass and protractor and blueprints and design and build the physical universe. No, His infinite knowledge and wisdom is shown in the fact that He created an enviornment that works perfectly together and is orderly. He even made some of the elements of the creation, such as the stars, the sun, and the moon in order that the world might have order in its structure of time (vss. 14-18). He is not about confusion (1 Cor. 4:33).

I wish I could go on and on with many examples that are flooding my mind at this moment. However, let me give you some short explanations here. His creation was also used in the display of His divine provision & protection in such instances as the crossing of the Red Sea and the feeding of the prophet Elijah by the ravens. He uses His creation to illustrate the doctrines of the kingdom found in the gospels. He uses the creation in the work of redemption upon the cross, for it was God using the wicked men to achieve His purposes in placing His Son on the cross, held in place with nails, which were hammered in with a hammer made by men. It was also His creation, men, that were used to testify of the work of Christ. It is also men who become false teachers and prophets who are a part of His decrees. He allows them to be deceived and carry away followers after them so that it might be made manifest who are genuinely His. God also executes His decrees in bringing judgment upon sin. It is the flood where we see this illustrated as a picture of things to come. In the future, the Scriptures tell us that God will destroy the earth with fire.

A song that came out a few years ago said, “God is watching us from a distance”. While many may think that and live as though He doesn’t watch them at all, this is very far from the truth. God is not distant. He is present with us. Yes, He is present with unbelievers. There is no place where His eye is not. There is no one who can stay His hand from them. And, there is no created thing, in heaven or on earth, that can keep Him from executing His decrees.

DAY 2: Revelation 4:11

The context of the verse is John’s vision of heaven and the scene around the throne of God. The passage says that whenever the four living creatures give glory to God, that the 24 elders fall down and say that the Lord is worthy of glory, honor and power. These elders use the words glory (doxa), honor (time), and power (dunamis). In the context it appears that they are saying that God is worthy of worship, reverence, and power or moral authority over armies, forces, or hosts. He is the One worthy of supreme worship, reverence and the power over all living things. But why?

The word “for” (hoti), is a conjunction which can be translated as “because”. Thus, John is about to give us the reason for God’s worthiness. He says it is because He created all things. God is worthy of so much, because He has done so much. Just as a parent is worthy of honor and respect and obedience from their children because they have done so much for those children, God is worthy of so much more from His creation. But that is just the beginning.

John goes on to say that it is also because it is by God’s will that all things exist and were created. What is said is that the creation, including men, did not happen with no specific purpose behind it. Nor was the creation a result of random chance. God specifically chose to bring it all into existence for His good pleasure. As Colossians 1:16 reaffirms, that all things were made by Jesus Christ AND FOR JESUS CHRIST. The creation was ultimately not to show itself off, as much as, it was to glorify God. As we mentioned in the previous lesson, though we do get to enjoy the benefits of the creation, it was not made for us preeminently. It was created for the pleasure of God.

These who are falling upon their faces and casting their crowns at the feet of the One upon the throne and declaring His praises are the result of the God whom they are worshipping. They are not ultimately responsible for the words proceeding from their lips. It is the One who has made them and purposed from all eternity that they should be before Him adoring Him and declaring His glory. I am not saying that they do not respond and that they are merely “robots”. What I am saying is that God is the One who “works in them both to will and to do His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13).

Some would say this makes us nothing more than puppets and the whole history of man nothing more than moving shadows with no real purpose. I believe that it is a great sense of comfort and peace to know that the God of the universe, the Lord Jesus Christ, is in total control of His creation. He has purposed all things according to the counsel of His will and watches over the events of history to make sure that they fulfill His purposes.

DAY 3: Matthew 5:45; 6:26; Acts 14:17

In both of these passages, Jesus is delivering His Sermon on the Mount. He is addressing the crowd about kingdom ways and kingdom people. He also gives us a view of the sovereignty of God in the ordinary everyday events of life.

First, he gives us a picture of God’s use of the elements to achieve His purposes. He says this in the midst of speaking about believers loving their enemies (vs. 44). He ties loving your enemies with manifesting that you are children of God. He then gives a simple picture of how God loves. In a generic way, God is gracious and displays love to all men. He causes “His sun” to rise on the evil and on the good. The sun, being a source both of heat and light is necessary to all of creation. Without sunlight, plants die. Eventually all life will die. The earth would become cold and unbearable. However, God demonstrates His gracious and loving character, even to sinful men, with the everyday, ordinary gift of sunlight.

He also displays his graciousness in providing rain. Again, like sunlight rain is a tremendous resource and expression of the care God gives to His creation. Without rain, there would be lakes and streams and rivers. These exist because of the cycle of water being pulled into the atmosphere and then deposited through rain into these areas. Plants cease to exist and yes, men cease to exist without water. The Jews have a saying, “greater is the day of rain, than the resurrection of the dead; for the resurrection of the dead is for the just; but rain is ‘both for the just, and for the wicked’".

Why does God do these things? It is a simple thing for God to do these things so that man is without charge against Him. God has shown man how kind and patient and gracious He is toward man, even those who reject Him. When men stand before God they will be unable to characterize God as unloving. He also uses it to provide for those who are His. While on one side it may be something which eventually will come back to indict them (Rom. 1:20), it is also a way in which God meets the needs of His own and cares for them.

In chapter six, verse twenty-six, God speaks concerning His people. In a message about prayer and God’s provision, Jesus illustrates how God cares for men, in caring for the birds. He says that the birds don’t have to sow seed, reap a harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, our Father takes care of them and provides them plenty to eat. He then asks a question, “Are you not of more value than they?” Obviously a rhetorical question.

Paul also gives a clear indication of God’s goodness in the providing of rain, fruitful seasons (spring, summer, harvest, and autumn), and filling us with food. God’s providence is even extended to those who reject him. Paul and Barnabas are addressing the people of Lystra who do not know God. Yet, they are telling them of the One who their very existence revolves around. Paul tells us that God does these things that He might have a “witness” to His doing good. The Greek word for witness is amarturos and simply means, “a witness or testimony”. The simplest testimony God can give of Himself is that He is good.

We see then that God uses the creation and His providence in accomplishing His purposes. For instance, we again see Him demonstrating His attributes of love and grace towards men. We also see this is how He provides for the creation as well as silences evil men on the day of judgment.

DAY 4: Proverbs 16:9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1,31

The question always seems to arise in our minds when we talk about God’s decrees be soveriegnly made, “What about man’s free will”. Although I am about to pull the rug out from under you by saying that we will deal with that in a future question, we are going to look at God’s work behind the scenes, so to speak, in the dealings of men.

In Proverbs 16:9 we are told that man plans his way and the Lord directs his steps. Oh, if only we had used the King James version, then I might have something to say here. This is a great translation of the text. However, let me see if we can clarify it. This is not speaking so much about the evil intentions of the heart of unbelievers as it is speaking to the plans of the righteous. God does not make men sinful. That is what they choose. However, it is saying that when man sets out about something, that it is God who has prepared him for it. We could see the instances of both believers actions and unbelievers actions in the contrast of Moses and Pharoah. While Moses was called and prepared by God for the task of delivering the Israelites from Egypt, Pharoah too, was prepared to be in power and be hardened to the voice of God that the glory of God might be displayed to the land of Egypt, to Israel, and eventually into the world (cf. Rom 9:17; Joshua 2:9-11)

In verse thirty-three, Solomon uses the illustration of casting of lots. In ancient times lots would be cast. We might think of things such as “drawing straws”, where the one who draws the short straw is the one who is determined “the winner”. Solomon says that the entire outcome of casting lots was not a matter of chance and the roll of the dice. Rather, it was the outcome of the providence of God. Every decision, not just some, was a result of the divine plan of God being carried to fulfillment.

We could reference the passage from Daniel 4:35 in looking at chapter nineteen and verse 21. While there are many plans in the heart of man, it is the purpose, or counsel of the Lord that will come to pass. It is hard for us to imagine how we could be choosing and yet the Lord is behind it. However, with all of the thoughts and purposes we have in our minds and in our hearts, we are unable, at anytime to thwart the plans and purposes of God.

In chapter twenty, verse 24 Solomon again tells us that all of man’s goings’, or his steps, are of the Lord. Whether they are a physical journey, or the spiritual journey of coming to Christ they are of the Lord. Even the steps in the government of men and the treatment of others is of the Lord. Again, our minds want to ask the question, “How can this be?” The text answers this with, “How then can a man understand his own way?” God has providentially determined our ways and our steps before we were ever born in order that His purposes may be fulfilled.

Lastly, in chapter 21, both of these verses have very practical application. Not that the others didn’t, but I think at least where God has brought me, there is a tremendous need in my own life to make these things practical. If the heart of the king is in the Lord’s hands and the horses are prepared for the day of battle, how am I to respond? I am to submit myself to the will of God and pray for the king (1 Tim. 2:2) that God would direct his heart, even as He turns the rivers. Second, I am not to trust in kings or armies for my safety, but to God. Paper is short, so let me give you a person to illustrate this: Daniel. Although a mere teenager when he was taken captive, Daniel showed tremendous trust in the providence of God and Him being in control of all the events and all of the people around him including the king.

Again, let me remind you that God is not “watching us from a distance”. He is involved everyday, every moment, in every circumstance, that He might accomplish His purposes via His creation and His providence.