Purpose and providence, continued

This week, our studies have to do with God's purposes and His providence. We have noted that He can accomplish His will through the deeds of humans, even the evil ones. This is a deep and interesting subject, and I believe if we study this, we'll be better prepared to answer the questions of unbelievers.

First, let's look at the hearts of the people in Joseph's story. We can't see into people's hearts, but God can. And sometimes He will allow them to reveal what is in their hearts.....if we think about Joseph's brothers, we know that they were motivated by jealousy and resentment. They just couldn't abide with the thought that one day this pipsqueak of a little brother, an acknowledged favorite of their father (and recipient of that fancy coat) would rule over them! Those motivations were in their hearts, and God gave them a chance to reveal the envy that was there. As long as they were around Jacob, Joseph was safe. But when they were out gathering the flocks, Jacob couldn't see or hear them.... so when Joseph came to find them, their envy boiled to the surface. Jacob and Joseph may both have been unaware. It may have surprised, even shocked Joseph to discover the depth of his brothers' envy, when they proposed to let him die in the pit. However, God interposed (there's that word again!) and the Midianite caravan came along in the nick of time.
Others in Joseph's story reveal what is in their hearts, too. Potiphar's wife, the palace baker and cupbearer.... they all acted according to their own inclinations, but it was all in accordance with God's purpose and plan.
I guess the important thing to remember is that God didn't cause the brothers to envy.
God didn't cause Potiphar's wife to lust.

 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

The brothers and the woman did that on their own.....God simply gave them an opportunity to act out their evil thoughts. By doing that, He allowed them to reveal the evil that was already festering in their hearts.

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:19)

Second, God also permits Satan to prod them into evil deeds.... when we studied I Peter, we read that Satan prowls the earth like a roaring lion, seeking humans that he can destroy. But we must remember, even though he's a pretty powerful being, he can do nothing without God's permission.  In the book of Job, it is God Who tells the devil to consider His servant Job. Satan is not allowed to afflict Job beyond limits set by God. Yes, the devil is powerful, but it's God Who is omnipotent. Satan has great knowledge, but it is God Who is omniscient. Remember when Jesus told Peter that Satan had made a request?

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (Luke 22:31)

Jesus is telling him that Satan had asked permission -- the devil could not tempt him to evil without God's permission. We know, then, that Satan operates within limits that are established by God. This is comforting, but it's also a warning!  It's comforting to know that our temptations are not random. They don't happen by chance, but they are permitted by our Father. Here's the warning -- God still holds us accountable for how we respond to those temptations. Years ago, a comedian got laughs by saying, "The devil made me do it!"
Actually, Satan may tempt us, but we do the sinning all by ourselves....

Thirdly, let's look at what some scholars call "restraining grace." This simply means that God doesn't let things get as bad as they can be. But when God removes His hand that is holding back the evil, then things fall apart pretty quickly! In Romans 1, Paul tells us that God exercises judgment sometimes on unbelievers by giving people over to further sin. Sometimes the harshest judgment is for God to do nothing at all. If people reject God, and despise His grace and mercy, they are left with nothing but His judgment.

So, God can and does use the deeds of evil men and women to further His plans and purpose in this world. The Magi (or the three wise men, whichever we like to call them) came to one of the most evil men in the world when they sought Christ. Herod the Great was not only evil to the core, but was also hugely paranoid. The Magi went to Bethlehem, and Herod continued to fret and fume about the "new king" that might just overthrow his rule. Herod's violent actions against the wee babes would be the impetus for Joseph and Mary's quick departure into Egypt, and that would not only ensure Jesus' safety, but fulfill Scripture:

When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (Matthew 2:14-15)

Years later, the events surrounding Jesus Christ's death were not random or happenstance, either. It wasn't an afterthought; it was all in God's plan. But His death did take place at the hands of sinful, lawless men who stand guilty before the Lord (check Acts 2:23).
Even though it may be difficult for us to see, and hard for us to understand, God used the wicked deeds of wicked men to bring salvation to the world.

Let's study this more tomorrow......