Part of the Basics of the Reformed Faith Series, Derek Thomas starts the booklet What is Providence? with a definition of providence illustrating what it is what is not. From this point he shows us the doctrine in the Bible using the narratives of Ruth, Joseph, and Job. Dr Thomas then explains how God’s sovereign providence has been variously interpreted through the ages. He delineates the classical (Augustinian-Calvinistic) view, the simple divine foreknowledge (Arminian) view, Molinism, and open theism. The classic view asserts that God foreordains everything that comes to pass both the good and evil. ‘God knows what will occur in the future because he has predetermined it.’ (p. 17) The simple divine foreknowledge view holds that God knows the future and therefore foreordains because of his knowledge. This allows for human freedom according to its proponents. Molinism, also known as the middle knowledge view, asserts that since God knows all possible worlds, he has chosen this world where people make the choices they do freely. Dr Thomas acknowledges that while both the Arminian and Molinist views have flaws (The Arminian view limits God’s freedom, and the Molinist view does not properly defend what it set out to defend: libertarian human freedom.) they both ‘share many of the beliefs of those who maintain a classical view of providence.’ (p. 21) However the fourth view, open theism, dispenses with omniscience (or drastically redefines it). Open theologians believe God does not know the future exhaustively but ‘everything about the future which it is logically possible to know’ (p. 21 quoting William Hasker in God, Time, and Knowledge). Derek Thomas quotes the open theist Gregory Boyd, ‘God must work with, and battle against other created beings. While none of these beings can ever match God’s own power, each has some degree of genuine influence within the cosmos.’ (p. 16) Derek Thomas makes clear that in order to uphold absolute human freedom, they destroy the traditional concept of God. Moreover, there is little reassurance to offer the suffering.
Derek Thomas delves into the Biblical evidence for the classical view of providence, giving Scripture for God’s universal sovereignty, even as it extends to individuals and wicked events (Cf. the crucifixion of Jesus and Isaiah 45.6-7). God’s sovereignty not only ensures prophecy will come to past but ‘is a necessary corollary of the gospel. For the gospel to be “good news” there must be some certainty that there is victory — over sin, over death, over Satan.’ (p. 24)
Dr Thomas also addresses the question of human responsibility and that the providence of God should encourage us and not make us lax in our callings.
What is Providence? examines the question of ‘How do we maintain the goodness of God when it appears as though evil things happen not simply “under his watch,” but according to his plan!’ (p. 25) The author recognizes we live in a broken world and no one saving Christ is truly innocent, but the Scriptures point us to examples such as Job and the man born blind to show there is a deeper answer. Jesus answers the question of the disciples concerning the man born blind by replying, ‘It was not this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.’ (John 9.3) These accounts show us the hand of God, that we are not merely subject to chance or fortune, or even our own ability to make good choices but that God works his purposes to his own end.
This, of course, is more scary, that God would allow sin and suffering for his own purpose. Unless we realize the person of the Creator and Providence is also our Redeemer. ‘The cross dispels any doubt as to the outcome, for there — in the darkest point of human history — sin and evil were conquered and Satan vanished.’ (p. 36) God’s purpose is to redeem himself a people, to establish his kingdom, and to give us more than what we lost in Adam: to bring us into a better estate and secure us in righteousness; all this he does to his own glory!
