Providence: The Protective Care of God
- Series- Restore
- Ezra 1-5:1 —> Haggai & Zechariah
- Ezra 5-6 —> finish the temple, celebrate passover
- And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel. Ezra 6:22
- Ezra 7:1 Now after this…
- Approx 60 years goes by…and in-between that time, Esther
Introduction
- our main idea, and then touch on some of the defining principles that give understanding to it.
- God: Creator
- He created mankind and draws a distinction between us and all other created things- We are created in his image and likeness. He knows what’s best for us. As the Psalmist says, Psalm 139:13–14 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
- But, does he care? The protective care of God
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Matthew 10:29–33
- Common Grace/ Special Grace
1. Permission
- -Allows, Gives permission- Job, Pharaoh, Romans 9 (?)
- -My choices and God using those decisions for good.
- If God allows sin, is he then the author of it?
- He uses the analogy of the way the sun brings about light and warmth by its essential nature, but brings about dark and cold by dropping below the horizon. “If the sun were the proper cause of cold and darkness,” he says, “it would be the fountain of these things, as it is the fountain of light and heat: and then something might be argued from the nature of cold and darkness, to a likeness of nature in the sun.” In other words, “sin is not the fruit of any positive agency or influence of the most High, but on the contrary, arises from the withholding of his action and energy, and under certain circumstances, necessarily follows on the want of his influence.”
- Transition- Joseph
2. Protection (Gen. 45:5 & Gen 50:20)
- And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. Genesis 45:5
- Preserves
- As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20
- Transition- The temple getting complete
3. Promise
- By what means did Jesus die?
- -By the hands of sinful men. God, because he cares, allowed sinful men to crucify Jesus, so that we fall under the protection and promises of God.
- Daniel’s 70 years —> Ezra
Application
- If God gives permission, but yet protects, and fulfills his promises all through out biblical history, how is he doing this for you?
- Do you believe God created you? That he knows whats best? That he cares?
- What has God allowed or given permission that is seemingly evil? Can he use it for good?
- We have seen how God protects in biblical history, do you believe he is protecting you?
- What promises of God do you hold onto?
- Relate- Even this week with the time change, I struggled with that deep trust in God’s providence.
GOSPEL
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 2 Corinthians 1:20–22
- If you are Christs, then God’s providential work is FOR you.
- Lead into Communion