Just what is divine providence? I think a good definition can be seen from the Got Questions website: “Divine providence is the governance of God by which He, with wisdom and love, cares for and directs all things in the universe. The doctrine of divine providence asserts that God is in complete control of all things. He is sovereign over the universe as a whole (Psalm 103:19), the physical world (Matthew 5:45), the affairs of nations (Psalm 66:7), human destiny (Galatians 1:15), human successes and failures (Luke 1:52), and the protection of His people (Psalm 4:8). This doctrine stands in direct opposition to the idea that the universe is governed by chance or fate.”1
Some may ask if God is absolutely sovereign over all the affairs of man where does our free will and personal responsibility for our actions come in. I use to struggle with this until I finally realized that both God’s sovereignty and man’s moral responsibility, for the decisions he makes, can both be true at the same time. Since the Scriptures clearly teach both doctrines, if I cannot reconcile the two with my finite mind, it becomes incumbent on me to leave this issue in the hands of an infinitely all-knowing, wise, and loving God who can. For in the last analysis, it is foolish to expect fallible and finite human beings to fully understand and comprehend an infinite and perfect God.
We see a clear example of divine providence in Scripture from the story of Joseph. Again, the website Got Questions shares the details: “God allowed Joseph’s brothers to kidnap Joseph, sell him as a slave, and then lie to their father for years about his fate. This was wicked, and God was displeased. Yet, at the same time, all of their sin worked toward a greater good: Joseph ended up in Egypt, where he was made the prime minister. Joseph used his position to sustain the people of a broad region during a seven-year famine—including his own family. If Joseph had not been in Egypt before the famine began, millions of people, including the Israelites, would have died. How did God get Joseph to Egypt? He providentially allowed his brothers the freedom to sin. God’s divine providence is directly acknowledged in Genesis 50:15–21.”2
Note in the story of Joseph we see God’s divine providence overriding the sin of Joseph’s brothers for the greater good. For we read: “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.” (Genesis 50:20).”
In the economy of God, His divine providence mysteriously reconciles the Lord’s sovereignty and human freedom and responsibility, to fulfill His will. I love what Wyatt Graham once shared: “God acts through His providence to minister goodness to a world gone awry.”3
And may I leave you with one more mystery concerning God’s providence from Nancy Leigh DeMoss: “What a stunning picture this gives us of God’s amazing providence—His ability to look ahead, know exactly what is coming, and make provision for us before we even get there. He is not only a God who can help us handle our current issues and pressures but One who has already prepared comfort, help, and blessing for problems that aren’t even on our horizon.”4
1 What is divine providence? | GotQuestions.org
2 What is divine providence? | GotQuestions.org
3 What Is God’s Divine Providence? Defintion (crosswalk.com)
4 Inspirational Quotes by Nancy Leigh DeMoss – page 4 (bibleportal.com)