The Sweet Flower of Providence

Having discussed the nature and persons of God, we now move onto his works.

Q. 7. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Q. 8. How doth God execute his decrees?
A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

The answer to question 7 draws heavily on Ephesians 1:11 which tells us that God “works all things according to the counsel of his will.” So let’s consider that text in detail.

First, Paul points to God’s work. The Greek word there is energeo from which we get our word energy. To work is to apply one’s energy or power to something. Some Bible translations say that God “works out” all things, but this doesn’t capture the meaning of the word well. God is not simply given a problem that he has to solve; he is actively engaged as the first cause of all things. This work is divided into three categories by the Shorter Catechism: foreordination, creation, and providence. We’ll consider creation and providence in the next few questions. But in foreordination, God voluntarily binds himself to carry out what he wills. This is the exactly what the divine decrees are: God’s commitment to execute his plan for creation.

That brings us to the phrase “all things.” Of course, that includes everything! God’s decree extends even to things like sparrows and the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10:29-30). When a bird dies or when a hair falls out, it is because God has decreed it from before the foundation of the world and is now working out that decree. But the primary concern biblically is about how God’s decree effects salvation. In context, Ephesians 1:11 is about how God in complete control of our salvation: he has predestined/foreordained us to salvation. The inverse is also true (and this is a difficult pill to swallow for people today): God is also in complete control of reprobation. The Bible tells us that some are “destined” to fall (1 Peter 2:8), that the wicked are made for the day of trouble (Proverbs 16:4), and that God hardens the sinners for judgment (Romans 9:10-33). There is absolutely nothing, good, bad or in-between, that is outside of God’s control.

Finally, Ephesians 1:11 tells us that God works all things “according the counsel of his will.” The word “counsel” here refers to the plan of God. A lot of people think of God as a big version of us, and that he’s just playing with us like a toddler plays with his toys. But nothing could be further from the truth. God’s activity in the world isn’t random; it’s all going somewhere. There are two main things God is aiming at. First, Ephesians 1:12 tells us that God is working for his own glory. Second, in Romans 8:28, Paul uses almost an identical phrase as the one he uses in Ephesians:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

In other words, God’s eternal purpose and plan for all creation is that believers would glorify God and enjoy him forever! God works all things for his glory and our good!

At the end of the day, although it is often difficult to understand, the doctrine of God’s divine decrees is intended to be a comfort and hope for Christians. Note how the Westminster Confession of Faith speaks of of this doctrine:

The doctrine of this high mystery of predestination is to be handled with special prudence and care, that men, attending the will of God revealed in his Word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may, from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election. So shall this doctrine afford matter of praise, reverence, and admiration of God; and of humility, diligence, and abundant consolation to all that sincerely obey the gospel. (WCF 3.8)

As one last closing remark, I encourage you to listen to or read this talk on the life of William Cowper. Cowper, a close friend of John Newton, lived a miserable life. He even spent time in an insane asylum. But in all of his struggles he took great comfort in the doctrine of God’s complete providence. This attitude is best encapsulated in his famous hymn, God Moves in a Mysterious Way. Here’s a sample:

Your friend in Christ,
Reid