March 7 – LD 10, Day 3: God’s
by Rev. G. Van Baren
Read: Job 2
How inclusive is this work of God’s
Lest there be any doubt concerning the extent of this Providence, the
Catechism states that “herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren
years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all
things come not by chance, but by His fatherly hand.” That is truly
comprehensive.
Most who confess to believe in God would readily agree that all the
“good” things come from our Father (fruitful years, riches, and health).
Many insist that we must earnestly pray for these good things. If we do
not receive these things, it is because our prayers are not fervent enough or
not uttered in the strong faith that God will provide. Did not Jesus
teach, “Ask and you shall receive?”
Others have insisted that the “bad” things (sickness, poverty) come not
from God but from the devil. Is not God a loving God? Does He not
earnestly love all His creatures? Would a loving God cause sickness or
suffering on any of His creatures? The devastating things which
occur fit in with the character of the devil.
Scripture, however, clearly teaches that all things without exception are under
the direct control of our Father. Job (cf. Job 2) experienced that
truth. He confessed that God sends both the good and evil (Job
2:10). Whether we understand or not, He sends these in His wrath on the
reprobate unbeliever; but He sends these also on the believer in His
grace.
King David acknowledged this control by God. Concerning Shimei,
who was cursing the king as he was fleeing his son Absalom, David said, “Let
him alone; let him curse, for the Lord has told him to” (2 Sam. 16:11).
To deny that God sends “bad” things would be to deny His
sovereignty. It would place the devil on a par with God. This would
be a devastating view for the Christian who is suffering some serious sickness
or terrible adversity. We would be questioning our very faith in
God. Rather, our Father is Sovereign over all things. Thank God
that this is absolutely true.