The Mystery of Providence

By R.v.Leerdam

Brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ,
What is it that people hope for? It all depends on who you are and your situation.
People who are fighting long for peace.
Those who are enslaved, long for freedom.
Those who are sick, long for healing and
those who are old wish they were young.
Those who are hungry hope to be fed.
Those who are blind wish that they could see.
What is it you desire most of all?
That depends on what you think your life’s purpose is: to get rich, have fun or something else… I thought it might be helpful for us to consider some people who lived a long time ago and listen to what the Lord said to them. It is helpful for us to consider their situation, the ‘faith’ principles that arise and apply them to today.
We read the history of God’s people who lived before Christ and the under the ‘Old Covenant’, yet they are an example to us and we are able to learn what God is like by the way He dealt with them. “The Word of God endures forever” and God does not change the way He deals with those He loves.

All Scripture is profitable for teaching and training in right living.

The people are the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They have been captured and taken from their home- land to the land of Babylon for their sins.

They are aliens and strangers, they are miles from the temple – the place of God’s presence – and the opportunities to worship God according to the Law
given by Moses is no longer possible. The reason for this is because the nation had pushed God too far. Instead of enjoying the blessings of covenant obedience, they were suffering the curse of disobedience. In the face of captivity, Jeremiah is given the Word of the Lord for those who whilst believing, not bowing their knees to idols still had to endure the pain and suffering of the nation as a whole. We can think of Shadrack, Meshach & Abednego as prime examples of believers living in a foreign land. Who else come to mind? Daniel and Nehemiah. Now the Lord speaks to the exiles and says,

“Put down roots in the city where you have been taken to.
Pray for its peace and prosperity that you too may
share in its prosperity. Increase in number.
For seventy years you must live there and
then I will fulfil my gracious promise to
bring you back to this place.”

God had plans for his people – plans for good not evil, plans to give them hope and a future. Were these plans for every Israelite? How do we know who will have a future? Those who know the grace of God have a future? Those who seek the Lord with all their heart and put their hope in His promises will not be disappointed. God is not promising a life that is easy. There are always the mysterious and hard to fathom events that overtake God’s people. There are times when the faith of believers is severely tested. Remember Daniel thrown into the lions den.
Shadrack, Meshach & Abednego thrown into the burning furnace.

There is always the need for the people of God to keep on believing in the sovereign power of God who works out everything in accordance with his plan and purpose.
Trust God will work out the details. Because of His faithfulness we have hope for the future. There is hope in the face of adversity because God is faithful. When we read the Bible, we must remember the context and also the purpose for Jeremiah writing.

We need to know and study the Scriptures.
We need to wrestle with the text and the context, ask questions, pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit and ponder and treasure God’s Word.
What is Jeremiah talking about?
What is the Holy Spirit wanting the people back then to understand?
What does it mean for us?
Has it been fulfilled?

In part –the part fulfilled – Israel were delivered from captivity after the 70 years were completed. We can read of the return and re-establishment of Jerusalem – rebuilding the Walls and Temple in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Haggai.
Is there more?
What is the more and when is it going to be fulfilled?
As we ponder on these things our faith grows.
As we meditate on the word of God we grow in wisdom and understanding.
Then we can begin to come to an understanding of God’s grace and mercy and having experienced the presence of God we want to share with others the
good news.

There is hope in this world for the poor & needy.
There is forgiveness of sins and being washed clean from its stain. So what is the more – the yet to be fulfilled and the principle that we need to take to heart?
Is there hope for God’s people today?
In this country of plenty – for most, there is not so much physical adversity. Yet to serving the living God is not always easy. Think of the thorn in the flesh that afflicted the Apostle Paul – a messenger of Satan. Three times Paul pleaded for it to be taken away. But the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Just last week I spoke to a dear friend of mine whose wife was taken to glory after 16 years of suffering from cancer, pain and parkinson disease. We live in a land not unlike Babylon – more and more the people of this nation worship and serve ‘foreign
gods’. For God’s people there is the temptation to follow the ways of the world and desert the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob.
How shall we as Christians confront the world?
Shall Christians take up arms?
Will we wage a Jihad – holy war?
Will we withdraw into monasteries?
I believe the word of the Lord through Jeremiah is also for us.
“Put down roots in the city where you have been taken to.
Pray for its peace and prosperity that you too
may share in its prosperity.
Increase in number.
For seventy years you must live there and
then I will fulfil my gracious promise to
bring you back to this place.”
God had plans for his people – plans for good not evil, plans to give them hope and
a future. God has not deserted the works of His hands but has fulfilled his plans as he foretold long before Jesus was born. In and through the work of our Lord Jesus Christ the captive is released from sins penalty – but we are still living in a fallen world yet… we are not in paradise. We will face trials of various kinds and persecutions and there will be doubts and the schemes of the evil
one that need to be contended with. For Israel and us today, the peace and
prosperity of this world is not what we set our hearts on – though we are thankful for times of earthly comfort. The children of God have their hearts set on the new Jerusalem.

How do we know someone is a child of God?
They have faith, they trust in the promises of God.
They believe that Jesus has gone to prepare a place for them also.
They are the ones of whom Jeremiah said,
“You will call upon me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
I will be found by you declares the Lord, and bring you back from captivity.”
Under the leadership of Nehemiah the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt as the Lord had prophesied. In the book of Haggai we read of the rebuilding of the temple.
But I wonder if we do not find something of a parallel here.
Those who returned to Jerusalem in time died and were gathered to their fathers according to the plan of God.

‘All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.’ Psalm 139:16

I contend that for believers death is not the end it is for our good and not our harm or evil. For whilst death is the final enemy, it does not have the victory for the victory has been won by our Lord Jesus Christ. When God’s people’s earthly pilgrimage 70
years – on average – they will be gathered to their fathers. They will be set free from pain & suffering and go to be with the Lord from there to await the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting in the new Jerusalem. The city of truth – the holy mountain – the city with foundations who’s architect is God. Those who the Lord calls ‘home’ have just been discharged from their earthly duties. We will miss them but let us trust in the promise of God as they did.
How much faith do we need to be assured that we are the children of God?
Faith as a mustard seed.
Let us not forget the thief on the cross who heard the word of our Lord Himself as he
sought Him –

“Remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
“This day you will be with me in Paradise.”
But let us not wait for our last hour before seeking the Lord with all our heart. Today is the day of salvation. Confess Jesus as Lord today and live a life of faith trusting in the faithfulness of God who keeps His promises. His promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. Put you hope in God and trust him even when you feel torn by doubt or overwhelmed by your circumstances for God has promised
‘Never will I forsake you, never will I leave you.’
‘Nothing in all creation can separate us from the
Love God has for His people in Christ Jesus.’
Remember, God has plans for you – his plans are not to harm you but do good for you. This he has proved by sending his one and only son into the world – the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
We have a hope.
We have a future for nothing is impossible for God.
Even faith itself is a gift from him.
To pray, Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief is enough.
So we live in this world, but are not of it.
We are called to be a light to the nations and declare the glory of God, bearing witness to the king of kings and Lord of Lord’s, the redeemer of sinners, the
saviour of the lost who call on God for mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sometimes it seems that the kingdom of God is not coming, and that the evil one has the upper hand. We could become despondent, depressed and feel that all is hopeless as many personal tragedies hit very close to home.

These trials may make us question the plans of God?
May make us feel that perhaps God does not care?
Make us wonder about God’s goodness?
As long as life goes smoothly for us we do not often stop and really think about the sufferings of others, but when tragedy strikes close to home, we ask
WHY Lord, WHY??
And that is okay!
But where is our hope in the face of adversity?
Do we believe God has a plan for our life?
Live by faith, trusting God, pondering the mystery of His ways and knowing that trials and testing of various kinds will come to refine your faith. I can assure you that you will not often get specific answers to specific questions.
ie. Why did God decide that my husbands work on earth was complete?
OR Why does God allow the wicked to prosper and get fat?
OR Why does God allow my child to be born with a handicap?
Feel free to add your own question, or questions…
By faith in Jesus we are members of an everlasting kingdom, a kingdom that will never be destroyed. By faith, we share in Jesus victory over sin, death, Satan and Hell. Jesus does have the victory. By faith we are heirs of the kingdom which
will never end. By faith we share in an inheritance which will never perish, spoil or fade. We don’t see the fulfilment of all Gods promises now.

There are still the trials, the pain, the tears, and the questions which are left unanswered. The Scripture encourages you to fix your eyes on Jesus – Lord of Lords, King of Kings, the one who suffered, but has now entered into glory.
BECAUSE JESUS LIVES ALL WHO
TRUST IN HIM CAN KNOW THAT
THEY GO TO BE WITH HIM TO
SHARE IN THE GLORY OF THE SON
OF MAN the son of God.
AMEN.