Lord's Day 10 — Thursday: The Fatherly Hand
Lord's Day 10: Divine Providence
Thursday — The Fatherly Hand
The Catechism
Q27. What do you understand by the providence of God?
The almighty and ever present power of God by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty—all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand.
Q28. How does the knowledge of God's creation and providence help us?
We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well, and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Father that nothing in creation will separate us from his love. For all creatures are so completely in God's hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved.
Today's Emphasis
Providence is not cold determinism or impersonal fate. The Catechism tenderly calls it God's 'fatherly hand.' He governs as our loving Father, working all things together for the good of His children.
Scripture Readings
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Luke 12:7
Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Matthew 7:11
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
From the Reformers
John Calvin (Institutes of the Christian Religion, I.17.6)
"Gratitude of mind for the favorable outcome of things, patience in adversity, and also incredible freedom from worry about the future all necessarily follow upon this knowledge. Therefore whatever shall happen prosperously and according to the desire of his heart, God's servant will attribute wholly to God."
Reflection Questions
• How does addressing God as 'Father' change the way you receive difficult providences in your life?
• In what ways have you experienced God working something painful together for your good?
Growing in grace through the Catechism — The Hearthside Team 🔥