Special Providence by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 30, 1872

Special Providence.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

Does the great Jehovah, the omnipotent Creator, who sits in the Heavens and rules the universe, does he have a particular care and special providence over his cause and his humble people in this dark world? We are not inquiring whether he has a care for them in a general manner, but does he take notice of them particularly? Does his special providence direct in the affairs of individual persons?

If special calamity, or adversity, if rich blessing, or good fortune, comes upon us, are we justified in recognizing God's special hand in it? Does God interfere in the ordinary affairs of life, in bestowing blessings, or bringing calamities, &c., upon us?

I most firmly believe that he does; and it has been one of the strongest consolations of my life. Do I have to suffer great misfortune and sorrow, how greatly it relieves it to believe that God's hand brought it about, or at least that he suffered it for a purpose and will bring good out of it. But is it reasonable that God should thus interfere in human affairs and change the ordinary course of things? We see nothing unreasonable in it. Indeed it seems very consistent.

The omnipotent Creator, who guides nature, and who is the author of all its laws, can certainly control and change these fixed laws at his will, or he can employ special agents and special forces to bring about any desired result at his will. How reasonable it is that he should do this, to assist, to deliver, and save, a humble soul who confides in him, and earnestly calls upon him in time of need. But does the Bible teach this? Most emphatically it does in every conceivable way, and, as it were, on every page. Otherwise there would be no meaning to all the exhortations to trust in God, to call upon him in trouble. If this were not so, then one of two things must follow—everything, even to the minutest affair of life, is decreed by God to come to pass, and they will take place just the same, notwithstanding all our desires and efforts to the contrary; or else God has simply established general laws which are inexorable, leaving the smaller affairs of life to be wrought out by every individual the best he can. Then God does not interfere at all by a special interposition under any circumstance. Both these positions would verily shut God away from earth, and cut off man from all intercourse with his Creator. This is both unreasonable and unscriptural.

Let us for a moment consider the teaching of the Bible on this subject. The repeated and continual fulfillments of prophecy, indicate God's providence, as constantly directing more or less in human affairs. To illustrate: It was predicted that certain kingdoms should rise and fall in a certain order, that they should continue for a certain time, that they should perform certain acts, all of which duly came to pass. Now these kingdoms are simply made up of individual persons, and all their actions are performed by individuals. They seem to occur in the natural order of things, and we know that God's providence superintends it all.

Again, it was prophesied that Christ should come at a certain time, at a certain place, in a certain manner; and that certain things should be done to him. He came in exact accomplishment of it. An individual man arises, and, as it would appear, in the natural course of things performs the very acts predicted. At different times God has found it necessary to bring about great reformations and revolutions in the church. To perform this, men of marked character were necessary; and these men have always been brought out at just the right moment; as for example, John the Baptist, Paul, Luther, and Wesley. The history of each of these men most plainly shows that they were raised up especially for the work which they did. It was not a mere chance, but God's especial providence in all the circumstances on which the course of their lives turned.

Who can doubt that God's special providence directed in the case of Martin Luther, in the time and place of his appearance, in the organization of his mind, in the experience of his soul, in his surrounding circumstances and the work which he accomplished. God's cause demanded just such a man, and at just that time, in that very place; and God's providence raised him up for it. His case stands out so bold that all can see these facts. If God's special providence guides in such marked cases, are not much humbler ones guided the same. Why may not their lives, more or less, be directed by the same providence? Who can doubt it?

But now let us come a little closer, even to individual cases. God has declared, “A man's heart deviseth his way; but the Lord directeth his steps.” Prov. 16:9. This of course is a good man, one that fears God, whose steps are thus directed by the Lord; as we read in Ps. 37:23: “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way.” Again, the psalmist says: “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way.” Ps. 25:9. These scriptures most clearly teach that a good man's ways are controlled, are ordered, and are guided, by the Lord. Does God see him laying plans which are not good, then the Lord interferes, and in mercy and love breaks up his plans and leads him in a way he knew not of.

Let us take a few illustrations of God's dealings with his people. When Abraham's servant went to secure a wife for Isaac, he asked a sign of the Lord, viz.: That the woman who should be Isaac's wife might offer him water to drink, &c. While he was yet speaking, Rebekah came to the well, and did the very things he had asked. This was a very ordinary affair. Did Rebekah have any idea that God was providentially leading her to the well, just at that time, and to do just what she did? It would almost seem beneath the great God to interfere in so small an affair. It all appeared to occur in the natural course of events, yet the Lord directed in the whole of it.

Take the case of Joseph, his being sold into Egypt, &c. When Jacob was mourning for him as dead, and while his brethren were enduring the remorse of a guilty conscience, did there appear to be any especial providence in it? Certainly not, but the reverse; yet when it is all written out, we can plainly see the hand of God in it, and that, as Joseph himself declared, God meant it for good. This, however, did not justify his brethren in their wrong, yet God overruled it for good.

A very striking illustration of God's special providence is seen in the case of the babe Moses. In her last extremity, his pious mother committed him to a little ark, made of bulrushes, and placed it in the flags by the river's brink. Just then Pharaoh's daughter came. Her heart was touched, and she saved him, adopted him, and gave him that education, without which he never could have led God's people. At the time, it must have seemed to be a small affair, an accidental occurrence; yet now we know that it was all providential. Though that mother's heart was wrung with anguish by the necessity she was under of leaving her babe where she did, yet God was in it. Are we not justified in believing that when we shall see all things as they are, we shall recognize God's hand in occurrences which we now pass over without thinking of it? He that keepeth Israel never slumbers or sleeps; his watchcare is never withdrawn. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. How consoling to believe.

The case of David—his being delivered from the hand of Saul, is a striking illustration of the special interposition of the Lord. In 1 Sam. 23:26, it will be seen that Saul had encompassed David about and was on the point of taking him.

There seemed to be no escape for David. Then the next verse says: “But there came a messenger unto Saul, saying, Haste thee and come; for the Philistines have invaded the land.” So Saul had to leave pursuing David, and David escaped. Certainly, this was not a happen so; but the providence of God arranged this in order to save his faithful servant. At another time when Saul was pursuing David, David went down one night into Saul's camp and took his spear and a cruse of water from Saul's bolster, and went away undiscovered, because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. 1 Sam. 26:12. The Lord did this probably to test David's integrity, to show to Saul that God was fighting against him and for David.

The history of Mordecai and Esther, from beginning to end, most forcibly shows God's especial providence in human affairs. Take one point in it: When the Jews were about to be slaughtered, and the set day had nearly come, there seemed to be no hope for them. It did not appear that any human power could save them.

Mordecai fasted and prayed, and so did Esther. Then we read, “On that night could not the king sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the chronicles; and they were read before the king.” Esther 6:1. In these records was found what Mordecai had done for the king. The next day he was exalted, and he finally saved his people. Why could not the king sleep that night? Manifestly because God sent an angel and troubled him.

John 9:1–3, furnishes an example in point. “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents; but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.” Here was apparently a poor, unfortunate man. From his birth he never enjoyed the pleasure of sight. How sad he must have felt. It was nothing that he could help. It certainly had not come from any sin of his. Why, then, should he thus suffer? Probably he often grieved over it, and perhaps was inclined to murmur at the providence of God. Why should this be so? What good could it possibly accomplish? Why could he not be like other men? But wait awhile and all this shall be explained. At length the Son of God comes, and he declares that this was not brought upon him for his sins, nor for the sins of his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him; then he opened his eyes. Such a thing had never been heard of before, that one born blind should receive his sight. This showed the power of God, and that Jesus was his Son.

What a joyful day to that poor, unfortunate man. It would seem to atone for all he had suffered. This very calamity that he had deplored, was, in the order of the Lord, to glorify God and his Son. Who would not be willing to suffer for a like purpose, could he only understand it? Will not the day of Judgment reveal the fact that very many of our sorrows, trials, and adversities, were ordered in the providence of the Lord, the same as this. A few of these cases, now and then, God has seen fit to explain to us. Before they were explained, they looked as dark as many things that we see occurring around us; but when a prophet of God lifts the veil, then we see the hand of God in it.

When we look at the lives of God's people, as recorded in the Bible, it is easy to believe in, and see, the providence of God in their individual cases. We do not, we cannot, doubt it. Nay, further, we can often recognize the hand of God in the cases of our brethren; but when we come to apply it to our own cases—to ourselves—how different we feel! How much faith it requires to really believe that the mighty God is leading us and shaping events for our good, that the things we suffer are sent in mercy to refine and purify us, and that God's hand is behind the curtain, ordering all things. May we not believe this? Is it not our privilege? Is it not true? Has not Jesus declared that even the hairs of our heads are all numbered, and that not one falls to the earth without God's notice? Is that true, and do we believe it? If so, how much more events of much greater moment must have his attention.

Oh! for a more living, active faith in a mighty God, to trust him and believe him at all times. For this, I earnestly long, and my soul cries out for it. Have I a living God whose hand has made the worlds? Have I an almighty Father who is both able and willing to help me at all times, and do for me all that is for my good? Can my prayers move his arm? Can I really go to him with my daily cares and trials, and cast them upon him? I believe it, but oh, how hard to realize it, and act upon it! But this is just what God wants of his people. Then he can work for them, and be glorified in them. When we refuse to recognize the providence of God in our lives, how can he continue to work for us? Oh, that I had trusted God more in all my ways, then peace and joy had been mine where it must now be regret and sorrow. It is good to trust in the Lord.

D. M. Canright.