Miracles or Providence of God?

Many people regard small incidents and circumstances as miracles, such as finding a parking near the mall entrance, a friend returning your money just when you needed it, a mother showing up just at the right time when her child was going to have an accident, or even praying for someone and they happen call you at the exact same time.

All of these instances have people stopping and saying, “wow that was a miracle.” But is it truly a miracle as the Bible defines it?

Although we might describe those things as miracles, they aren’t miracles. It would be more appropriate to refer to those daily miracles as “acts of providence” where God orchestrates the natural course of events in order to achieve His will and purpose.

So what is the difference between a miracle and God’s providence?

Miracles are direct interventions of God in the natural world. On the other hand, God’s providence isn’t miraculous (in the sense that it interrupts the natural order), but rather God weaves all contingencies, events, words, decisions, acts, and all elements of normal life together supernaturally to accomplish His purpose.

The word providence comes from the Latin word providentia: “pro” meaning before, and “videre” meaning “to see.” In simple terms, “God sees to it beforehand.”

Providence is God’s arrangement of things beforehand for His purposes to be fulfilled. Since God is in control, there is no such thing as chance, luck, or coincidence.

It does not simply mean that God has foreknowledge, but far more than that. God is working in advance to arrange circumstances and situations for fulfilling His purposes.

Through ‘providence,’ God is still able to control everything in the world today without ever performing a miracle.

God’s providence is evident throughout the Scriptures. Here are some examples;

• God providentially arranged for Joseph to rise to a high position in Egypt to preserve His people. As Joseph exclaimed “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.” (Gen. 50:20).
• God providentially arranged for Ester to be in a position to save Israel. As Mordecai reminded her “for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” (Est. 4:14).
• Solomon acknowledged God’s providential control over events and circumstances when he wrote “the mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9).
• Paul also experienced God’s Divine providence in His life and ministry and acknowledged it when He wrote, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, and are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28). God also provided for Paul in his time of need by providentially causing the church at Philippi to become concerned about Paul’s needs (Philippians 4:10).

In today’s world of scientific achievement we hear less and less about God’s providence. Our idea of the world is one vast machine that even God Himself cannot interrupt or control. But as we can see from the examples in God’s word above, God is clearly working in nature and in the lives of His people.

Life is not a series of accidents; it is a series of appointments, as God’s providence ensures that every event in a believer’s life—whether big or small—is part of His perfect plan to guide, shape, and fulfill His purposes for them.

R. C. Sproul in his book, “Essential Truths of the Christian Faith” said the following about God’s providence;

“There is a crucial difference between the providence of God and fortune, fate, or luck. The key to this difference is found in the personal character of God. Fortune is blind while God is all-seeing. Fate is impersonal while God is a Father. Luck is dumb while God can speak. There are no blind, impersonal forces at work in human history. All is brought to pass by the invisible hand of Providence.”