Divinie Providence: Jackson Style

The Westminster Shorter Catechism question 11 is probably my favorite of all the WSC questions because it instills the greatest wonder and awe concerning our God.  It is that question dealing with the works of God's providence. 

"Question: What are God's works of providence?  Answer: God's works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions."

If only we could grasp the infinite meaning contained therein.  We cannot, but we can see outworkings of it in real life.  But first one from Scripture, when Balaam is riding his donkey and the angel of the Lord stands before the donkey where Balaam can't go any further.  Balaam thinks the donkey is acting up because he can't see the angel of the Lord.  But then the angel of the Lord appears and rebukes Balaam.  That is the way it is in our lives even when we can't see the Lord before us, he blocks us from continuing.  He is preserving and governing all his creatures and all their actions.

He did that yesterday to Kevin (where we could see it clearly).  Kevin was in from Colorado attending a funeral of a well-known man who was a member of Kevin's former church in Macon, MS.  He was scheduled to fly out of Jackson yesterday afternoon, but was providentially hindered.  Rest assured, no one here thinks Kevin was committing any sort of sin like Balaam (but maybe he was...?).  However, God, via His providence, uses things like storms in Texas (Dallas area) for His glory and our good.  Because of the circumstances, Kevin's flight now leaves today at 2pm.  This has opened up an opportunity for Ken and I to go down and meet Kevin for lunch (to bad Lane can't come). See, what a good thing that God has providentially directed.  If Kevin's flight hadn't been cancelled/delayed, Ken and I wouldn't have seen Kevin probably until next year.  But God is good.  There could be millions of other reasons Kevin had his flight canceled, but we may never know.

What is so interesting and amazing about this is that at the same time the Lord was sending storms through Texas and seeing to it that Kevin's flight was canceled, He was also preserving and governing all His other creatures (all men, women and children, all powers and authorities, the devil, angels, the souls in heaven, the bodies in the grave, animals, plants, all life, dirt, etc.) AND all their actions!  That is the omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing) God who demands your allegiance.