God’s Providence

By Jeff Curtis

In the book of Esther, the Jews were about to be annihilated. Using the language of a mystery novel or a play, we might ask, “Who did it?” Who is responsible for bringing them to the brink of destruction? That question could be answered in a number of ways. Of course, Haman did it. He was responsible, in that he was the person who was so enraged by Mordecai’s lack of respect that he schemed to find a way to have all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, destroyed.

In addition, Ahasuerus did it, though he might not have wanted to counted guilty. He allowed himself to be tricked, once Haman possessed the signet ring, he had the authority to do whatever he wanted with the people. The king didn’t have to be so gullible; he could have investigated the situation and discovered the truth instead of trusting Haman.

Besides that, the king’s servants did it. Haman had not even noticed Mordecai’s insolence until they brought it to his attention. It really was none of their business. If they had not been talebearers, Mordecai might not have come to Haman’s attention and the Jews might never have been endangered.

In a sense, Mordecai himself did it. He probably could have acted respectfully toward Haman without breaking God’s law. In a sense, he was responsible for his own (and his people’s) danger.

What should conclude about who was responsible for this sequence of events? The answer is “All of the above!” In the providence of God, all of the various elements worked together to produce the result God desired.

We are reminded of the case of Joseph in Egypt. Joseph, a former slave, became prime minister of Egypt; then Jacob and his family moved to Egypt. After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid that he would take vengeance on them. Joseph said, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 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” (Genesis 50:19-20). To think of all that was involved in bringing about that result is amazing; a father’s unfortunate favoritism, Joseph’s lack of wisdom in bragging about his dreams, the brothers’ enmity and sinful selling of Joseph into slavery, the lust the lie of Potiphar’s wife, dreams interpreted and fulfilled, the cupbearer’s forgetfulness, “natural” prosperity (seven years of plenty) and a “natural” disaster (seven years of drought), and Joseph’s own faithfulness to God. All these elements combined in the providence of God to draw the Jews into Egypt and prepare the way for their deliverance and their becoming the chosen people of God. Who did it? God. In Joseph’s case, all these things worked together to bring about “good” (Romans 8:28).

The Impact of Culture Today

By Jeff Curtis

The concern of Judges chapter 2, and the entire book, revolves around the need for God’s people to maintain their faith in an alien land. Judges shows that God’s ideal community outlined in Deuteronomy surrendered to the Canaanite religions and culture. As a result, they no longer had the security promised earlier (Deut.12:10). This book also shows that we can allow ourselves to be negatively influenced by culture more than we are positively guided by God.

The first two chapters of Judges illustrate what can happen when the culture impacts the church more than the church impacts the culture. Those who lived among the Canaanites in Chapter 1 ended up worshiping like the Canaanites in Chapter 2. After the generations of Joshua and the elders, a decline began in the next generation; and a downward spiral of unfaithfulness continued in subsequent times.

Apostasy, a falling away from God, can happen in one generation. Cultural influence is multi-generational. No generation is immune. The godly status of one generation offers no guarantee of the godliness of its offspring.

Apostasy doesn’t end God’s mercy. During the apostasy of the faithful, God continued to show mercy to those He had previously saved. God didn’t reject His people because of one occasion of unfaithfulness. The Israelites repeatedly did what was evil, and God repeatedly punished them for their deeds and then delivered them.

Assimilation is not inevitable. The church can exist from one generation to the next. No culture is so strong that the church is rendered powerless.

God is always available. In all of the focus on the role of God’s people living in a hostile culture, one foundational issue never changes: God always wants to help. When His people cry out, He responds to their need.

Am I Narrow-Minded for Believing in One Church?

by Kyle Campbell

When people hear me say, “Jesus has only one church” it must sound very narrow-minded. I understand their feelings and take no offense to their criticism because it’s likely that they haven’t investigated the Bible. My responsibility as a preacher is to explain that the “body” and the “church” are one and the same.

· “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence” (Col. 1:18).

· “…and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all” (Eph. 1:23).

· “There is one body” (Eph. 4:4) and “there is one God” (4:6). In view of this information, how can I believe otherwise?

· “Reconcile both unto God in one body” (Eph. 2:16). If I love the word of God, I have no choice except to believe.

· “Baptized into one body” (1 Cor. 12:13). If I respect God’s word, I am not at liberty to believe otherwise.

· “Yet but one body” (1 Cor. 12:20). This expression is saying that there is ONE and ONLY ONE body. I have no choice but to accept this truth.

The body is the church. There is one body, thus I am forced to conclude there is one, and only one, church. Jesus said, “Upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). He never promised to do more. Investigate and find this “one true church” and become a part of it by your obedience to the gospel