Nothing is more comforting and beneficial to believers than a clear understanding of and confidence in God's providence. "A firm faith in the universal providence of God is the solution of all earthly problems. It is almost equally true that a clear and full apprehension of the universal providence of God is the solution of most theological problems" (B. B. Warfield).

DIVINE PROVIDENCE is God's sovereign rule over all things. It is God's government of his creation. In providence God graciously and wisely brings to pass all that he purposed in eternity and all that he has promised in the Scriptures. Predestination (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 1:5, 11) is the sovereign, eternal purpose of God. Providence is the unfolding of that purpose in time. It is God's sovereign, absolute arrangement and disposal of all things for the eternal, spiritual good of his elect and the glory of his own great name (Rom. 8:28; 11:36).

"ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD" (II Cor. 5:18). Learn that and you have learned the only thing that can sustain your heart in peace when your life is full of trouble. Faith in God's sovereign providence is the only antidote there is to anxiety and fear. "Happy is the man," wrote William Couper, "who sees God employed in all the good and ill that checkers life."

Acts 12 exemplifies and illustrates God's wise, adorable, and good providence in a very instructive manner. Herod the king had killed James, the brother of John, and was about to kill Peter. But the angel of the Lord delivered Peter from Herod's sword. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate clearly the fact that God's providence wisely and graciously ruled in all the events recorded in these twenty-five verses. The death of James, the arrest of Peter, the prayers of the church, the deliverance of Peter by the angel, and the death of Herod were all the works of God's good providence. The events of this chapter demonstrate the glorious sovereignty of our God in all things (Psa. 115:3; 135:6; Isa. 14:24; 45:7; 46:9-10; Dan. 4:34-37). This chapter is an illustration of Psalm 76:10, where it is written, "Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain."

DIVINE PROVIDENCE BROUGHT A TERRIBLY PAINFUL TRIAL UPON THE VERY PEOPLE WHO WERE THE OBJECTS OF GOD'S ETERNAL LOVE (vv. 1-4). God sent famine throughout the world in the days of Claudius Caesar and Herod Agrippa began to persecute the church. It was his intention to destroy the body of Christ, just as his predecessor had tried to destroy Christ himself by murdering all the male babies in the land of Juda (Matt. 2:16). He had already killed James, the brother of John. That pleased the Jews so much that he had Peter arrested, planning to kill him after Easter, the Passover.

God's saints are not sheltered from trials and heartaches in this world. They suffer all the common trials of men. When the drought and famine came, it came upon both the righteous and the wicked. The fact is, as long as we live in this sin-cursed world we will suffer the consequences of sin, just like all other people. Believers as well as unbelievers get sick, endure sorrow, and die. Faith in Christ does not eliminate pain in life! In addition to the ordinary trials of life, believers suffer the reproach of the gospel for Christ's sake (Matt. 10:22; 24:9; Mk. 13:13; Lk. 21:17). It is not possible to faithfully confess Christ and the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace in him without incurring the wrath of those who hate him (John 16:33). The cross of Christ is offensive to men (Gal. 5:11).

The believer knows that his trials, whatever they are, are sent of God (Job 2:10). Nothing happens in this world except that which our God has decreed for the good of his people. Our God rules all things in this world, the elements of nature, the thoughts of men, and the deeds of all his creatures (Prov. 16:1, 4, 9, 33; 21:1). Let every tried believer be assured of these five things:

1. God sent your trial (Rom. 8:28).
2. God will sustain you through your trial (I Cor. 10:13).
3. God will be with you in your trial (Isa. 41:10).
4. God will bring your trial to a good end (I Pet. 1:7).
5. God will get glory to himself through your trial (Rom. 11:36).

THE TRIAL OF PROVIDENCE CAUSED GOD'S SAINTS TO SEEK HIM IN PRAYER (vv. 5, 12). Our trials are ordained of God for many reasons. Just as fire purifies gold, the believer's trials have a sanctifying effect upon him. One blessed result of earthly woes is this: They cause believers to pour out their hearts to God in prayer (Psa. 107:1-31). When Peter was cast into prison "prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him."

"God in Israel sows the seeds of affliction, pain and toil;


These spring up and choke the weeds that would else o'erspread the soil;


Trials make the promise sweet; Trials give new life to prayer;


Trials bring me to His feet, lay me low, and keep me there."

FAITH IN GOD'S GOOD PROVIDENCE GAVE PETER CONFIDENCE, ASSURANCE, CONTENTMENT, AND PEACE IN THE MIDST OF GREAT ADVERSITY (v. 6). Peter was scheduled to be executed by a cruel tyrant, but he was peaceful, so peaceful that he slept soundly on the eve of his scheduled execution. He slept so soundly that the angel had to hit him on the side to wake him up. How could he have been so tranquil, so peaceful, so free of care? He believed God! Peter lived by faith. He knew three things which enabled him to sleep peacefully in the midst of great adversity: (1) He belonged to God. By election, redemption, and regeneration God had made Peter his. (2) He was in the hands of God. Peter was in the hands of God's care and his persecutors were in the hands of God's control. (3) God had promised to do him good. If the Lord delivered him, that would be good. He would go on serving his Master. If Herod killed him, that would be better. He would go to be with his Master (Rom. 8:31; Psa. 56:3).

THE SAME HAND THAT DELIVERS GOD'S ELECT, DESTROYS HIS ENEMIES (vv. 7, 23). The angel of the Lord was sent to deliver Peter and to destroy Herod. Both men were smitten by the same angel, but one was saved by him and the other slain. So it is with God's providence. God's providence toward his elect is all mercy. Toward those who believe not, it is all wrath (Psa. 92:1-15). The angels of God are messengers of mercy to serve and protect God's chosen sons and daughters (Heb. 1:14). But to the reprobate they are messengers of wrath and executioners of justice (Matt. 13:41-42).

BECAUSE OUR GOD SOVEREIGNLY RULES ALL THINGS IN PROVIDENCE, WE ARE ASSURED THAT HIS PURPOSE OF GRACE SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED (vv. 24-25). Acts 12 begins with Herod fighting against God, trying to stop the spread of the gospel. It ends with Herod being slain by God and the gospel spreading triumphantly. So it shall be until the end! The church of God is safe, the gospel of God is safe, the glory of God is safe, because God is on his throne! John Newton once wrote, "If you think you see the ark of God falling, you can be sure it is due to a swimming in your head."