by Eugene Higgins
Providence (Part 2)
Not being capable of seeing ahead, humans frequently run up against what has been called “the law of unintended consequences.” That law states that “actions of people, (and especially of government), always have effects that are unanticipated or unintended.” One instance, though some of the details are sketchy, occurred more than fifty years ago, during an outbreak of malaria among Borneo’s Dayak people. The (“We’re the government and we’re here to help you”) World Health Organization, the WHO, (recognize the name?) sprayed the people’s thatch-roofed huts with a chemical — and set in motion a life-and-death cycle. The pesticide killed the mosquitoes, but it also killed a parasitic wasp that kept thatch-eating caterpillars under control. The results? First, people’s roofs began caving in. Then local geckos feasted on the toxic mosquitoes—and became ill. Cats gorged on sick geckos—and dropped dead. And then, with no cats, the rats began running wild, threatening the people with deadly bubonic plague. WHY had the WHO not foreseen this? It didn’t know WHAT to do. HOW had it been so short-sighted and WHEN would it ever learn! More unexpected disasters might occur if it now poisoned the rats. Someone wisely determined that they needed to reintroduce part of the natural order they had disrupted: specifically, cats, to eat rats. So one morning, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force executed “Operation Cat Drop,” (I kid you not) as hungry felines parachuted down to a remote village in Sarawak, Borneo, and the area began “clawing” its way back to health and safety.
Another recently-cited example, and somewhat less dramatic than the sky’s raining cats and (not) dogs, has to do with government licensing of electricians. “[This] keeps the supply of electricians below what it would otherwise be, and thus keeps the price of electricians’ services higher than otherwise.” That’s good for electricians! An unintended consequence of this is that it inclines some amateurs to attempt their own electrical work; but, as they say, what an electrician does is shocking (sometimes fatally). That’s bad for amateurs!
To eliminate all “unintended” consequences, one would have to be omniscient – able to “foresee” not only all that will happen but all that could – the innumerable side-effects possible from those events; and only God is omniscient. But a thrilling and heart-comforting quality is added to “Omniscience” by the word “Providence.” God is not a dispassionate or detached observer of all things, merely seeing and noting all that occurs, (which is something very akin to “Deism”). He graciously (“providentially”) acts to accomplish His purposes for our good. That is, He not only “sees” but He “oversees” all things to effectuate His beneficent and benevolent goals.
In one concentrated passage of scripture, the Apostle Paul eloquently reminds us how remarkable and unforeseen (to us) are the ways God providentially works – ways we never would have imagined. Here are the apostle’s words: “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor 1:27-29). You likely have your own favorite examples for these verses, so the following is merely a suggestion to encourage our hearts:
- But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise: Think of Moses the shepherd (and shepherds were “an abomination to the Egyptians”) and Aaron the slave going against Jannes and Jambres, the “wise men” of Egypt. Who was confounded by whom?
- God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty: Think of that scene in the Valley of Elah when a shepherd “youth” faced off against a foe who had been “a man of war from his youth.” Ask Goliath how that worked out.
- And base things of the world: “Base” is actually the idea of lowly, of no importance. When God wished to bring an end to the Midianite oppression, he selected a man who admitted: “Wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judges 6:15). Yet the “sword of the Lord and of Gideon” triumphed.
- And things which are despised, hath God chosen: Twice Nehemiah, (in 2:19 and 4:4), speaks of his being “despised” by the enemies of the work, praying in chapter 4, “Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head.” God was with that scorned remnant and enabled them to accomplish His will and finish the work despite all their foes.
- Yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: Not only does God mention two kings who as yet were “not,” (Josiah and Cyrus not yet having been born) but in 2 Ki 7 He uses non-existent chariots and horses – “even the noise of a great host” – to terrify the enemy and deliver His people; He used something that “was not” (a supposed Egyptian-Hittite attack) to bring to nought something that “was” (the Syrian army).
It is our inability to see “around the bend” that fuels our worries and concerns. However, (“Another list!”):
- Some terrors are pointless – like worrying that a comet will hit the earth or a satellite will fall on your head. I doubt a hard hat or your dodge-ball skills will be of much use in (highly unlikely) situations like that.
- Some worries are needless – like worrying about things that never materialize. Before he was commended to the grace of God for the ministry, the late Clay Fite and my wife’s maternal grandfather both worked for the same company. Reports came down that they and others were going to have to work on Sundays. This greatly disturbed the two believers, who did not want to miss being with the Lord’s people on a regular basis. For days they worried and worried, and wondered and worried. How could they get out of it? Years later, Mr. Fite loved to tell how their problem was solved. “Before Sunday came,” Mr. Fite said delightedly, “we were both fired!” Needless worry! (Happily, they found other employment.)
- Some fears are groundless – like worrying that the world is going to end today. Someone has said that the world won’t end today because it is already tomorrow in New Zealand. Clever; but better than that, you and I have “insider information.” God has told us His plans – not the timing but enough of the broad details for us to be able to calm our hearts and know that a providential God sees all and is working out His own gracious purposes. It leaves us saying in awe, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” (Rom 11:33).
So thinking again of Paul’s words: foolish, weak, base, despised, non-existent things become invincible implements and unstoppable forces in the hand of our God so that “no flesh should glory in His presence” and so that anyone who glories will “glory in the Lord.” His providence, presence, and power, coupled with His grace, mercy, and love, assure us that, whatever things may look like now, all is, all must be, and all will be, well for all His people.
We expect a bright to-morrow; all will be well.
Faith can sing through days of sorrow, all, all is well.
On our Father’s love relying, Christ our every need supplying,
Whether living now, or dying, all must be well.