1. Did God leave His creatures to themselves after He created them?

No, He continually oversees His creation through acts of Divine providence. "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work" (John 5.17).

2. How many acts of God are contained in His providence?

Three. God's preservation, cooperation, andgovernment.

3. What is the preservation of God?

The almighty power of God through which He upholds the life of all things. "Who upholdeth all things by the word of His power" (Heb. 1:3).

4. What is the cooperation of God?

God's almighty power through which He cooperatively influences all the actions and functions of His creatures. 'But it is the same God that worketh all in all" (1 Cor. 12:6).

5. What is the government of God?

God's almighty power through which He directs all things to a certain determined end. "The Lord reigneth" (Ps. 93:1).

6. How far does the providence of God extend?

God's providence extends over all things. "He worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11).

7. Does God's providence extend to small things?

Yes. "For even the hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matt. 10.30).

8. Is it a disgrace to God to extend His care over such trifling things?

No, because (1) it was no disgrace for Him to create them, (2) by this He shows that He does not neglect greater matters, and (3) He frequently uses these small things to effect great things.

9. Does the providence of God extend to things that appear to take place by chance?

Yes. "The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord" (Prov. 16.33).

10. Is there such a thing as an event happening by chance, that is, contingency?

Not with respect to God, but only as it appears to us.

11. Does the providence of God extend to one's life and death?

Yes, the time of one's life is determined by Him. "Seeing his days are determined, the number of his months is with Thee, Thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass" (Job 14.5).

12. Can one prolong or shorten his life?

Not with respect to God, but only with respect to man.

13. Is it useless to use means for preserving life?

No, for God has decreed these means to preserve life and He gives man a willing mind to use them.

14. Does the providence of God also direct our most free actions?

Yes, even our very thoughts. "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water. He turneth it whithersoever He will" (Prov. 21:1).

15. Does God's providence destroy man's freedom as a rational being?

No, for God's government is not one of compulsionp but He makes man willing to do His will (Ps. 110. 3).

16. Does God's providence extend to sin also?

Yes, God permits sin, limits it, and directs it to a certain end. "Ye thought evil but God meant it unto good" (Gen. 50:20).

17. Does God then become the cause of sin?

No, a holy God cannot be the cause of anything that is sinful. He hates and punishes sin.

18. Is God the cause of all good?

Yes. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor. 3:5).

19. Does God give inherent power to do good or does He influence every good act?

God influences, motivates, and assists in every good act. "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2.13).

20. What benefits are derived from the doctrine of God's providence?

That God's children may be patient in adversity, thankful in prosperity, and trust in Godfor allfuture things (Job 1:21,22, Gen. 32:10, Job 13:15).