God’s Providence in a Good Man’s Life

Fear not: for am I in the place of God? As for you, ye thought evil against me, but God meant it unto good, … as it is this day, to save much people alive (Gen. 50:12, 20; read vv. 15–21).

This passage lends itself admirably to a sermon about “particular providence,” or about forgiveness of wrongs. Preach one or the other. Never two sermons at the same time! God’s providence here means his way of watching out for each of his children as well as though he had only one. A case study. A fascinating truth!

I. The Meaning of Individual Providence (pro-video). A. God has a plan for every man’s life. This plan he unfolds a part at a time. B. In carrying out his plan, God may employ strange agents and methods, as he did with Joseph. C. Sooner or later God will complete his plan. (See part of Browning’s “Rabbi Ben Ezra.”)

II. The Value of This Bible Teaching. What practical difference does it make to a believer now? A. This teaching gives the Christian a sense of stability and assurance. “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord!” Such a man’s faith rests in God. B. The teaching should lead to magnanimity. Why did this man treat his older brothers in a way pleasing to God? C. The teaching also imparts a feeling of hope. Here see Bryant’s poem, “To a Waterfowl.” As in all these passages, keep to the singular. God has a plan for every man’s life.

In order that he may qualify for living on this basis, lead the hearer now to become a Christian. Later from the pulpit guide him in knowing how to learn and follow the will of God. “He that willeth to do his will shall know.”

Probing Outer Space

ROAMING THE PLANETS—The problem of mankind’s spiritual mandate to leave the earth and roam through outer space, exploring and perhaps ultimately populating other planets, is a difficult question. It involves the relationship of the natural to the spiritual world, the meaning of creation, and perhaps the purpose of life itself. Here history will be of little use to us as we have no record of man having previously ventured beyond the earth.

I have the conviction that, taken as a whole, the Bible presents no general principle opposed to an exploration of the universe. I feel that the instruction in Genesis 1 and Psalm 8 bears out this view, although I may be wrong.

I see no spiritual conflict resulting from interplanetary space travel. We would still be within the material realm even for the deepest space penetration.

This is not to say that man is not in for some surprises. It is hard to believe that God’s material revelation to man is complete. This really is part of the excitement, and I would suggest, also man’s moral obligation: namely, to know God and his universe more fully. For centuries man has observed the universe with optical telescopes and in more recent times has probed even deeper into space using radio telescopes. It would be hard to justify a position opposing manned space flight but upholding a right to eavesdrop and peek. While I visualize no philosophical conflict in space exploration, man may feel some within himself. This can result if he adheres too firmly to fixed ideas concerning God’s universe, such as there being no life except on the earth, the impossibility of the existence of relativistic time and anti-matter, as well as other fixations concerning his interpretation of the physical environment. In the final analysis I have always felt that this kind of intellectual rigidity is really an attempt to limit God to man’s image. It always seems to me to be closer to sin than to enlightenment.

Probably the most urgent present reason for pushing ahead in the space program is that of national survival. There are at least three facets to this: (1) national security, (2) national prestige, and (3) the future economic and spiritual development of our nation. It would be my opinion that any one of these would justify the present space effort.—Professor JOHN A. CLARK, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, in a lecture on “Outer Space: A New Frontier of Challenge and Promise,” to the Christian Reformed Minister’s Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.

COMMENT ON TELSTAR—The achievement of the communications satellite, while only a prelude, already throws open to us the vision of an era of international communications.… There is no more important field at the present time than communications and we must grasp the advantages presented to us by the communications satellite to use this medium wisely and effectively to insure greater understanding among the peoples of the world.—President John F. Kennedy.

LEARNING FOR THE FUTURE—What we are learning today may lead to the development of a world-wide communications network.—Newton Minow, Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

ONLY A BEGINNING—Global television is on the way. The spectacular success scored by the Telstar experiment is proof of this. But it won’t arrive tomorrow. As President Kennedy has noted, this is “only a prelude.”—William McGaffin, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

UNDERSTANDING FOR THE ILLITERATE—It is a major step toward perfection of a global network of television satellites which, in a world where almost half the people are either illiterate or semi-literate, could breed greater peace and understanding among the diverse nations of the earth.—The Washington Daily News.

PORTENT FOR THE FUTURE-The unexpectedly complete success of the Telstar satellite, on its first day of operation, is more than an occasion for a celebration. It is a portent. We are confronted with one of the most important improvements in communications in a generation.—The Washington Post and Times-Herald.

A STARRY SYMBOL—Telstar is important not only in itself but as a starry symbol of the decisions that may do much to shape the future—in space and on earth.—The Wall Street Journal.

SYMBOL OF GOOD WORKS—The Telstar is a symbol of U.S. good works at their best. It is up to Congress, the Administration and the representatives of private industry involved to see to it that the project lives up fully—both for the present and the long run—to that proud standard.—The Philadelphia Inquirer.

SQUABBLE FROM EUROPE—What seemed more certain was that satellite television—now coming in loud and clear in both Britain and France—was producing more static on the ground than in the air.—The Baltimore Sun.

BRITAIN VERSUS FRANCE—“Pirates in Space,” London Daily Express; “France steals the TV space show,” London Herald; “Stealing a march on Britain,” London Daily Telegraph; “Gallic One-upmanship,” London Daily Mail. “Far from excellent. The reason was that their antenna was not guided with the same precision as ours, with two radars,” Paris’ Aurore. Comments on the British and French transmissions.

A DOUBTFUL ACCOMPLISHMENT—We are learning to communicate less and less better and better.—Howard K. Smith, news analyst, quoted by The Washington Daily News.

ARE WE REALLY COMMUNICATING?—I have an uneasy feeling that, in these times, our major problem is to be liked, rather than heard. Maybe we are using this new magic to tackle the wrong end of the problem. Shouldn’t our first goal be communicating; not communications? What’s so great about making it possible for the whole world to view “The Untouchables”?—George Dixon, The Washington Post and Times-Herald.

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