{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Thinking Theology","title":"The Actions of God: Providence","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":693,"description":"Episode IntroWhat does God do? In the last few episodes of Thinking Theology we’ve been thinking about what God is like: what is his nature, what is his character and what he does. Last time we looked at God’s work in creation. But God not only created the world, he also sustains it, upholding it at every moment. In theology, that’s called providence.But what does it mean that God is upholding the world? What does he control? Is there anything outside his control?That’s what we’re thinking about in this episode of Thinking Theology.Podcast IntroHi. My name is Karl Deenick. I write about theology and I teach it at Sydney Missionary and Bible College. Welcome to Thinking Theology, a podcast where we think about theology, the Bible and the Christian life, not just for the sake of it, but so we can love God more, with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.God Controls EverythingSo what do we learn from the Bible about God’s control over the world.First of all, we see that he controls everything.For example, Psalm 103:19 tells us,The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. (Psalm 103:19 NIV)God rules over all things and there’s nothing outside his control. Nothing frustrates his plans. Nothing thwarts them.He says in Isaiah 46:11,What I have said, that I will bring about; what I have planned, that I will do. (Isaiah 46:11 NIV)Moreover, when God acts to control all things he does it according to his own purpose and will.For example, Psalm 135:6 says,The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths. (Psalm 135:6 NIV)Or again in Ephesians 1:11, we’re told that God,works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will…. (Ephesians 1:11 NIV)God is not constrained by things outside him. He rules over everything and he does as he pleases. That’s what it means to be God.The Natural WorldBut we can say more, too, about the kind of control that God exercises. That is to say, we...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/jD9Kz1SzCDMdkpynrElI55V7WgiOgcbpxbDjYss3uvk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzEyODI3LzE1OTYx/MDIzOTUtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}